The road to success: Samantha Parent’s future in human resources

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—As senior Samantha Parent races toward the finish line to complete her human resource management major at Western Michigan University, she has discovered her passion in building a better overall environment for companies.  

“I chose my major because of my deep love for people,” says Parent of Wixom, Michigan. “What appeals to me the most about working in human resources is the culture and change within organizations. In this field, you get to work with both management-level and entry-level employees, making sure all staff members feel fulfilled and welcomed in their positions.” 

Parent has always had a crew of Western faculty mentors to guide her.  

“The change management course had the biggest impact on me, teaching me how necessary organizational change is for companies to succeed and grow,” she says. “In human resources, you are responsible for helping employees understand and commit to all organizational shifts and be able to adapt to it smoothly. After taking this class with Dr. Jennifer Palthe, I feel I have a new purpose in this role.” 

Other faculty members who have helped enhance her talents include Dr. Christina Stamper, professor of management, and Dr. Chen Wang, assistant professor of management, who have encouraged her to grow as an individual and fine tune her skills.  

Apart from her time in the classroom, Parent has been pushing herself to participate in new experiences. She’s applied her strengths while on the 2021 social media team at the Michigan Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (MISHRM) conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and on the executive board of the Society for Excellence in Human Resources student organization.   

“When I began to force myself to grow out of my comfort zone, it opened many paths for me. At the MISHRM conference specifically, I learned how to professionally network with other students and employees in my field,” she says.  

Parent isn’t afraid to take on challenges in her industry; in fact, she’s ready to change the narrative and create a workforce that empowers others.  

“Challenges such as employee retention in companies often arise due to organizations not being open-minded or willing to change their corporate cultures. As an incoming professional, I hope to uplift the culture in a company as someone who is willing to listen to the necessary changes needed to be made,” she says.

As a corporate human resources intern at Summit Polymers, a tier-one automotive supplier, Parent is eager to stay in the automotive industry and run full speed ahead into her future.  

“My internship has been incredibly influential on both my college and professional career,” she says. “I have been able to use all knowledge I have learned in the classroom and apply it to successfully tackle tasks in my internship.” 

After learning new skills and techniques daily at her internship, Parent is excited to see the warm and welcoming impact she leaves on every company she works for. 

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.