Van Rockwell

Van Rockwell, SHRM-CP, is a people-first Human Resources professional with experience spanning Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, Policy Development, Leave Management, and multi-state Compliance. He has supported small, medium, and large organizations in roles including HR Generalist, HR Specialist, Corporate Recruiter, and Talent Acquisition Partner... and is one of those rare HR professionals who genuinely doesn’t mind the administrative side of the work. Before transitioning into higher education, Van spent much of his career in Hotel Hospitality & Travel, Hospital Healthcare, and Corporate Non-Profit Retail.

A proud Arizona State University alumnus (and an especially proud graduate of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts), Van earned his degree in Theatre Studies and Media Analysis Journalism. He currently serves as an Academic Personnel Specialist Sr. within HIDA, where he partners closely with academic leaders to manage faculty personnel processes, ensure policy compliance, and guide the full lifecycle of academic appointments, promotions, and evaluations with care, accuracy, and professionalism.

Outside of HR, Van is a lifelong music lover (named after Van Morrison, after all), an avid cinephile, churchgoer, coffee devotee, trivia enthusiast, and unapologetic dad-joke aficionado. He often jokes that his workdays have a soundtrack... classical or opera while drafting emails, and punk rock when navigating conflict resolution. Van is also an AriZoni Award–winning stage director and sound designer, as well as nominated performer, in the Valley’s community theatre scene. He patiently (and hopefully) awaits the day a local theatre company mounts 'The Marriage of Figaro' by Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais (abridged, of course), 'The Trickster of Seville,' by Tirso de Molina, 'No Exit' by Jean Paul Sartre, 'House of Desires' by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and 'The Iceman Cometh' by Eugene O'Neill; some of his favorite plays from his undergrad program. 

Known among friends, colleagues, and neighbors for his compassion, especially where animals are concerned; Van regularly volunteers his time and resources to rescue efforts and community education focused on pet adoption and welfare. He lives by the belief that kindness, humor, and thoughtfulness belong in professional spaces, and that the best workplaces are built when people feel supported, respected, and maybe even encouraged to laugh once in a while.