Barbara Black-Kurdziolek
HR Principal Academic Payroll Operations
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Arizona State University
Barbara Black-Kurdziolek is an experienced higher education leader with more than 20 years of expertise in academic operations, faculty success, and organizational strategy. She currently serves as HR Principal in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, where she leads strategic human resources systems and operational initiatives that support faculty and staff success across one of the largest engineering schools in the nation.
In her role, Barbara works closely with leadership to strengthen HR systems, improve operational processes, and advance initiatives that support organizational effectiveness, talent development, and cross-unit collaboration.
Prior to this role, Barbara served as Assistant Director of Academic Operations at ASU’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership (SCETL). In that position, she oversaw academic services, operational strategy, and administrative functions supporting academic personnel actions, curriculum coordination, marketing, communications, events, and advising. She led cross-functional initiatives designed to strengthen academic programs, improve operational effectiveness, and align staff teams in support of the school’s civic education and public engagement mission.
Earlier in her career at ASU, Barbara held leadership roles in the Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics and the College of Global Futures, where she supported curriculum management, accreditation reporting, faculty evaluation processes, and special initiatives for executive leadership.
Barbara holds a Master of Arts in Communication with a concentration in Training and Development from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies with a minor in Public Human Resources Management from Indiana University.
Her areas of expertise include academic and HR systems, project management, academic human resources management, and workflow optimization. Barbara’s leadership is defined by her commitment to strategic planning, operational efficiency, and building collaborative, high-performing teams. She is also a strong advocate for staff professional development and cultivating a growth-oriented workplace culture.