Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Mary Lucal is one of 12 College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) members selected to participate in the 2025-26 Emerging CUPA-HR Leaders program.
The year-long program recognizes volunteer leaders across the country who demonstrate exemplary leadership and initiative within higher-ed HR and want to play an active role in advancing the profession.
“It’s always about our people,” Lucal said. “HR professionals have the opportunity to improve the quality of our colleagues’ and their families’ lives, and CUPA-HR is instrumental in advancing this work on college campuses. It is such an honor to be recognized by our national organization and to join others in thinking about how we continue to advance the profession.”
The 2025-26 Emerging CUPA-HR Leaders program can be transformative for its participants and for the organization as they engage with the work that drives the future of higher ed. Among the nearly 2,000 CUPA-HR member institutions and organizations, Lucal was selected to engage in this problem-solving work group while gaining an inside look at CUPA-HR’s operations and structure.
“Mary’s thoughtful leadership and extensive experience make her an asset to the conversations we are having about the evolving higher-education landscape,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jacqueline A. Travisano. “I’m delighted to see Mary’s work recognized in this significant way. We’re so appreciative to have her at Wake Forest leading with a people-first approach.”
Lucal joined Wake Forest University in 2024. In her role, she leads the development and implementation of HR strategies and programs campuswide, and she closely partners with community members to enhance the work environment for staff and faculty.
CUPA-HR serves more than 40,000 HR professionals and other higher ed leaders by providing the knowledge, resources, advocacy and connections to achieve organizational and workforce excellence.
