Tom LaPenta, who has served as chief human resources officer at the University of Delaware since 2013, has announced that he will retire, effective July 1.

Alan Brangman, executive vice president and University treasurer, said an interim chief human resources officer will be named within the next week, and a national search will be conducted to find LaPenta’s successor.

“During his tenure as chief human resources officer, Tom LaPenta has made significant improvements to our human resources operation, particularly in evaluating and streamlining processes and procedures,” Brangman said. “He also has led successful collective bargaining agreements with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and other unions at UD. Over his more than 35 years at the University, Tom has compiled an impressive record of achievement and service. I know his many friends and colleagues across the campus will join me in wishing Tom well as he begins the next chapter of his life.”

As chief human resources officer, LaPenta provides strategic guidance on human resources matters to University leadership and heads UD’s human resources team, which provides a range of key services to employees, including employee relations, HR systems, employee development, compensation and benefits, and recruitment.

Before being named chief human resources officer, LaPenta served five months as interim director of UD Human Resources. Previously, as assistant vice president for labor and employee relations, he was involved in the negotiation and administration of union contracts. He also advised academic and non-academic managers on a variety of labor and employee relations issues. He has worked at UD since 1981.

A University of Delaware graduate, LaPenta earned his law degree from the Dickinson School of Law and is a member of the Delaware Bar Association and the National Association of College and University Attorneys. He began his career as a deputy attorney general in the state Department of Justice.

He has served on the boards of People's Settlement, Ingleside Nursing Home and the Latin American Community Center, and he is a former chair of the board of Goodwill Industries. He serves as president of the Clayton Street Athletic Club and the Tae Kwon Do Club at UD.