Sean Moeller

Sean Moeller was appointed as interim Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Cornell University in December 2025. His portfolio includes oversight of the human resources function, the Department of Inclusion and Belonging, and the Cornell Office of Civil Rights.

Moeller brings extensive experience in human resources and administration from both Cornell University and Penn State University.

At Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business, Moeller served as the Executive Director of Human Resources, Assistant Dean of Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness, and most recently, Associate Dean of Staff and Academic Administration. His tenure at Cornell has been marked by significant contributions to human resources strategy and operational effectiveness as he helped steward the College of Business through its transition and integration of three schools.

Before joining Cornell, Moeller spent nearly eighteen years at Penn State University, where he held various roles such as Human Resources Strategic Partner and Director of Human Resources & Administrative Services in the College of the Liberal Arts.

Moeller received both his bachelor’s and master’s from Penn State University, in Labor and Industrial Relations, and Human Resources and Employment Relations respectively.

Leadership Responsibilities

Department of Inclusion and Belonging

Provides leadership on and implements strategies to create a diverse and inclusive workplace at Cornell. The Department also develops the University’s equal employment opportunity and affirmative action compliance programs.

Human Resources

Supports the faculty and staff throughout their experience at Cornell from recruitment to retirement by: creating an environment that values and supports diversity; recruiting, hiring and retaining top performing talent that will support university priorities; offering a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits program; prioritizing continuing education, professional development, work life balance and organizational health; and designing and implementing policies, processes and programs, in compliance with applicable laws.

The HR Community includes members from both the centralized Division of the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, and the Human Resources departments dedicated to the colleges and units. This dual organizational structure provides our HR Community with a vast breadth of information about our workforce, and enables us to share knowledge and expertise to make decisions and implement initiatives that are in the best interest of our large, varied population.

Office of Civil Rights

The Cornell Office of Civil Rights (COCR) promotes and ensures equal opportunity and access to enable all members of the Cornell community to succeed and thrive. COCR addresses bias incidents, sexual and related misconduct, discrimination, and protected-status harassment through data collection and analysis, incident response and resolution, and training and education.