Jessica Palatka’s introduction to human resources began on the technical side.

Very technical.

Palatka started her professional career in IT systems engineering roles, working on the software components of human capital systems. While she was fluent in the technical aspects, she was interested in learning more about the language of human resources. A master’s degree in human resources, Palatka decided, would be beneficial in better understanding how to implement these systems.

As she completed her degree in Human Capital Management at the University of Maryland, Palatka found she really enjoyed the non-technical side of human resources. That ability to combine different outlooks has served Palatka well in her role as Miami University’s vice president and chief human resources officer. Recently, The CEO Views selected Palatka for its Thought Leadership Award, citing her philosophy that “education leadership is fundamentally more about people than policies, structures, and strategies.”

“I think that what I put out a lot of times is the ability to combine industry perspectives, and that is unique,” Palatka said. “So many times people get pigeonholed. There is no reason why the same principles can’t apply across industries and different pools of work.”

Palatka’s own human resources journey has included positions with Naval Air Systems Command, the Department of Homeland Security, the University of Maryland, and the Department of Commerce.

The CEO Views applauded Palatka for a “leadership philosophy has helped position Miami University to view student purpose and success as the result of an intentional, integrated system,” and the business publication noted that she “aims to leave a legacy where people’s strategy refers to an educational strategy, and leadership is understood as a moral and developmental responsibility rather than solely an administrative one. At the heart of this legacy is a commitment to aligning human capital with mission.”

To that end, Miami recently launched its Human Capital Strategic Plan, an initiative that Palatka believes will help the university pivot from a transactional model into one that empowers institutional transformation.

“This plan will enable us to grow as an HR office to provide more resources that are personalized and customized,” Palatka said. “I’m very proud of my staff and their openness to new things. Every meeting is something new for them. Our staff meetings are always about, ‘where are we going?’ It’s a shift in perspective. I want them to look forward to what we can do.”

Since joining Miami in August, Palatka has stressed a collaborative environment that reaches across administrative and academic areas. In April, Women We Admire selected Palatka as one of the Top Women Chief Human Resources Officers of 2026. She also was previously picked as one of the organization’s Top 50 Women Leaders of Cincinnati for 2025.

Connecting with the Cincinnati area has been important for Palatka. She recently graduated from the Leadership Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, an experience Palatka is quick to praise.

“I highly recommend it for anyone looking for career growth,” she said. “Every time we met, we had a different industry focus. It was very, very fun, and we visited historical sites across the city that I never would have gone to if not for that program.”