Alumni Spotlight Janea Sims McDonald, PhD, PHR
I graduated from The University of South Alabama with a degree in Human Resources
Management in 1997. The knowledge and skills I gained at South prepared me for a
successful career in human resources, and allowed me to accomplish my dream of completing
my PhD. The faculty presented scholarly, as well as real world information, that
helped me understand how to apply knowledge to business situations in a practical
way. The network of friendships and colleagues I formed while at USA are a vital
part of my professional and personal life.
Currently, I am the owner and CEO of Edge Consulting, LLC, a human capital consulting firm in Gulfport, MS, which provides human capital management and development services to organizations across the U.S. My education and experience at USA provided the foundation on which I was able to build and grow, allowing me to take advantage of a range of opportunities, professionally and educationally. Shortly after graduation, I earned the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification through the Society of Human Resources Management and have maintained certification through continuing education. I earned a Master’s degree in Workforce Training and Development from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2008 and in 2015 I completed a PhD in Human Capital Development at The University of Southern Mississippi.
My HR career started upon graduation from South Alabama, as a Recruiter with Pilot Catastrophe Services, in Mobile. In 1998, I moved to Oxford, Mississippi and had the opportunity to work in HR at The University of Mississippi for seven years. Upon returning to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I became the Human Resources Manager for The University of Southern Mississippi - Gulf Coast and later become the Director of Human Resources for Lindmark Outdoor Advertising, LLC. In 2008, I became the Director of HR and Technology Divisions of Aspire, Inc. where I dealt with Human Resources consulting issues and developed e - learning.
It is my pleasure to serve as Co- President for the local ATD (Association of Talent Development) group. I enjoyed teaching as an adjunct instructor at William Carey University, where I taught Business Communication and Organizational Development, for three years. Through the Jack and Patti Phillips Workplace Learning and Performance Institute, I am a certified Training and Development Professional and facilitator. The College of Business at USA gave me the knowledge and skills I needed to excel in human resources; I highly recommend the HR concentration at USA.