Alumna Shaundrika Edwards (B.S.B.A., 2008) is a rising star at Huntsville City Hall, says Mayor Tommy Battle. He chose The University of Alabama in Huntsville graduate as the new city clerk, and the City Council unanimously approved her appointment in early spring.
“We are delighted Shaundrika Edwards has agreed to take on this important role,” the mayor said, announcing her appointment. “We are confident she will do an amazing job for the city and our citizens.”
“It is an honor to be considered for such a position as this,” Edwards said. “After 13 years in the human resources field in both the private and public sector, I look forward to a new challenge and continuing to support the mayor and his vision for the Office of the City Clerk and City of Huntsville.”
Mayor Battle cited Edwards’ extensive background in organizational development and personnel management as evidence that she is well prepared to handle the meticulous duties of her new position. Along with her bachelor’s from UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System, she also holds a Master of Science in human resource management from Troy University.
“We are so proud of Ms. Edwards’ career success and especially happy to see her positive impact in our community,” said Dr. Jason Greene, dean, UAH College of Business. “Her promotion to Huntsville city clerk is well-deserved recognition for her many years of hard work and dedication to success in her career following her graduation from our business program.
“The HR concentration in our management degree at UAH aims to prepare graduates to contribute to an organization’s success through roles that manage and support their workforce. Ms. Edwards stands as an excellent example of the positive impact and success we encourage all of our students to aspire to.”
Edwards filled two HR roles with the city before taking on this new job.
“I started with the city in October 2017 as an HR analyst II, supporting the city departments as their representative,” she said. “After four and a half years, I promoted to the role of insurance and benefits manager.”
Edwards now manages the highest level of municipal affairs and serves as the municipality’s official record keeper and election manager.
“All agenda items that go through the City Council and are approved, we are the gatekeeper of those documents to assure that the public has access and that we’re being transparent,” she said.
Records management, coordinating the agenda, and minutes for City Council all fall under the purview of Edwards’ department. She is responsible for directing the origination, maintenance, retrieval, archiving, release, distribution, safety and overall management of documentation.
Mayor Battle also gave Edwards a new task not previously carried out by the office: liaison to the city’s outside agencies included in the annual budget appropriations.
“It’s making sure the council and the mayor feel good about their decisions each year with the appropriations to outside agencies as well as building a rapport with our community partners,” Edwards explained.
Although she says she loved helping her fellow employees in the HR department, Edwards was ready to take on fresh challenges.
“I completely changed career paths, and it’s going very well. It was the change that I didn’t know I needed until I said ‘Yes’ to the mayor. It’s good to get out of your comfort zone.”
Changing professional paths worked out well for Edwards at UAH, too. But at the time, she wasn’t so sure.
“I actually started out at UAH in nursing school. I didn’t do too well in the nursing program, and I ended up changing to business. I said, ‘OK, I’ll concentrate in HR.’ I remember it being a sad time for me because I always thought I wanted to do nursing.”
Edwards’ desire to help people formed the basis of her first plan to become a nurse as well as her second plan to work in HR.
“Helping employees in human resources and now switching gears to helping people in the community as the city clerk – it’s just phenomenal to know you can impact people in different ways.”
