Team Highlight: Learning and Development

The Learning and Development (L&D) team plays a central, multifaceted role in supporting both the Human Resources office internally and the broader campus community. We help you navigate the workplace by providing essential resources, including:

Development Programs: We deliver a robust schedule of training and development programs. This includes flagship offerings such as Staff Supervisory Awareness training, CMULead, Lean Six Sigma and specialized sprints and essentials sessions. We also manage key initiatives that foster community and growth, such as the mentoring program and employee resource groups.
Crucial Communications: Our reach extends beyond training. We handle vital communications — from managing the HR website to rolling out major campaigns, such as the annual Open Enrollment effort.
Change Management: We support individuals impacted by major HR projects, including the recent launch of a new Tuition Benefits process and ongoing work on Secure 2.0 retirement changes and new Talent Optimization tools.
Ombuds Services: Our neutral ombudsperson offers confidential guidance and support to help staff navigate workplace challenges.

As Todd Rosignoli, assistant vice president of Learning and Development, notes, "Our work supporting employee development and engagement never truly ends — it may pause, but it restarts very quickly."

Meet the Team

Heather Wainer — Senior communications project manager

What's your must-see TV show? My son has me watching "The Middle" with him. It's not the kind of thing I would've watched on my own, but it's wholesome and fun, and now the whole family's gotten into it. When I'm on my own, it's "Only Murders in the Building."
Do you have a hobby? I'm an avid gardener. We have a fairly large yard so I have space to dabble in it all — veggies, herbs, perennials, native shrubs and trees. My veggie garden has been pretty sad the past few years, but my pollinator garden is my pride and joy.
Do you have a prized possession – something cherished, not necessarily valuable? My grandmother's ice cream scoop. I spent a lot of time at her house when I was growing up, and she always had ice cream. She loved to make milkshakes and sundaes for me, my sister and our friends. When she passed away and it was time to clean out her house, that was the one thing I wanted to hold onto. My kids love ice cream — who doesn't? — so it still gets a lot of love.

Lara Sullivan — Organizational change and communications manager

Do you have an upcoming or have you recently reached a CMU anniversary/milestone? In February 2026, I'll have worked at Carnegie Mellon for six years. This is the longest time that I have worked for an organization and I believe it is a testament to CMU being a wonderful place to grow and develop professionally.
Have you ever had a celebrity encounter? When I worked as the executive assistant to the mayor of Pittsburgh, I got to meet film, stage and television actress Tamara Tunie! It was very exciting because she played Dr. Melinda Warner on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," one of my favorite shows. A Pittsburgh native, Tunie is a 1981 CMU graduate and was elected to the university's board of directors in 2020.

Todd Rosignoli — Assistant vice president of learning and development

What's your favorite CMU working day life hack? It's very simple – I get into the office very early. Arriving by 7 a.m. gives me two solid hours to focus on work before meetings and emails start. I'm also at my best in the morning (my younger self wouldn't believe that), so having that time early rather than late in the day works much better for me.
What's your at-home superpower? Weekday cooking. I'm very good at putting together meals in around 30 minutes. This is helped by the facts that I love to grill and I don't mind using some "cheats," such as frozen vegetables and quick side dishes, to round out a meal.
How did you end up in your current job? After a very long (more than 23 years), strange and sometimes challenging tenure at BNY, I decided that remaining at BNY simply because I had been there so long was not really a good enough reason to stay. I initially joined CMU in a role focusing on change management, and those early days were interesting (several folks pleaded with me not to leave). After about six months, I applied to lead HR L&D. Six years later, I'm incredibly proud of the HR L&D team and all we accomplish each year.

Jennifer Pablonis — Staff ombudsperson

What's the best piece of work-related advice you've received? Focus on what I can control. This principle is essential for managing professional stress. It means directing my energy toward my actions, preparation and attitude rather than worrying about outcomes or external factors beyond my control. I've found this shift in focus to be incredibly valuable for staying productive in my career and maintaining a greater sense of perspective and calm in my personal life.
What are your must-see TV shows? My recent favorite shows are "Shrinking", "The White Lotus" and "Severance". They are a mix of dark humor and fascinating characters. I love that they all tackle serious and sometimes heavy topics, but they do it in ways that are unique.

Matt Mroz — Technical writer and content strategist

How did you end up in your current job? Before joining CMU, I spent nearly a decade in the medical billing industry. My work ranged from investigating patients' benefits for specialty drugs to collaborating with speech therapists to authorize speech-generating equipment for their clients. As I advanced in my career, I developed a passion for training and documentation. Coming out of the pandemic in 2022, I was working as a training coordinator and felt ready for something new. After reflecting on the parts of my work that energized me most, I began searching for a role that would let me keep growing. When CMU called, I realized I had never seriously considered higher education; I didn't see myself as an academic. More than three years later, I'm grateful I took the leap. I get to collaborate with some of the best professionals in communications and learning within HR and I still feel a spark of excitement — and pride — whenever someone asks where I work.
What's the best piece of work-related advice you've received? Throughout my career, I've received plenty of good advice, but one piece has really stuck with me: Always allow yourself time to be new. When I first joined CMU, I definitely battled the familiar millennial imposter syndrome — that feeling of not belonging or not yet having a voice. Once I let go of that pressure, I found that observing, listening and asking questions were the best ways to grow into my role. Giving myself permission to be "new" in any setting has led to deeper learning, confidence and perspective. One of the things I value most about CMU is its genuine commitment to staff development and I keep that advice close as I take on new projects and partnerships across campus.
What's the proudest moment of your career so far? One of my proudest accomplishments at CMU has been helping launch CMU=You. When I joined in early 2022, it was one of my first major projects and I was involved from design and content creation to end-user testing. The process wasn't without its challenges, but it gave me a deep understanding of how our HR initiatives come together. Today, CMU=You has grown into a central platform for seasonal and values-based eCards, years-of-service awards and award program nominations, including The Andy Awards. It's rewarding to see how far it's come and to continue working with the core project team to keep it fresh and meaningful for our colleagues.

Adam Marks — Training manager

What's your favorite vacation spot? Since at least 2013, my wife and two boys have been going to Rehoboth Beach, Del., along with my wife's twin sister and her family. The getaways are hosted by my mother and father-in-law. We all have similarly aged children and we all get along nicely, so this is a great way to take a break. It is something we look forward to every summer.
Do you have a hobby? I'll mention three hobbies here — playing the guitar, playing and watching soccer, and reading — and I am always on the lookout for something new. I picked up the guitar during my senior year of high school. The week before starting college, I had $200 earmarked for clothes and school supplies. Instead, I spent $190 on a guitar and $10 on an ear piercing. It made perfect sense to me, though my parents weren't exactly thrilled. I went to Westminster College to play soccer, and the sport has remained a lifelong passion. I play in an adult league, and both of my teenage sons are active in high school and club soccer. Recently, I wrapped up my first season as the stadium announcer for the Mt. Lebanon High School varsity boys soccer team.
What's your favorite CMU working day life hack? When working from home, one of the best ways to stay energized throughout the day is by taking time to stretch. I should probably add yoga to my list of hobbies — it's been instrumental in helping me stay active as I've gotten older, and it's a great way to boost your mood.

Jason Dohoda — Training coordinator

What's your favorite local spot for a workday lunch/snack break? Working slightly off campus, our team has access to a few places in Oakland that we wouldn't be able to enjoy easily otherwise. One spot that I was introduced to before our team moved to our current office was Food for Thought Deli on North Craig Street. It became almost a daily go-to spot for me when our office was within walking distance. Since our office move, it has unfortunately become slightly out of reach but I still try to find time to swing by when I can for the most delicious chicken salad sandwich I've ever had. If that isn't to your taste, the delis offers a huge menu for any craving and the folks that work there are always so kind and welcoming.
Do you have a favorite podcast? In a previous working life, I spent a few years on the road presenting science assemblies at schools, which gave me a lot of time to entertain myself in the car. One podcast I discovered then and have continued to listen to ever since is "Stuff You Should Know." The hosts research and present a different topic in each episode and I am always surprised by what I find interesting. Whether you are interested in history, inventions, biographies or something you've absolutely never heard of before, this podcast has something for everyone. The two hosts do a wonderful job of balancing information and humor, and have kept me entertained for many hours on the road.

Wendy Brenneman — Staff development specialist

Do you have a hobby? Talk to me about museums! They're the first thing I look up when I'm visiting a new city. I've been lucky to explore more than 65, including the offbeat (American Visionary Art Museum), the beautiful (Dali Museum) and the obscure (Textile Museum of Canada). I can tell you which ones have beautiful gift shops (Corning Museum of Glass), where you can walk through giant rainbows (Exploratorium) and where you can see all your favorite toys from the '90s (Strong National Museum of Play). Museums are where I discovered that I love learning, and that led, maybe indirectly, to my career in Learning and Development.
What's your favorite CMU working day life hack? By far it's the gmail "schedule send" feature. It's a great way for folks who work early and those who work late to send messages without bothering their coworkers outside of business hours. Especially as a person who's away from my desk in training much of the time, I appreciate having a tool that works with flexibility!

Rob Biertempfel — Internal communications project manager

Do you have a favorite podcast? If you are like me — a history buff who cannot resist a well-told tale — I'll offer two suggestions. "A Short History of …" explores the lives of famous folks such as Rosa Parks and Ludwig van Beethoven and world-shaking events such as the Cuban missile crisis and the French Revolution. British actor John Hopkins provides lush, captivating narration. "History Unplugged" tends to be oriented towards American history: Why is Camp David, which resembles a 1970s lakeside retreat, the site of huge political summits? How did a cook save dozens of sailors in shark-infested waters off the coast of Guadalcanal? How did baseball heal our nation's psyche after the Civil War? Host Scott Rank is a well-informed interviewer who draws out fascinating tidbits from authors and historians.

What's your favorite vacation spot? Somewhere warm, preferably near a beach. The northern end of Anna Maria Island is a personal fave. It offers an old-school Florida vacay — instead of giant, sterile condos and fast-food joints, there's a string of small houses, quaint shops and quiet cafes along Pine Avenue. It's calm and quiet because most Gulf Coast spring breakers are carousing miles away in Clearwater. Pro tips: Fly into SRQ instead of TPA. It's a smaller airport, not far from the beach, ridiculously easy to access and has short security lines. On the way to the airport for your flight home, pop into the Sage Biscuit Cafe in Bradenton for a Key West omelet (with a buttery sage biscuit on the side, natch).