Project Description

Cara J. Wald, with 25 years of experience in higher education human resources, has been named vice president for human resources at Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), effective July 25.

Cara comes to PBA from Bethel University in Saint Paul, MN, where she served her entire career, beginning as a human resource generalist and advancing through the ranks to lead the human resources department as Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Human Resources and Strategy Officer, and Vice President of People and Organizational Development, which was recently rebranded as “People and Culture.”

“We are delighted to have Cara join us,” said PBA President Dr. Debra A. Schwinn. “She has a wealth of experience, and she shares our commitment to Christ-first education. This is a perfect example of a beautiful combination of ‘mission fit’ and content expertise, both very important to Palm Beach Atlantic University.”

Bethel, like PBA, is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Cara was a key advisor and direct report to the president of Bethel, and winner of the university’s Excellence in Management Award. She was chosen for the PBA post after a nationwide search, conducted by CarterBaldwin Executive Search.

Cara earned her MA in organizational leadership and her BA in psychology, both from Bethel University. She is certified as both a Senior Certified Professional from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM – SCP) and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).

About Palm Beach Atlantic University
Founded in 1968, PBA is a private, Christian university, offering 55 undergraduate degrees, numerous graduate degrees and professional degrees in nursing and pharmacy, with a 29-acre campus in West Palm Beach and an Orlando campus. The University is dedicated to the integration of Christian principles to prepare students for learning, leadership and service. As a Christ-first university, PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system.