POTSDAM -- Melissa Proulx, assistant director of human resources at SUNY Potsdam, recently completed the first-ever session of the SUNY Employee Relations Institute recently.

The SUNY Employee Relations Institute is the first sponsored by the State University of New York Human Resources Association.

The program provides comprehensive, hands-on training for SUNY human resources professionals working in the employee relations field. Participants receive an in-depth education on a myriad of topics that impact how employee and labor relations are conducted at SUNY campuses.

"The SUNY Employee Relations Institute gave me the opportunity to link the building blocks from my education with real life case studies that I will be able to apply in my current role," Proulx said. "The training provided an outstanding experience. I am grateful to have been a part of the program."

The institute programs are presented by professionals from the Governor's Office of Employee Relations, the state Department of Civil Service, SUNY Employee Relations and the state Teacher's Retirement System, among others.

A native of Canton, Proulx graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and employee relations. While an undergraduate, she participated in a human resources internship at Corning, Inc. Proulx received her master's degree in 2008 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in employment and labor relations.

She worked for Lockheed Martin in Washington, D.C., for two years before coming to her current role at SUNY Potsdam in 2010.

For more information about human resources and employment at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/offices/hr.