Welcoming Keila Tennent, Vice President and Chief Labor Relations Officer
A Message from Francisco X. Pineda, Executive Vice President for Business and Operations and Chief Operating Officer; and Sonya Williams, Vice President for Human Resources
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce that Keila Tennent will return to The New School on July 21st as the university’s Vice President and Chief Labor Relations Officer. Bringing with her more than two decades of achievement in leading labor relations functions for major non-profit institutions, Keila assumes this vital role at an important moment in The New School’s history. As our Chief Labor Relations Officer, Keila will work collaboratively with university leaders and labor partners across our campus, providing expert oversight of our labor relations programs and guiding the development of a comprehensive labor strategy that reflects the university’s commitment to cultivating a positive and productive workplace for our nine bargaining units.
Keila’s understanding of our university and its culture will position her well to hit the ground running—leading our labor relations initiatives, enhancing communication, and strengthening partnerships with all labor groups. She joined The New School’s Office of the General Counsel in 2000 as an Assistant General Counsel specializing in legal affairs and employment and labor matters before being elevated to Associate General Counsel in 2004. Keila took on additional duties in 2016, serving simultaneously as Associate General Counsel and Vice President, Labor Relations until her departure in 2021. Throughout her tenure at The New School, Keila brought high standards of professionalism and integrity to every policy, contract, and legal matter and played a key role in developing legal strategies for bargaining negotiations and contract implementation.
Keila rejoins The New School from The New Museum of Contemporary Art, where she served for four years as General Counsel and Vice President, Community. She began her career as an Associate at several respected law firms including King, Pagano & Harrison, a boutique labor and employment firm, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., a national labor and employment firm, and Strang, Fletcher, Carriger, Walker, Hodge and Smith, P.C., a full-service firm. She earned her B.A. at Amherst College and her J.D. from Vanderbilt University, and is a member of the New York, New Jersey, and Tennessee bars.
Across the board, Keila has served as a trusted advisor to leadership and has built enduring partnerships with the communities she has served. She is excited to rejoin The New School and help advance our distinctive mission.
We want to thank the Human Resources team and the Office of the General Counsel for their hard work and collaboration in supporting our labor relations needs during this transition. Their dedication has ensured continuity and established a solid foundation for Keila to build upon.
We look forward to partnering with Keila to strengthen labor relations within our community. Please join us in welcoming Keila back to our university.