Dr. Lei Pakalani

Dr. Lei Pakalani is a fierce employee advocate. She brings to the HR table over 30 years of experience in Employee Relations, Training and Development, Recruitment, Culture Enablement and People Leadership. To her, Employee Relations is one aspect of the full Employee Experience at Salt Lake Community College. Her open-door policy is college wide, and you will often find behind the outreach, engagement and conflict resolution, someone who is loud, and proud about the opportunity to serve.

Irina Shashkova

Irina Shashkova is an advocate for inclusive leadership with care and employee experience, bringing 15 years of Human Resources expertise from both the U.S. and international contexts. With a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, Irina’s commitment to empowering individuals is at the heart of her work.
Joining SLCC in 2019, she initially made a significant impact on the Onboarding & Employee Experience, by initiating multiple new employee programs designed to connect diverse staff and faculty members to college’s resources, enhance engagement, and increase a sense of belonging within SLCC community from day one. In 2023, she transitioned to the Employee Relations team, where she continues to champion employee experiences. Irina supports all employees—staff and faculty, both full-time and part-time—with advice and guidance on maintaining a healthy, equitable workplace.

Megan De Los Santos

Megan De Los Santos has been an Employee Relations Coordinator at Salt Lake Community College since May 2023. With a B.A. in Public Relations from California State University Bakersfield and an M.S. in Leadership and Human Resource Development from Louisiana State University, Megan possesses a solid foundation in both communication and leadership.

Driven by her passion for professional development and growth opportunities, Megan is dedicated to supporting the success of all employees. Her commitment to facilitating harmonious relationships and optimizing organizational effectiveness makes her an asset within the People and Workplace Culture, Employee Relations team. Megan's holistic approach to employee relations ensures a collaborative and thriving work culture, reflecting her unwavering dedication to equity and transparency.

"Less than a year in my leadership role, I had to have a difficult conversation with one of my team members. The Employee Relations team was thoughtful and helped me navigate the policies and procedures knowing I was out of my comfort zone. The end result was a team member who was able to improve and who knew they were still working in a safe space, one that supported them in learning and growing in their position."

-Michelle Tago, Assistant Director, Academic Advising

"I have worked closely with the new employee relations team on a number of issues over the past year. In every case, they have been responsive, helpful, and a pleasure to work with. They’ve proven to me how much they care about doing the right thing for each party involved and for the college. They do a great job of being professional, respectful and impartial, even in difficult and sensitive situations. I highly recommend using our SLCC Employee Relations team for the excellent resource that they are."

-Josh Sylvester, AVP of Facilities Services

"I have really appreciated the friendly help and advice I’ve received from PWC. I am especially grateful that when I have a question, they’re able to answer quickly or guide me in the right direction. Their team is super knowledgeable, compassionate, and patient. They bring a great wealth of experience with different situations to the College and are always willing to help. I’m really glad to have them as a resource."

-Philip Howland, Medical Clinic Manager