Ms. Agrela, senior vice president of UCI Health and vice chancellor of human resources for UC Irvine, is the architect of a transformative human resources model that empowers over 17,000 employees through innovation, strategic alignment and people-first leadership. As a member of both the chancellor’s and president’s cabinets, she plays a critical role in campuswide and health system decisions, with her vision driving talent acquisition, workforce planning, total rewards, onboarding and organizational culture. In 2024, Ms. Agrela led one of the most ambitious workforce integrations in higher education and healthcare history, successfully onboarding 4,300 new employees within days following the acquisition of four hospitals and numerous ambulatory centers. She orchestrated cross-functional human resources teams to ensure seamless operational continuity, including time tracking, benefits enrollment, union transitions and rapid communications through UCI’s Employee Experience Center. Beyond UCI, Ms. Agrela serves as board president of the College and University Professionals Association–Human Resources Southern California chapter and sits on the American Research Universities Human Resource Institute board. She was named a 2025 finalist for National Human Resources Association of Orange County’s “Executive of the Year” award.
