Hannah Deckard started her education at another university in Indiana. She was studying business, but she “wasn’t in love” with it and transferred to Purdue University for her second year of college.
Before she transferred, a human resource professional visited one of Deckard’s business classes to talk about their career. Time passed, and she didn’t give HR another thought until she enrolled at Purdue in Exploratory Studies, a program that helps students make informed decisions about choosing a major and a career path through advising and teaching. The program gave her the opportunity to meet with a counselor who helped her learn about the Human Resource Development (HRD) major at Purdue’s Polytechnic Institute and try some HRD classes. That exploration gave her the confidence to commit to a path forward in human resources.
Before she graduated in May 2025, Deckard completed an internship through the program that was instrumental in helping her find a job after graduation. Today, she’s working full-time as a human resources representative for Hendrickson in Lebanon, Indiana, which makes heavy duty truck and trailer suspensions. It’s the same place she worked for her internship.
“I wouldn’t be where I am now in my career if the HRD program wasn’t pushing me to do that internship,” Deckard said. “I’m grateful to have taken Labor and Employment Law. I just did a hearing today for an employee, and I was able to use that knowledge in the real world.”
At Hendrickson, she works on employee engagement, annual training, onboarding, payroll, benefits, wellness, data and reporting, event planning, HRIS management and more. It’s a job that requires grit, flexibility and curiosity but can lead to work in virtually any industry. Deckard says there are so many areas to learn about and specialize in even within HR.
“My career goal is to create an environment where employees feel happy to come to work,” she said. “I like my job because of my employees. I like being the person they come to for their problems, trusting I will take care of it. That is what HR is here for.”
Christopher Bittinger, an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation, was an inspiration for Deckard. She took a project management course with Bittinger, where students learn methods for “accomplishing specialized missions or work.” Even on days when it felt like a struggle to get moving, Deckard says she looked forward to engaging in the class and wanted to show up in a meaningful way.
“He drives all of us to do good for ourselves,” she said. “He truly cared, knew us by name, asked me if I was doing okay mentally. A lot of people have good things to say about him.”
Deckard faced her own challenges growing up and says showing up for herself and pushing through the financial hardships was worth it in the end. These days, she stays motivated by looking for ways help people and positively impact workplace culture. Mindset is important, she says, whether you’re already in the HR field or considering it as a career path.
“You have to have a backbone. There are difficult decisions to make, and you have to be prepared for the bad along with the good,” she said. “As long as you have the patience and understanding for others, feeling empathy for them—that’s the most important characteristic for the role.”
Deckard’s grandfather, a Purdue alum himself, was proud to see her be the first in her immediate family to earn her bachelor’s degree. It was not until graduation that she realized how significant it was to be a Purdue alum.
“Because I’m local—I’m only from Crawfordsville—I didn’t see how it was such a big deal. I graduated with ten thousand people. I look around and these people are so intelligent and smart. Then I think, ‘I did it, too. I was capable of it.’”
Outside of work, she enjoys reading, playing with her dog, Milo, and spending time with the people she loves, including 12 nieces and nephews. She also mentioned her best friend, Gabby.
“My high school best friend and roommate from my senior year of college, Gabby, passed away three weeks before graduation. I didn’t just get to walk the stage for me but for her as well. She was a huge part of my life.”
