Mr. Steve Zant, M.S.Ed.
Executive Director of Human Resources
Steve has been with IMSA for close to 30 years. He began in January 1997 as a Resident Counselor in the Office of Student Affairs, living and working in the halls with the students to help create a healthy and positive living and learning environment. He served in multiple roles in the department, with the last being the Director of Residence Life for six years. In 2005, he transitioned to the Office of Human Resources and has been there ever since, serving as Generalist, Coordinator, Assistant Director, Director, and now Executive Director.
Steve is driven by the goal of leaving every position and department in a better place than when he arrived. He has deep expertise in the areas of employee engagement, training and development, employee relations, compensation, talent management, legal compliance, and performance management. He also has a strong commitment to creating an inclusive work environment for all staff. To support this work in Human Resources, Steve is a Gallup trained Strengths Coach as well as a certified Title IX Investigator.
Prior to coming to IMSA and Illinois, Steve was in the Outdoor Industry, serving as a store manager in multiple ski and backpacking shops in Michigan. After starting at IMSA, he blended his passions for the outdoors and people development as a Teams and High Ropes Facilitator with the Wheaton Park District. There, he led K-12, Higher Education, and corporate groups through cooperative initiatives designed to build individual and team capacity.
In his free time, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, step son and the family pets, home renovations, and a newer found love of traveling. Steve holds a B.S. in Psychology from Michigan State University and a M.S. in Education from Northern Illinois University.
