In May 2019, Gonzalo Neira Maquilon graduated from Wichita State with a bachelor's
degree in psychology and another in anthropology. Driven to serve his community, he
earned certificates in community psychology and human factors while attaining his
bachelor's degrees at Wichita State. Later that year, he began his master’s degree
in industrial and organizational psychology and graduated from Meredith College in
Raleigh, North Carolina. Since graduating from Meredith College in 2021, Maquilon
has poured his heart into human resources through various post-graduate roles. In
his current role as a human resources specialist for the City of Wichita, he reflects
on human resources’ influence on his work and his own “... impact on the life of others
at work.”
As a human resources specialist for the City of Wichita, Maquilon is at the forefront
of recruiting and retaining talent across the city’s departments.
Behind the scenes, Maquilon supports recruitment and retention through a mix of data
collection and human connection. His workday centers on managing employee engagement,
developing retention programs and analyzing data.
On the front lines, he connects directly with job seekers and community partners. He gifts confidence
to them through presentations and career fairs, encouraging all to apply with information and
assurance. He maintains the City of Wichita’s professional relationships by meeting and
conducting exit interviews with its departing employees. Afterward, he reports these
findings, along with turnover rates and engagement metrics, to capture organizational
trends to understand employees’ work environments.
“The more I work with people, I become more certain that I belong in a position where I
can make a difference on an organizational and personal level,” Maquilon said. “Working
in HR allows me to make an impact on the lives of others at the workplace, where most
people spend much of their lives at.”
Maquilon’s work for the City of Wichita has a direct impact on the greater Wichita
region. As an industry member of the Talent Advisory Committee of the Greater Wichita
Partnership, he doubles this impact. His work for the Greater Wichita Partnership focuses
on strengthening recruitment and retention citywide. Within the committee and the
Greater Wichita Partnership, Maquilon collaborates with key industry leaders to advance
the initiatives of the partnership’s Talent Marketing Blueprint, a collaboration of Wichita employers, HR professionals and community members to
foster and attract talent in Wichita.
“It’s been beneficial to be in the same room as other professionals who face the same
workplace challenges, I do,” Maquilon said. “We can continuously learn from each other,
and it’s been a great privilege to be part of the Talent Advisory Committee, where
I can share ideas on how to improve the lives of people in workplaces across the city.”
After a little more than five years since graduating from Wichita State, Maquilon has made
a meaningful impact on others in Shocker Nation and across the City of Wichita. Combining
education and purpose, he found a career where he can positively influence both people
and the community.
“I focused my education on learning about the human mind and human culture, and I’ve
been able to apply that in a way that best suits my career journey,” Maquilon said.
“Wichita State provided me with the foundation for what my career is now and what
it will continue to evolve into.”
Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience
with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.
For more information, contact theShocker Career Acceleratorat (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visitwichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita
State campus.
