Senators & Areas

The Staff Senate is composed of several types of senators, both voting and non-voting. Voting members include area, at-large, and affinity group senators, while non-voting members consist of liaisons, special appointees, and emeritus participants. To be eligible for election as a senator, staff must have served in their role at ÌÒ×ÓÖ±²¥ for at least six months. Each area is represented by three senators, with areas grouped based on similar staff headcounts. Area senators are elected to staggered two-year terms, ensuring that one or two seats in each area are up for election every year.

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Executive Committee

The Executive Committee may hold special meetings and act on behalf of the Staff Senate when timely action is needed.

Detric Robinson, Ph.D., President
Ross Logan, Vice President
Adela Smith, Treasurer
Maggie Heyduk, Secretary

Area Senators

Senators regularly communicate staff needs, feedback, and concerns to the Senate, establish ongoing channels for information sharing and feedback, inform staff about their role and available resources, and support Staff Senate events. Please note that units marked with an asterisk (*) reflect an addition to the respective Area prior to the 2025 Election cycle and effective July 1st, 2025 with the seating of newly elected Staff Senators.

Area 1

Units
Athletics

SenatorsÌýÌý
Josh Boone (June 2026)ÌýÌý
Kacie Dohrmann (June 2026)ÌýÌý
Angel Field (June 2025)ÌýÌý

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators)

Area 2

Units
ÌÒ×ÓÖ±²¥ Agency Organizations*
Enterprise Risk Management
Facilities Planning & ManagementÌýÌýÌý
Financial Services - Controller*
General CounselÌý(Area 10 as of July 1, 2025)
Institutional Priorities*
Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science*ÌýÌý

SenatorsÌýÌý
Jason Jackson (June 2026)ÌýÌý
William "Bill" Scott (June 2026)ÌýÌý
Alistair Wallace (June 2025)

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators)

Area 3

Units
Advancement
Financial Affairs
Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence
Chancellor's OfficeÌý(Area 8 as of July 1, 2025)

SenatorsÌýÌý
Gloria Bokenkamp (June 2025)ÌýÌý
Meg Dimsa (June 2026)ÌýÌý
Jon Kraus (June 2026)ÌýÌý

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators)

Area 4

Units
Fisher Early Learning Center*
Information TechnologyÌý
Morgridge College of EducationÌý
Ritchie School of Engineering & Computer ScienceÌý (Area 2 as of July 1, 2025)
ÌÒ×ÓÖ±²¥ Agency Organizations (Area 1 as of July 1, 2025)

SenatorsÌý
Ross Logan (June 2026)Ìý
Tamara Tabb (June 2026)Ìý
VACANT (June 2025)

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators)

Area 5

Units
College of Professional Studies
Financial Services–ControllerÌý(Area 2 as of July 1, 2025)
Institutional Priorities (Area 2 as of July 1, 2025)
Kennedy Mountain Campus
Recreation and Wellness

SenatorsÌý
Melissa DeWitt (June 2025)Ìý
Alexandria Vasquez Parnell (June 2026)Ìý
Liam Westwood (June 2026)

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators

Area 6

Units
Conference & Event ServicesÌý
Division of Diversity, Equity, and InclusionÌý
Enrollment Division (Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid)
Graduate School of Social WorkÌý
Human Resources & Inclusive CommunityÌý

SenatorsÌý
Chico Dimas (June 2025)Ìý
Maggie Heyduk (June 2026)Ìý
Adela Smith (June 2025)

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators)

Area 7

Units
College of Arts, Humanities, & Social SciencesÌý
Housing & Residential EducationÌý
Office of Graduate Education (Area 8 as of July 1, 2025)
Sturm College of LawÌý
University Financial ServicesÌý

SenatorsÌý
Aleesha McDowell (June 2025)Ìý
Detric Robinson (June 2026)Ìý
Darlene Squires (June 2025)

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators)

Area 8

Units
Daniels College of Business
College of Natural Sciences & MathematicsÌý
Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS)
Office of the Chancellor*
Office of Graduate Education*
Office of InternationalizationÌý
Office of the Registrar

SenatorsÌý
Christine Hood (June 2025)Ìý
John Maly (June 2026)Ìý
Audrey Townsend (June 2025)

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators)

Area 9

Units
Campus SafetyÌý
Newman Center for the Performing Arts
Office of the Provost
Ricks Center for Gifted ChildrenÌý
University Academic Programs
University LibrariesÌý

SenatorsÌý
Virginia Pitts (June 2026)Ìý
Shelby Wones (June 2025)Ìý
VACANT (June 2025)

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators)

Area 10

Units
Fisher Early Learning Center (Area 4 as of July 1, 2025)Ìý
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Josef Korbel School for International Studies
Office of General Counsel*
Office of Research & Sponsored Programs
University Health & Counseling ServicesÌý
University Relations

SenatorsÌý
Abigail Girard (June 2026)Ìý
Gergana Kostadinova Law (June 2025)Ìý
Jon Stone (June 2025)

Email contactÌý(to all 3 senators)

At-Large Senators

At-Large Senators communicate staff needs to the Senate, support Senate events, fill in on Senate committees and within Areas as needed, and coordinate with fellow at-large senators on tasks related to their responsibilities.

Jackalynn Mayfield (June 2025)Ìý
Jeremy Wu (June 2025)Ìý
McKenna Andreas (June 2026)Ìý
Katie Schroeder (June 2026)Ìý
Sarabeth "SB" Wolbrom (June 2026)Ìý
Graham Zulu (June 2026)

Email contactÌý(sends to all at-large senators)

Affinity Groups Senators

Affinity Group senators identify and discuss ways for the Staff Senate and Affinity Groups to align interests and advocate for staff, periodically meeting to promote shared priorities and bring recommendations to the Senate.

Queer University Employees (QUE)Ìý
Dr. Stevie LeeÌý
On-Campus Resources | ÌÒ×ÓÖ±²¥ (du.edu)

Staff of Color Association (SOCA)Ìý
Dr. Waltrina DeFrantz-DuforÌý
SOCA Home | ÌÒ×ÓÖ±²¥ (du.edu)

Senators Emeriti (non-voting)

Senators emeriti participate in continued advisory roles to the body or to honor exemplary service, appointed by a majority vote.

Nicole Holland (named emerita February, 2024)

Liaisons (non-voting)

Liaisons enhance and allow for regular communication and collaboration between the Staff Senate and other shared governance bodies.

Jeff Banks, Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
Dean Saitta, Faculty Senate
Representative, Undergraduate Student Government
Representative, Graduate Student Government

Senate Committees

Communications Committee
Katie Schroeder, chair
The Communications committee maintains the Staff Senate website, prepares and sends out the quarterly Staff Senate newsletter, works with committees to create marketing and communication materials, and maintains social media

Elections Committee
VACANT, chair
The Elections Committee is responsible for conducting Staff Senate elections (both regular and special elections), including soliciting self-nominations and holding a University-wide election for nominated staff to become senators.

Events & Engagement Committee
Tamara Tabb, chair
The Events and Engagement Committee plans, organizes, and promotes community events, building a sense of community amongst all employees at the University. The committee may organize subcommittees for specific events like Staff Awards, Employee Picnic, etc.

University Budget, Advocacy, & Policy Committee
Abigail Girard, co-chair and Jason Jackson, co-chair
The Budget, Advocacy, and Policy Committee addresses policy issues and advocacy initiatives within the University. This committee coordinates solutions, drafts proposals, and presents recommendations on staf well-being and other topics as appropriate.

Ad Hoc Committees, Subcommittees, and University-wide Committees
Ad hoc committees and subcommittees of standing committees are formed as deemed appropriate by majority vote of the Staff Senate. Additionally, members of the Staff Senate may hold temporary or permanent positions on university-wide groups such as University Council, University Budget Advisory Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, and others as the need arises.
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