The results of UH’s 29th annual Staff Council election have been counted and released.
The elections, held July 22 and 23, were for 24 positions across all divisions: At-Large, Academic Affairs, Administration & Finance, Office of the President, Research, Student Affairs and University Advancement.
The Staff Council, whose mission is to serve as an advisory committee to the University’s President and its administration, are elected to represent the staff body as a whole. The staff council’s objective is also “to promote recognition of the staff contribution to the mission of the University of Houston and to involve the staff in decisions affecting their activities” according to its mission statement.
“As a Cougar First Impression volunteer, I saw students express their appreciation to the staff members who graciously directed them to the correct location or offered them water. It was in those minute details that inspired me to become an even more involved Cougar,” said newly elected Academic Affairs chair for the Staff Council and current Graduate Advisor for the chemistry department MyTrang Baccam. “I can imagine that orchestrating such an event was no simple task and I would love to have the opportunity to help my fellow staff members by working behind the scenes.”
| Division | Elected Employees |
| At-Large | Pamela Moses |
| Academic Affairs | MyTrang Baccam, Princess Ephriam, Wendy Gary, Andrea Johnson, Keri Myrick, Cynthia Olmedo, Sheree Pearce, Allyson Plosko, Stella Vasquez |
| Division of Administration & Finance | Gabriela Diaz, Andy Moon, Dina Padovan, Juanita Samuels, Carla Tisby, Nalan Giannukos |
| Office of the President | Karl Hearne, Dia Martinez |
| Division of Research | Jennifer Potocki |
| Division of Student Affairs | Reuben Parish, Robin Taylor, Terence Turner, Alison Wells |
| Division of University Advancement | Jeremy Edwards |
The chairs of the Staff Council are all as diverse as the population itself in regards to academic and personal backgrounds. Newly elected Academic Affairs chair Keri Myrick first arrived at UH as a non-traditional student in 2011 and graduated just two years later in spring 2013 Magna Cum Laude and with honors. Additionally, as a student she published an article detailing honors education at the UH and is currently assistant to the dean in The Honors College.
“Staff Council is one of three advisory units: Staff Council, Faculty Senate, and the Student Government Association,” Myrick said. “With representatives from all over campus, the council serves as a voice to the president of the university and university administration. I believe the impact of SC is as substantial as our constituents and colleagues allow it to be: the more involved we all become, the bigger the benefit to the University as a whole.”
The council is involved with numerous activities to benefit the University and the community with events such as the Sock and Blanket Drive and the Spring Egg Hunt. The University faculty benefit as well from scholarships offered from the Staff Council that seek to promote opportunities so that staff members can further their education.
“The Staff Council has already achieved so much by way of the Staff Scholarship and the Wellness Coaching initiative with UH Wellness,” Myrick said. “I would love to see both of these opportunities expanded.”
