Elections

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

After working on campus for a little over year now I would like to see how the council gets involved and pushes to maintain the Mission of the University. As for what I can bring is fresh perspective since I haven't been working on campus for a long time. My passion for several of the topics the council works with is my biggest asset. I am ready to hit the ground running and get involved and most importantly learn more about NIU in general.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

This would be the first committee I would participate with on campus. I have outside of campus worked on committees and other organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, with Moose Lodges and I am a former foster parent and served with parenting boards within the agency I was licensed with.

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

I want to see a more collaborative workplace culture that implements regular feedback mechanisms, open forums for discussion, and transparent decision-making processes. When employees feel like they are being heard and that their opinions matter, it can lead to higher morale, productivity, and retention rates.

In addition, I want to create a welcoming and equitable workplace environment where all employees have an opportunity for career advancement and promotion.

Lastly, I want the Operating Staff Council to work with student support offices. Student recruitment is essential, but retaining them is imperative. We want all Huskies to enroll and graduate, and everyone plays a crucial role in their success.

I bring knowledge about the university from both an employee and student perspective. I work collaboratively with faculty and staff on university-level projects, so I am experienced in identifying possible challenges and creating strategies for overcoming them. I am adept at crafting communications.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

I began serving on the Committee for Academic Equity and Inclusive Excellence. However, as my role changed with the VP/CDO's office, I work collaboratively with faculty and staff to write NIU's equity statement. I am currently shifting to support the Presidential Commission.

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

I would like the Operating Staff Council to continue to be an advocate for employees, especially with administration. I believe OSC can also be a strong resource to new members of NIU staff and they are a great way to share institutional knowledge. Advocating for myself and others is something I partake in daily. I was a part of leadership team discussions to further communication efforts between Administration and Management. I have worked hard to convey my team’s needs as well as myself when it comes to scheduling, pay, and benefits. Navigating HR was a task I took on to advocate for myself so I can now be a resource for others trying to create a better work environment for themselves and the teams they represent. I began my journey at NIU as a student, then as extra help, and lastly, I have become a full-time employee of this institution. Every step of the way, I have learned so much about what this university has to offer, and I want to share that with those that I work alongside with daily.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

I have been a part of OSC since August of 2023. I also serve on the judging committee for the NIU Reality Bytes Student Film Festival.

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

I would like to help by bridging communication among the different offices and helping each other with resources. I'm thinking something which would be helpful is to create a place for collaborating together. I feel my greatest asset to the Operating Staff Council is my ability to bring up questions and various solutions to problems.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

I have past experience working on campus committees but this would be my first campus committee after returning from off campus work (for roughly 15 years.) My recent experience is working for the Northern Illinois Food Bank and on the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva Tech Team. On the tech team, I participate in monthly meetings where we decide matters, such as budget and resource needs.

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

I would like to see OSC tackle actual issues like parking (availability, partial usage rates), sliding-scale daycare for low-paid workers, formal training up to and including 'crucial conversations' for the actual 'men/women in the arena' doing the work.

I would like to advocate for wellness challenges that are either fun for an individual or as a team, with prizes and rewards for achieving goals and/or completing a challenge.

It would be good to have a random act of kindness initiative- Encouraging anonymous random acts of kindness among employees fosters appreciation, camaraderie, and a positive workplace culture. If the kindness is anonymously reported, rewarding the gesture can further incentivize such acts.

I would like to see more outreach into the various departments, centers, divisions, and areas of NIU that may be too small, distant, or alternately scheduled from the majority of campus so they may have more of a connection and voice within the OSC. I have a voice, a cell phone, email access, a smile, and two feet. I am not afraid to use them!

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

Operating Staff Council, various positions (alternate, member, editor) 2018-present.

• Vice President, October 2020- June 2021
• Workplace Guidance Committee chairperson 2019, 2020-2023 member
• Public Relations committee 2018-present, member
  
  • Civil Service Celebration Committee 2022, 2023
  • Operating Staff Council Dependent Scholarship Committee 2021-present
• Northern Staff News, Editor, July 2019-October 2023
• Elections & Appointments committee 2020

Local 1890 President January 2022 - present
Local 1890 Vice President, July 2020- Dec 2021

Midwest City Wrestling Program, President
Midwest City Citizen’s Police Academy, Board member
American Red Cross, Disaster Services volunteer and CPR/First Aid instructor

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

I would like to see the OSC continue to strengthen the ties between Operating Staff and administration in our shared governance system. I want people to feel free to bring their concerns and issues to me and also to the Council for consideration and/or support. I would also like to continue to build strong relations with the other councils of our shared governance system so that we can work together on the issues that affect all employee categories. I would also like to work on continuing to improve communication to our constituents, especially those who do not have computer access.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

I have been on the Operating Staff Council (OSC) for 24 years. I have served five terms as OSC President in the past, and several terms as vice President, Parliamentarian, and Secretary. I am currently the OSC Vice President and thus the chair of the Elections and Appointments Committee.

Other NIU committees include:
OSC Public Relations Committee (chaired the committee several times)
Outstanding Operating Staff Service Award Committee (as past recipient of the award)
Operating Staff Dependent Endowed Scholarship Committee
Resource, Space, and Budget Committee
University Advisory Committee
University Council
University Council Steering Committee
Faculty Senate

Community:
Elder at Waterman Presbyterian Church - currently serving as Assistant Treasurer
Northern Illinois Federal Credit Union - currently serving as Vice Chair
Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra - former board member

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

Acting as a source of knowledge and communication, the Operating Staff Council is geared for success to help navigate operating staff employees through conflicts as well as recognition for a job well done and development for future accomplishments. I would like to see the OSC possibly work with colleges directly to help foster a sense of belonging within the individual colleges in addition to connecting folks to the greater campus. For example, I currently am part of the COE’s senate leadership team. I think it would be beneficial for a few OSC members to present and discuss to leadership teams and offer ways in which we can engage with college staff to build a sense of belonging with them. This would be a way to show staff that the university cares about their success, and allow staff to see that the leadership team is also committed to their success. We could do this for all colleges and university offices. This could also help promote the work the council does. I don’t know how many people know about this council and the work being done. It would be good to have an even greater presence throughout the university. In my current role, I have a unique perspective of NIU’s shared governance system because I work with staff, faculty, students, and our leadership team (directors, department chairs, deans). I think I could bring some new ideas to help build on the great work the OSC has been doing for many years.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

I currently do not have experience with committees at NIU, however, I do sit in on College Council (at the COE) and I am part of the senate leadership team (COE). Because I do all the administrative work for both meetings, I am involved in all the conversations that take place at the college level. This has given me a lot of experience and knowledge on processes for students, faculty, and staff. Being relatively new (2.5 years) to the community, having the chance to serve on a three-year term on the OSC will allow me to contribute to campus and the community at large. Additionally, I am part of the Parent Advisory Committee at the NIU campus Child Center (daycare where my daughter attends). While this may not count for committees on campus, we do keep the campus in mind when we discuss opportunities for the center. Looking back a few years, I participated in campus clubs as a student at another university.

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals?

I would love to see the Operating Staff Council continue to serve its community by being a voice for its members and advocating for their rights. I would like to keep contributing as editor of its newsletter ensuring members receive information that will help improve the quality of their work experiences.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

Over the course of the eleven years I have worked at NIU, I have served on various committees and groups including the Supportive Professional Staff Council, Black Faculty and Staff Association, Presidential Commission on Race and Ethnicity and as an alternate for the Operating Staff Council. I love to give my time and support as much as possible because I love NIU and believe in its mission and values.

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

I would like to see the Operating Staff Council continue to get more NIU employees aware of the goals of our NIU family and get more and more of them involved in creating a truly great working environment for all of NIU and working more with the surrounding communities of NIU to make this entire area a great place to live.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

I am finishing my first full term on the Operating Staff Commitee, during that time I have been on the Parking appeals committee and recently added to the Elections committee, I was today just elected to the campus parking committee which I am looking forward to getting involved in. Outside of NIU I was a board member of The DeKalb Corn Fest many years and have recently stepped down to give others a chance to be involved, I am a member of the Knights of Columbus, I am a 3rd degree knight and at one time was the recording secretary, I am also a member of the Elks club and have been one for over 20 years and will be sworn in as an officer in the DeKalb lodge this month.

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

I would like to see continued improvement in fair wages, safety and educational or training opportunities for our operating staff members. My background is in safety and adult training.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

I've been a member of the Operating Staff Council, the Parking Committee and the Civil Service Emergency Fund. In past years I was on the President's Committe for Persons with Handicaps and a member of the DeKalb County local emergency action committee and several church committees.

See a problem? Don't complain. Become part of the solution!

What would you like to see the Operating Staff Council accomplish in the future and what do you feel you could bring to the Council that would help in achieving those goals? 

My background is in experimental psychology, so much of my interest is in collecting data and informing others about the findings. As such, I have been involved in several larger campus wide data collection projects with the goal of informing the President and upper administration about the needs of those working and learning at NIU. The main thing that I've learned through those experiences is that problems and concerns that may make a person feel isolated from the rest of the campus community are likely felt elsewhere, and there's value in getting those voices heard. I'm interested in making that possible whether it involves general flexibility in work hours, safety on campus, fair pay, workplace pride, or something more job-specific. I have learned that voices can be heard if the effort is put into collecting the information and adequately summarizing the needs and potential solutions.

Please describe your experience with committees on campus or in the community and other civic activities in which you have participated including offices held. (Prior committee experience is not required.)

I have served on a number of committees at NIU in the past. I currently serve on the Animal Care and Use Committee (2008 start). I served 7 years on the Presidential Commission for the Status of Women where I was the secretary for 4 years (I was on the research subcommittee that was involved in sharing a report on campus wide data about FMLA needs. This was instrumental in changing FMLA policy.). As an SPS employee several years ago (I'm now Civil Service), I was on the Hearing Board and Grievance Committee, and I served as an alternate for University Council. I have also been on the Psychology Department Honors Committee, the IDEA Survey Task Force, the NIU Outstanding Service Award Committee (I later helped with restructuring the awards), and several position search committees (I chaired one of them). In addition, I consistently serve as a judge for the Conference for Undergraduate Research and Engagement and the Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference.

Outside of work, I have served on the executive boards of elementary and middle school PTO/PTAs and the high school Music Boosters (served as treasurer for several years in both areas).