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Staff Senate

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"Rooted in Legacy, Rising thru Unity, Leading with Purpose"

Purpose

The purpose of the Staff Senate is to serve as the legislative body to develop and recommend policies to the University staff not covered by labor union contracts. During intervals between meetings of the staff as a whole, it shall have jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to staff affairs and policies of the University. The University Staff Senate has a major role in the formulation of legislation falling within the following areas:

  • To assist in the communication of issues and activities affecting staff members.
  • Actively promoting and facilitating staff participation in the University community.
  • Developing and recommending policies governing appointments, status and promoting of staff, working conditions, and fringe benefits.
  • Reviewing periodically the effectiveness of the total staff personnel program. 

Becoming a Member

To become a member, persons must meet the following criteria: 

  • Be a full-time and active staff employee
  • Employed at the institution for at least 6 months
  • Attend monthly meetings

Meetings

Staff Senate meetings occur on the third Thursday of every month at 3:00 pm. Meetings are sometimes held virtually. For more information on General Staff meeting dates and minutes, please contact a Staff Senate Officer.

Virtual Meeting Login

Click  to log into monthly virtual meetings. 

Staff Senate Officers

Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Parliamentarian

Nikasha Jones

Staff Senate Chair
Academic Support Services Coordinator
R.E.A.C.H. Center
334.725.2394/2395
njones@tuskegee.edu

TERM ENDS: June 30, 2027

Shannon Payne

Staff Senate Vice Chair

Director of 1890 Land-Grant Operations & Management
College of Agriculture, Environment & Nutrition Sciences
334.727.8334/8012
SPayne@tuskegee.edu

TERM ENDS: June 30, 2027

Brianna Preston

Staff Senate Secretary
Administrative Assistant
Ford Motor Company Library
334.724.8894
BPreston@tuskegee.edu

TERM ENDS: June 30, 2026

Gabrielle Ross

Staff Senate Treasurer
Clerk
Campus Mailroom
334.727.8357
GRoss@tuskegee.edu

TERM ENDS: June 30, 2027

Tiffani Williams

Staff Senate Parliamentarian 
Administrative Assistant/Program Assistant
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences 
334.727.8848
TWilliams1@tuskegee.eedu

TERM ENDS: June 30, 2026

Members

Staff Senate Members

Carol Banks
Staff Senate Communications Officer
Project Manager
Office of Research and Graduate Studies 
334.724.4444
CBanks@tuskegee.edu

TERM ENDS: June 30, 2027

Christine Berry
Office Manager
Provost Office
334.727.8029
CBerry2@tuskegee.edu

TERM ENDS: June 30, 2027

Dawnelle Robinson
Associate Vice President for Business Affairs/Controller
Office of Business and Fiscal Affairs
334.724.7333
DRobinson@tuskegee.edu

TERM ENDS: June 30, 2026

Michael Thurman
Academic Advisor
R.E.A.C.H. Center
334.727.8322
MThurman@tuskegee.edu

TERM ENDS: June 30, 2026

 

Ex-Officio

Ex-Officio Staff Members

Mark A. Brown, Ph.D.
Staff Senate Ex-Officio
President and CEO of 91ÖÆÆ·³§ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúÊÓÆµ¹ÙÍø
Office of the President
Kresge Center
Phone: 334.727.8501

Therno Thiam, Ph.D.
Staff Senate Ex-Officio
Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Office of the Provost
Kresge Center
Phone: 334.727.8164

Wendell Lopez
Staff Senate Ex-Officio
Chief Financial Officer
Kresge Center
Phone: 334.727.8879
 
Cassandra Tarver-Ross
Staff Senate Ex-Officio
Chief Human Resources Officer
Office of Human Resources Management
Phone: 334.727.8510
Email: ctarverross@tuskegee.edu
 

Dawn Calhoun
Staff Senate Ex-Officio
Administrative Assistant
Department of History and Political Science
Phone: 334.727.8541
Email: dcalhoun@tuskegee.edu

Immediate Past Chair - TERM ENDED: June 30, 2025

Committees and Resources

Standing Committees of the Staff Senate

The Standing Committees of the Senate are:

a. Executive Committee

The committee shall consist of the President of the University, or in his/her absence a person named by the President, or, in his/her absence a person named by the President; the officers of the Senate, and the chairman of the standing committees of the Senate. The presiding officer shall be the Chairman of the Senate.

It shall prepare the agenda for the Senate meetings; assign or refer the business of the Senate to appropriate committees for consideration and report; recommend abolition, alternation or creation of abolition, alteration or creation of Senate committees and generally expedite all work of the Senate. It shall prepare an operating budget for the Senate,  which shall be forwarded to the administration.

b. Staff Personnel Committee

This committee shall concern itself primarily with  policy matters and guidelines for administrative implementation pertaining to: appointments, status and promotion of staff,  working conditions, and fringe benefits. Member shall include the Vice President for Business and Fiscal Affairs.

c. Personal Development Committee

This committee shall concern itself primarily with policy matters and guidelines relating to workshops, short courses, institutes, and other activities designed to upgrade of performance of members of the staff.

d. Newsletter Committee

This committee shall concern itself primarily with the development  of a newsletter. The newsletter should provide information about personnel currently employed at the University.

Resources