Last week’s election of the Staff Senate executive committe marked a new beginning for the Staff Senate and its goals, according to its newly-elected president and other officers.
The positions of president, vice president, secretary and coordinator of membership were filled June 21 during a Senate meeting which also consisted of officer orientation and a reception for interim University of Memphis president Ralph J. Faudree.
Marcia Taylor, who was elected to replace Maurice Williams as president, said she is extremely excited about her appointment as Staff Senate president. Taylor has already made a list of goals for her one-year term as president.
“We want to clean up the Staff Senate bylaws and would like to get a web coordinator,” Taylor said. “We plan to address any issues that the staff thinks should be addressed. The staff senate addresses problems that the staff is aware of. We recommend to the president that these issues need to be looked at and present the facts we found.”
Taylor, who is the budget officer for the College of Arts and Sciences, said she plans to balance her time between the two positions. As budget officer, Taylor approves all budget revisions that come through the College of Arts and Sciences. She said in order to dedicate more time to both positions she has decided to give up teaching anthropology next year.
Laura Edwards, newly-elected vice president, also said she is excited about starting her new position and wants to make the Staff Senate better in terms of working for and helping the staff.
“We want the staff to be heard,” Edwards said. “We are a tool for the staff to communicate with the president.”
Edwards said she also hopes that during her term she can help “clean up” the Staff Senate bylaws.
Edwards post had not been previously filled when she took office last week. Edwards said James Selbe, former U of M assistant dean for external programs and currently with the Tennessee Board of Regents, had held the position until his departure from The U of M.
Pam Cash, Staff Senate secretary, could not be reached for comment.
“Pam will do a terrific job,” Taylor said. “She is a former secretary for the Staff Senate, and I was very impressed with the job she did. She does a top-notch job.”
The new coordinator of membership, Senese Duhart, will be responsible for helping the secretary circulate Senate minutes and informing members of the Staff Senate agenda.
“I am excited about my appointment,” Duhart said. “I hope to move the Staff Senate forward and achieve as many goals and missions as possible. I want to help those who helped me get involved in Staff Senate.”
