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Interested in joining Staff Senate as a Senator or Leader?

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I am interested in being a Senator or Leader

Staff Senate Leadership Roles

  • Be the representative of the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate to the University Administration, including attending meetings, events and speaking engagements
  • Be a non-voting member of the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate except in the case of a tie vote, in which event the vote must be conducted by secret ballot
  • Conduct all meetings of the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate and the Executive Committee
  • Identify speakers and topics for the Staff Senate meeting agenda
  • Serve on selection committees as requested by University Administration
  • Serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member on all OU-Tulsa Staff Senate standing committees
  • Require Committee Chairs to make oral reports at each Staff Senate meetings
  • Perform such other duties as necessary to fulfill the purposes of the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate
  • Assist and understudy the Chair; In the Chair’s absence, have all the powers and prerogatives of the Chair
  • Be a non-voting member of the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate except in the case of a tie vote, in which event the vote must be conducted by secret ballot
  • Attend Staff Senate and Executive Committee meetings
  • Review the Staff Senate agenda for monthly meetings
  • Chair the Membership and Policy Review Committee
  • Serve on selection committees as requested by University Administration
  • Perform such other duties as necessary to fulfill the purposes of the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate
  • Support and advise the Chair
  • Serve as Parliamentarian and be knowledgeable about the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate Constitution and By-Laws
  • In the absence of both the Chair and Chair-Elect, have all the powers and prerogatives of the Chair
  • Be a non-voting member of the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate except in the case of a tie vote, in which event the vote must be conducted by secret ballot
  • Attend Staff Senate and Executive Committee meetings
  • Perform such other duties as necessary to fulfill the purposes of the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate
  • Attend and record Staff Senate meetings
  • Track attendance of Representatives
  • Attend and record Staff Senate Executive Committee meetings
  • Serve on the Membership and Policy Review Committee
  • Perform such other duties as necessary to fulfill the purposes of the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate
  • Work with the Staff Senate Chair to track, document, and reconcile funds
  • Document cash received with the cash handlers, sign and date a receipt for such, and deliver funds and receipt to the Staff Senate Chair at the conclusion of the event
  • Recount the funds with the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate Chair and sign and date receipt for such

Treasurer shall also report verbally and in writing at OU-Tulsa Staff Senate meetings. 

  • Serve as a representative body of the staff employees of OU-Tulsa and for the exchange of information between the University and its staff employees. 
  • Function for the welfare of the University and to foster a spirit of cooperation, belonging, and unity among all staff employees of the University. 
  • Function as an advisory body to study and make recommendations to the President of the University through the OU-Tulsa President on such policy matters as may directly affect staff employees.

Staff Senate Officers

July 2024 - June 2025

PositionNameTermDepartment/ProgramEmail
ChairPaul Mihos2024-2025Student Enrollment Centerpgmihos@ou.edu
Chair-ElectMitch Braden2024-2025Operationsmitchell-braden@ouhsc.edu
Secretary/Admin CoordOlivia Honas2024-2025Health Promotion Research CenterOlivia-honas@ouhsc.edu
TreasurerKhahn Luong2024-2025President's OfficeKhahn-Luong@ouhsc.edu
Past ChairSamantha Powers2024-2025SCM Dean's Officesamantha-powers@ouhsc.edu
Past ChairAngela Miller2024-2025SCM Dean's Officeangela-miller@ouhsc.edu

Staff Senate Senators

PositionNameTermDepartment/ProgramEmail
SenatorCourtney Thornton2024-2025
Student Enrollment Centercthornton@ou.edu
SenatorVACANT   
SenatorJeremy Moss2024-2025National Resource Ctr For Youth

jemoss@ou.edu

SenatorKari Ernest2024-2025Student Enrollment Serviceskernest@ou.edu
SenatorBryan Gonzalez Silva2024-2025OU Health PhysiciansBryan-GonzalezSilva@ouhsc.edu
SenatorVACANT2024-2025  
SenatorOlivia Honas2023-2025Health Promotion Research Centerolivia-honas@ouhsc.edu
SenatorJenny Shaw2023-2025ECEIjenny.shaw@ou.edu
SenatorDenise Davis2023-2025Electrical and Computer Engineeringdldavis@ou.edu
SenatorJennifer Lee2023-2025OU Health Physiciansjennifer-l-lee@ouhsc.edu
SenatorPatty Pearsall2023-2025Nursingpatty-pearshall@ouhsc.edu
SenatorVACANT2023-2025  
SenatorLisa Mayer2024-2026SCM Family Medicinelisa-j-mayer@ouhsc.edu
SenatorPhil Salon2024-2026College of Educationpsalon@ou.edu
SenatorDianne Estes2024-2026SCM Psychiatrydianne-estes@ouhsc.edu
SenatorVACANT   
SenatorVACANT2024-2026  

Ex-Officio Members & Vice President's Designees (non-voting)

PositionNameTermDepartment/ProgramEmail
Director of HR DelegateTammy RobbinsEx-OfficioHuman Resourcestammy-robbins@ouhsc.edu
Employee Benefits Committee RepBeth Sullins2020-2024ECEIBeth.Sullins@ou.edu
Vice President's DesigneeLaDeana Bolton2024-2028Vice President's Officelbolton@ou.edu

Interested in joining a committee?

If so, fill out the survey by clicking the button below.

I am interested in a committee

The function of the Membership and Policy Review Committee shall be to convene during the year when necessary to form standing committees and nominate staff employees to serve on committees, task forces, etc. To oversee the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate elections and nominate a slate of candidates for officer vacancies. To review (when presented) all suggested amendments to the Constitution and By-laws and make recommendations concerning policies, procedures, directives, etc. To submit recommendations to the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate annually at the March meeting, for action at the April meeting for the next fiscal year:

  • Slate of nominees to fill officer vacancies
  • List of vacant Representative positions
  • OU-Tulsa Staff Senate standing and special committee vacancies

The Membership and Policy Review Committee shall submit all recommendations to the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate for approval. 

Current Members

PositionFirst NameLast NameTermDepartment
ChairMitchBraden2024-25Operations
MemberStefanieDownen2024-25
SCM Dean's Office
MemberDianne Estes2024-25
SCM Psychiatry

The function of this committee shall be to plan, coordinate and execute various events and activities that are sponsored by OU-Tulsa Staff Senate both on and off campus including but not limited to: Some Staff Week activities; Chili-Cook Off; Food Trucks; campus beautification including seasonal decorations; fundraisers to benefit the OU-Tulsa Staff Senate account; and other events as planned by OU-Tulsa Staff Senate. 

Current Members

Position

First Name

Last Name

Term

Department

Co-Chair

Paul

Mihos

2024-25

Student Enrollment Center

Co-Chair

Phil

Salon

2024-25

College of Education

Member

Dianne

Estes

2024-25

SCM Psychiatry

Member

Mitch

Braden

2024-25

Operations

Member

Olivia 

Honas

2024-25

Health Promotion Research Center

Member

Mary 

Wilson

2024-25

SCM Family Medicine

Member

Lisa

Mayer

2024-25

SCM Family Medicine

Member

Stefanie

Downen

2024-25

SCM Dean's Office

Member

Jeremy

Moss

2024-25

National Resource Ctr For Youth

Member

Courtney

Thornton

2024-25

Student Enrollment Services

Member

Bryan

Gonzalez Silva

2024-25

OU Health Physicians

The Merit Award Program was developed to encourage recognition of the contributions made by OU-Tulsa staff employees who go beyond the expectations of their employment. The function of this committee shall be to coordinate staff employee recognition activities including, but not limited to, the following awards: Length-of-service, retirement, OU-Tulsa Staff Senate Merit Awards, and other staff recognition as determined by OU-Tulsa Staff Senate or the President’s Office. 

Current Members

PositionFirst NameLast Name TermDepartment
Co-ChairDianneEstes2024-25SCM Psychiatry
Co-ChairPaulMihos2024-25Student Enrollment Center
MemberStefanieDownen2024-25SCM Dean's Office
MemberMaryWilson2024-25SCM Family Medicine

The Chair of the Committee will be elected by OU-Tulsa Staff Senate. The function of the Communications Committee will be to update the Staff Senate website, send all email communication and update social media accounts as needed. 

Current Members

PositionFirst NameLast NameTermDepartment
Co-ChairPattyPearsall2024-25College of Nursing
Co-ChairKariErnest2024-25Student Enrollment Services
MemberStefanieDownen2024-25SCM Dean's Office