Interested in joining Staff Senate as a Senator or Leader?
If so, fill out the survey by clicking the button below.
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
Position | Name | Term | Department/Program | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chair | Paul Mihos | 2024-2025 | Student Enrollment Center | pgmihos@ou.edu |
Chair-Elect | Mitch Braden | 2024-2025 | Operations | mitchell-braden@ouhsc.edu |
Secretary/Admin Coord | Olivia Honas | 2024-2025 | Health Promotion Research Center | Olivia-honas@ouhsc.edu |
Treasurer | Khahn Luong | 2024-2025 | President's Office | Khahn-Luong@ouhsc.edu |
Past Chair | Samantha Powers | 2024-2025 | SCM Dean's Office | samantha-powers@ouhsc.edu |
Past Chair | Angela Miller | 2024-2025 | SCM Dean's Office | angela-miller@ouhsc.edu |
Staff Senate Senators
Position | Name | Term | Department/Program | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Courtney Thornton | 2024-2025 | Student Enrollment Center | cthornton@ou.edu |
Senator | VACANT | |||
Senator | Jeremy Moss | 2024-2025 | National Resource Ctr For Youth | jemoss@ou.edu |
Senator | Kari Ernest | 2024-2025 | Student Enrollment Services | kernest@ou.edu |
Senator | Bryan Gonzalez Silva | 2024-2025 | OU Health Physicians | Bryan-GonzalezSilva@ouhsc.edu |
Senator | VACANT | 2024-2025 | ||
Senator | Olivia Honas | 2023-2025 | Health Promotion Research Center | olivia-honas@ouhsc.edu |
Senator | Jenny Shaw | 2023-2025 | ECEI | jenny.shaw@ou.edu |
Senator | Denise Davis | 2023-2025 | Electrical and Computer Engineering | dldavis@ou.edu |
Senator | Jennifer Lee | 2023-2025 | OU Health Physicians | jennifer-l-lee@ouhsc.edu |
Senator | Patty Pearsall | 2023-2025 | Nursing | patty-pearshall@ouhsc.edu |
Senator | VACANT | 2023-2025 | ||
Senator | Lisa Mayer | 2024-2026 | SCM Family Medicine | lisa-j-mayer@ouhsc.edu |
Senator | Phil Salon | 2024-2026 | College of Education | psalon@ou.edu |
Senator | Dianne Estes | 2024-2026 | SCM Psychiatry | dianne-estes@ouhsc.edu |
Senator | VACANT | |||
Senator | VACANT | 2024-2026 |
Ex-Officio Members & Vice President's Designees (non-voting)
Position | Name | Term | Department/Program | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Director of HR Delegate | Tammy Robbins | Ex-Officio | Human Resources | tammy-robbins@ouhsc.edu |
Employee Benefits Committee Rep | Beth Sullins | 2020-2024 | ECEI | Beth.Sullins@ou.edu |
Vice President's Designee | LaDeana Bolton | 2024-2028 | Vice President's Office | lbolton@ou.edu |
Interested in joining a committee?
If so, fill out the survey by clicking the button below.
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
Position | First Name | Last Name | Term | Department |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chair | Mitch | Braden | 2024-25 | Operations |
Member | Stefanie | Downen | 2024-25 | SCM Dean's Office |
Member | Dianne | Estes | 2024-25 | 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
Position | First Name | Last Name | Term | Department |
---|---|---|---|---|
Co-Chair | Dianne | Estes | 2024-25 | SCM Psychiatry |
Co-Chair | Paul | Mihos | 2024-25 | Student Enrollment Center |
Member | Stefanie | Downen | 2024-25 | SCM Dean's Office |
Member | Mary | Wilson | 2024-25 | SCM 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
Position | First Name | Last Name | Term | Department |
---|---|---|---|---|
Co-Chair | Patty | Pearsall | 2024-25 | College of Nursing |
Co-Chair | Kari | Ernest | 2024-25 | Student Enrollment Services |
Member | Stefanie | Downen | 2024-25 | SCM Dean's Office |