Staff Senate Committees

Committee rosters for the 2025-2026 fiscal year:

Angel Bear Tree Committee

Charge

To provide assistance with the holiday expenses for UCA employees. Specifically, this is done through administering the Angel Bear Tree program on campus to gather, wrap, and distribute gift donations.

Members

  • Jasmine Driver, Co-Chair
  • Veneta Fricks, Co-Chair
  • Audreka Peten
  • Nakeya Palmer
  • Shalia Delph
  • Jennifer Day
  • Logan Wolfe
  • Alex Smith-Todd
  • Tracie Spivey, Non-Senator
  • Brandy Davis

Appointments Committee

Charge

Make recommendations to Senate of appointments to university and Staff Senate committees; make recommendations to Senate to fill vacant Senate positions.

Members

  • Sherita Kern, Chair
  • Jasmine Driver
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Bransen Dickson

Basketball Committee

Charge

Acquire and equip workers to work as ushers for each home basketball game. These volunteer positions raise money for Staff Senate to use to benefit as many UCA staff members as possible through Staff Senate sponsored programs.

Members

  • Jasmine Driver, Co-Chair
  • Teresa Burton, Co-Chair
  • Sherita Kern
  • Richard Hammond
  • Robby Burton
  • Alex Smith-Todd
  • Tiffany Turner

By-Laws

Charge

Acquire and equip workers to work as ushers for each home basketball game. These volunteer positions raise money for Staff Senate to use to benefit as many UCA staff members as possible through Staff Senate sponsored programs.

Members

  • Travis Johnson, Co-Chairs
  • Dylan Richardson, Co-Chair
  • Bo Blew
  • Jennifer Day
  • Shelly Vangsnes
  • Thomas McDaniel
  • Millie Goins

Compensation Committee

Charge

Develop a 5-year plan for addressing salary concerns of staff within the budget and make recommendations to the Strategic Budget Advisory Committee (SBAC).

Members

  • Richard Hammond, Co-Chair
  • Shelly Vangsnes, Co-Chair
  • Millie Goins
  • Bo Blew
  • Anita Mahathay
  • Tiffany Turner
  • JW Calvary

Communications & Outreach Committee

Charge

Develop and implement a communication plan for Staff Senate.

Members

  • Teresa Burton, Chair
  • Dylan Richardson (Historian)
  • Teresa Burton (Courtesy Chair)
  • Tiffany Turner
  • Hannah Hanshaw
  • Melanie Watson
  • Ricky Harris
  • Travis Johnson
  • Veneta Fricks Ad-Hoc
  • Sherita Kern Ad-Hoc

Courtesy Committee (Sub Committee)

Charge

Receive notification of staff and faculty members who are suffering significant loss or who are celebrating a significant milestone, and send Congratulations, Get Well, Goodbye, New Baby, Retirement, Sympathy, or Thinking of You greeting cards.

Members

  • Teresa Burton

Please complete this form to complete a courtesy card request. 

Courtesy Card Form

Elections Committee

Charge

Determine upcoming vacancies on the Senate and fill appropriately within the constraints of the approved constitution.

Members

  • Sherita Kern, Vice President (Chair)
  • Veneta Fricks
  • Shalia Delph
  • Dylan Richardson
  • Teresa Burton
  • Carlos Herrera

Emergency Fund Committee

Charge

To serve as responsible stewards of the Staff Senate Emergency Fund. The committee shall administer all activities related to review, approval, and fund disbursement related to all Staff Senate Emergency Fund applications.

Members

  • Audreka Peten, Co-Chair
  • Ricky Harris, Co-Chair
  • Shalia Delph, Non-Voting (Treasurer)
  • Hannah Hanshaw
  • Kendra Erickson
  • Morgan Camp

Employee Recognition Committee

Charge

Award deserving UCA staff members by recognizing an Employee of the Quarter for each quarter, as well as two Employees of the Year (one classified and one non-classified).

Members

  • Shalia Delph, Chair
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Kendra Erickson
  • Bransen Dickson
  • JW Calvery

Football Committee

Charge

Acquire and equip volunteers to work as gate attendants, ticket takers, and ushers for each home football game. These volunteer positions raise money for Staff Senate to use to benefit as many UCA staff members as possible through Staff Senate sponsored programs.

Members

  • Audreka Peten, Co-Chair
  • Bransen Dickson, Co-Chair
  • Nakeya Palmer
  • JW Calvery
  • Millie Goins
  • Bo Blew
  • Thomas McDaniel

Professional Development Committee

Charge

To assist staff employees in pursuing opportunities for professional development.

Members

  • Alex Smith-Todd, Co-Chair
  • Bo Blew, Co-Chair
  • Shalia Delph, Non-Voting (Treasurer)
  • Nakeya Palmer
  • Robby Burton
  • Charlotte Strickland (University Training representative)

UCA Public Appearances Committee

Members

  • Hannah Hanshaw, Co-Chair
  • Kendra Erickson, Co-Chair
  • Dylan Richardson
  • Ricky Harris
  • Jennifer Day
  • Shelly Vangsnes
  • Logan Wolfe
  • Brandy Davis

Scholarship Committee

Charge

The Committee is responsible for reviewing the electronic applications received for the following scholarships: Staff Employee, Staff Dependent, and Lily Harmon. After application review is complete, the Committee will notify the recipients of the award per semester.

Members

  • Veneta Fricks, Co-Chair
  • Alex Smith-Todd, Co-Chair
  • Kendra Erickson
  • Millie Goins
  • Anita Mahathay
  • Melanie Watson
  • Brandy Davis

Spring Social Committee

Charge

To organize a luncheon open to staff and faculty that is sponsored by the President’s Office and Staff Senate.

Members

  • Melanie Watson, Co-Chair
  • Sherita Kern, Co-Chair
  • Shalia Delph
  • Logan Wolfe
  • Jasmine Driver
  • Robby Burton
  • Richard Hammond
  • Bransen Dickson
  • Brandy Davis

Staff Handbook Committee

Charge

This committee is charged with keeping the Staff Handbook current and relevant to the needs of staff which includes the following: review board policies to ensure the most current policy is reflected in the handbook; make suggestions for revisions and updates to policies; work with HR to make any revisions needed; compare manual and policies to other universities our size to ensure we are current and transparent with all information that should be covered by asking committee members to research policies and table of content information in staff handbooks.

Members

  • Hannah Hanshaw, Chair
  • Tiffany Turner
  • Cassandra Ward, Non-Senator
  • Robyn Smith, Non-Senator

Winter Feast Committee

Charge

To organize a fundraiser luncheon open to staff and faculty that is sponsored by the President’s Office and Aramark, the donations of which will go to the Angel Bear Tree Fund.

Members

  • Melanie Watson, Co-Chair
  • Travis Johnson, Co-Chair
  • Nakeya Palmer
  • Anita Mahathay
  • Jennifer Olson
  • Thomas McDaniel
  • Dylan Richardson
  • Robby Burton
  • Morgan Camp
  • Shelly Vangsnes
  • Ashley Berry, Non-Senator