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Executive Committee

The Executive Committee may hold special meetings and act on behalf of the Staff Senate when timely action is needed.��The Executive Committee is voted in by returning and newly elected Staff Senators at the start of each Senate session in July. Read more about the 2025-2026 Staff Senate Executive Committee and how to contact them below.

• Abigail Girard, President

  Abigail Girard, M.A., is the Strategic Initiative Support Manager in University Relations, where she oversees strategic initiatives and operations. Since joining the �Թϴ�Ӫ in 2022, Abigail has been engaged in advancing collaboration and transparency across the institution. She was elected as a Senator representing Area 10 and now serves as Staff Senate President. Abigail is an advocate for equity and policy, continually striving to balance institutional priorities with the lived experiences and voices of �Թϴ�Ӫ staff.��

  Abigail may be reached at Staff.President@du.edu.

• Maggie Heyduk, Vice President

  Maggie Heyduk, M.Ed, MSW (she/her) is at GSSW, where she leads a team that supports MSW students through inclusive, student-centered advising and meaningful resource connection. Since joining �Թϴ�Ӫ in December 2019, she has been a dedicated advocate for equity and collaboration across campus: first having been elected to the inaugural Staff Senate, later serving as Secretary, and now as Vice President. Drawing on her background as a social worker and educator, Maggie is committed to ensuring staff voices influence institutional decisions and lead to lasting, positive change at �Թϴ�Ӫ.��

  Maggie may be reached at Staff.VicePresident@du.edu.

• Adela Smith, Treasurer

  Adela Smith, M.A., is the Registrar for the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW), where she leads a dedicated team committed to guiding MSW and PhD students through their academic journey. Adela came to �Թϴ�Ӫ in January 2019 and immediately got involved in community building by joining the Inclusive Excellence Committee at GSSW. In 2024, Adela was elected to serve as the Staff Senator for Area 6 in the inaugural Staff Senate session. Drawing from her past experiences as a treasurer on several boards, Adela values the organization, transparency, and collaboration required in stewardship roles. She enjoys applying these skills in service to shared governance and community well-being at �Թϴ�Ӫ. Adela earned her M.A. in Higher Education from the Morgridge College of Education, where she is now pursuing her Ph.D. Her doctoral work reflects her deep commitment to examining the systemic injustices that shape higher education.��

  Adela may be reached at Staff.Treasurer@du.edu.

• John Maly, Secretary

  John Maly, M.A., is the Assistant Registrar for Operations and Compliance in the Office of the Registrar where he administers �Թϴ�Ӫ’s compliance with FERPA and State Authorization regulations and manages business operations for the division. John came to �Թϴ�Ӫ in 2018 for graduate school and worked at the Joy Burns Arena in the Ritchie Center and the Morgridge College of Education Office of Admissions before becoming a full-time staff member in the Office of the Registrar in November 2020. After joining Staff Advisory Council in January 2023, John was involved with the Staff Senate Task Force, chaired the Staff Awards committee in 2023, and was elected a Staff Senator for Area 8 for the inaugural 2024 Staff Senate session. John enjoys writing, taking notes, and recalling random facts – all skills that serve him well in the Registrar profession, as Staff Senate Secretary, and with trivia nights.��

  John may be reached at Staff.Secretary@du.edu.

• Detric Robinson, Ph.D., Past-President

  Detric Robinson, Ph.D., is the Director of Residential Education within the Division of Student Affairs, where he oversees the residential experiences of on-campus students. Detric joined the �Թϴ�Ӫ Community in 2022, was elected Senator for Area 7, and later became Staff Senate President during its first full term. In his role as Staff Senate President, Detric actively used his position to advocate for the needs of �Թϴ�Ӫ’s staff community in various spaces and continued to build a foundation for Staff Senate. Detric continues to live by the statement, “We can be right or effective,” and believes that we must always be intentional in how we act and do.��

  Detric may be reached at Staff.PastPresident@du.edu.

Area Senators

Senators regularly communicate staff needs, feedback, and concerns to the Senate, establish ongoing channels for information sharing and feedback, inform staff about their role and available resources, and support Staff Senate events. Please note that units marked with an asterisk (*) reflect an addition to the respective Area effective July 1st, 2025 with the seating of newly elected Staff Senators.

Senate Committees

Communications Committee
Rosi Hull, co-chair
William "Bill" Scott, co-chair
The Communications committee maintains the Staff Senate website, prepares and sends out the quarterly Staff Senate newsletter, works with committees to create marketing and communication materials, and maintains social media.

Elections Committee
Katie Schroeder, chair
The Elections Committee is responsible for conducting Staff Senate elections (both regular and special elections), including soliciting self-nominations and holding a University-wide election for nominated staff to become senators.

Events & Engagement Committee
Tamara Tabb, chair
The Events and Engagement Committee plans, organizes, and promotes community events, building a sense of community amongst all employees at the University. The committee may organize subcommittees for specific events like Staff Awards, Employee Picnic, etc.

Institutional & Financial Literacy Committee
Jason Jackson, chair
This committee fosters financial transparency and empowers staff through education and policy engagement. It focuses on enhancing understanding of �Թϴ�Ӫ financial systems and practices, including but not limited to contracts, procurement, compensation policies, pay equity, budget planning and capital construction. The committee also addresses broader institutional policy issues and advocacy initiatives. It collaborates to develop solutions, draft proposals, and present recommendations that support staff well-being and promote informed financial decision-making across the University.

Staff Experience
Katia Miller, chair
Dedicated to improving the overall staff experience, this committee reviews, addresses and drafts resolutions related to University policies and advocacy efforts that impact staff well-being. It evaluates and recommends changes to HRIC policies and other institutional practices, ensuring that staff voices are heard and valued. Through collaboration, the committee develops proposals and solutions that enhance workplace culture, equity, and professional satisfaction.

Ad Hoc Committees, Subcommittees, and University-wide Committees
Ad hoc committees and subcommittees of standing committees are formed as deemed appropriate by majority vote of the Staff Senate. Additionally, members of the Staff Senate may hold temporary or permanent positions on university-wide groups such as University Council, University Budget Advisory Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, and others as the need arises.
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