Front Row Left to Right: Julie Mathis, Dana Boyer, Jenny Stewart, Catherine MacCallum, Melissa Day, Claire Allison Back Row Left to Right: Morgan Burnett, Cayela Baucknecht, Regina Aton, Holli Stillman, Abi Hammer, Ryan Fisher, Richard Gamble
In higher education, July and August usually brings a lot of changes to the University. July brings a new fiscal year and August brings a new academic year. For Staff Senate, it brings new leadership and initiatives. This years Staff Senate is led by Catherine MacCallum, Senior Academic Advisor for Student Outreach in the Advising Center. Catherine is a two-time alumnus of WCU, holding a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism with a minor in Leadership and a master’s degree in Project Management.
Her career at WCU has spread over a few different offices and divisions; New Student Orientation, the Department of Campus Activities and finally the Advising Center. In all of these roles, Catherine has dedicated herself to supporting students and creating a better experience during their years in Cullowhee. She has been on Staff Senate for 4 years serving as the Staff Senate Treasurer, Chair-Elect and now Chair!
Her executive team is made of up 12 individuals across campus that were either voted on by their peers or appointed by the chair.
Chair-Elect– Regina Aton
Past Chair– Melissa Day
Parliamentarian– Ryan Fisher
Secretary– Cayela Bauknecht
Technologist– Abi Hammer
Treasurer– Morgan Burnett
Governance Chair– Richard Gamble
Scholarship Chair– Dana Boyer
Resources & Development Chair– Holli Stillman
Staff Engagement Chair– Jenny Stewart
Community Service Liaison– Julie Mathis
UNC Staff Assembly Representative– Claire Allison
Staff Senate is made up of 32 staff representatives from all divisions on campus, dedicated to joining efforts in supporting all staff members on campus. 30 of these members are voting members and 2 are non-voting members. The 2 non-voting members are the chair and past chair.
Catherine will give her opening speech at the Annual Fall Opening Assembly on Wednesday, August 13th in the Bardo Arts Center alongside Chancellor Kelli R. Brown, Provost Richard Starnes, and Faculty Senate Chair, Basel Alsayyed Ahmad.