Employee Assembly Candidate Profiles-Spring 2022

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Representative (uncontested)

• Cornell Tech (uncontested)

Term ends Spring 2024

• Health and Safety Representative (uncontested)

• International Representative at-Large (uncontested)

Term ends Spring 2025

• College of Human Ecology (uncontested)

• Division of Student and Campus Life Representative (uncontested)

• Less Than 5 Years of Service Representative at-Large (uncontested)

• LGBTQ+ Representative at-Large (uncontested)

• Non-Exempt Employee Representative At-Large (uncontested)

• Research, Technology Transfer, and Information Technology Representative At-Large (uncontested)​

• SC Johnson College of Business Representative (uncontested)​

Matthew Davis

md844@cornell.edu

Cornell Tech

Hello, I am Matt Davis, and I am asking for your vote to represent Cornell Tech at the Employee Assembly.
   
Cornell Tech works because its staff works. Staff-run programs are the vehicle through which Cornell Tech engages with our community and makes an impact on the outside world. We produce events that students and alumni look forward to, enjoy, and remember. We nourish relationships with donors and develop the gifts that pay for our facilities, operations, and research. Staff help graduates find jobs, connect with investors, and network with mentors. We ensure that our buildings gleam and our water fountains run.
   

We come to Cornell because we love the environment and we believe in the mission of the university. We also come here for our careers. I want to join the Employee Assembly to build a culture that rewards us for the valuable, challenging, and meaningful work we do. To stay competitive and attractive in the face of a booming private sector, Cornell must continue to do everything possible to ensure that the staff experience - in terms of compensation, benefits, support, and culture - is best in class.
   
It would be my privilege and honor to work for the success and wellbeing of us all.

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Health & Safety Representative (Term ends Spring 2024)

Alexis Comparetta

alc327@cornell.edu

Health and Safety Representative

My name is Alexis Comparetta, and I am apart of Environmental Health and Safety for the Ithaca campus! My role as an Emergency Services and Fire Protection Specialist allows me to connect with students and employees on a regular basis to ensure the safety of life, property and research here at Cornell University. I am twenty-two years old with a long career ahead, and because of my young age I can often empathize the needs of students on campus, while also connecting with staff and faculty to ensure the best interests as an employee regarding health and safety. One of my goals at Cornell University is to work with colleagues to improve and maintain a healthy, safe campus for all who get to experience its marvels!

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International Representative At-Large (Term ends Spring 2024)

Alina O’Connor

ao392@cornell.edu

International Representative At-Large

I love working at Cornell, I am a Johnson MBA Alumn and I am passionate about international markets. I have over 12 years of experience in international and I traveled to over 50 countries, most of them for work in a past life. I learned 5 foreign languages. I am culturally sensitive and aware of cultural intricacies based on specific countries and cultures. I am strategic, driven, poses exceptional people skills and I always deliver on my commitments. 
   I would be delighted to bring forth my passion, experience and educational background to help our employee assembly drive forth the set goals. I am flexible, yet open to learning, to accommodate the needs we would have to deliver timely, quality, results. 
   Thank you in anticipation for your consideration. If I can help provide any other details or on campus referrals, please let me know.

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College of Human Ecology (Term ends Spring 2025)

Kristine Mahoney

km285@cornell.edu

College of Human Ecology

I have been the Director of Facilities for the College of Human Ecology for almost 20 years and feel a strong sense of commitment and dedication to the CHE Community. In 2016, I was elected as the EA Representative for the College. In 2017, in alignment with my work responsibilities and interests, I was elected to chair the EA Transportation Taskforce which worked in strong partnership with Transportation Services to elevate and address issues and concerns of the employee body regarding parking and other elements of the transportation system. Since 2019, I have served as the chair the Employee Welfare Committee. We have developed a strong and active partnership with the Office of Work/Life and Cornell Wellness to advance initiatives associated with employee wellness at a broader level. I appreciate the opportunity the EA has provided me to represent the staff of CHE and to develop a strong partnership with the Office of Work/Life, Cornell Wellness, and Transportation Services. I would be honored to continue this service for upcoming term. Thank you for considering my candidacy.

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Division of Student and Campus Life Representative (Term ends Spring 2025)

Kevin Phipps

klp87@cornell.edu

Division of Student and Campus Life Representative

My name is Kevin Phipps, I'm currently in my 6th year with Cornell University working within SCL, specifically Athletics and Men's and Women's Track and Field program. In athletics, we work daily with the students at Cornell, I feel that my work with the student-athletes here provides a unique perspective of work/life balance and the needs of employees to maintain a better balance and improvement in mental health. Through these experiences, I believe I can provide valuable input for Cornell employee policies with both the best interest of the employee, and student, in mind.

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Less Than 5 Years of Service Representative At-Large (Term ends Spring 2025)

Bethany Dixon 

bd383@cornell.edu

Less Than 5 Years of Service Representative At-Large

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this statement for the position of "Less Than 5 Years of Service Representative At-Large." I'm running for Employee Assembly because, as everyone who knows me in the library knows, I love my work and colleagues fiercely. I feel genuinely and consistently energized and inspired to learn as much as I can about how this organization - Cornell Library, yes, but also Cornell University - functions, strategizes, communicates, and most importantly, learns how to take care of and advocate for the people, the employees, who form the fabric of the organization. I'm curious about institutional identity and values, and what it means to have an institution live and enact the same values and ideology that it requests and hopes for from its employees and students. Recently, I had the privilege of serving on the Search Committee to hire a new University Librarian, Elaine Westbrooks. The generosity and openness shown in the interactions I've had with people who are far above me in their roles at the university has made me realize that every employee, no matter how "small" their status might be, has the right and the ability to ask for help and insight - and to receive it. 

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LGBTQ+ Representative At-Large (Term ends Spring 2025)

Carl Cornell

cec232@cornell.edu

LGBTQ+ Representative At-Large

Over the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to watch Cornell expand ideologically (and quite literally). Being a neurodivergent, queer, Indigenous American, I’m at a unique intersection of marginalized and underrepresented identities. For this reason, I strive to create nurturing environments that provide resources and support for everyone. 
   
   My focus as your LGBTQ+ Employee Assembly Representative At-Large would be to hear your concerns and create a robust support network for all. I strongly believe that there are ways for us to improve stress levels, satisfaction, and morale within our community. However, this only can happen with direct and open dialog surrounding the issues we face.
    
   As your representative, I will dedicate time to listen to our community and will relay questions, concerns, and critiques directly to the EA. I’ll advocate for mental and physical wellbeing, while building opportunities for us to strengthen our peer networks. I aim to be open and honest about the struggles we face, and will honor the successes we’ll create together. 
   
I look forward to being your representative and working towards a stronger One Cornell.

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Non-Exempt Employee Representative At-Large (Term ends Spring 2025)

Kit Tannenbaum

kht43@cornell.edu

Non-Exempt Employee Representative At-Large

Hello! I’m Kit and I’m running for re-election as I truly enjoy serving on the EA and discussing issues pertaining to staff with colleagues across campus.
   
It is one thing to mumble and grumble to yourself when you feel something is not right, and it is another to take your concerns to the right spaces and faces for constructive dialogue. I’ve chosen the latter - my participation through shared governance on the EA embodies the spirit of “being the change you wish to see in the [Cornell] world.”
   
One of the ways I’ve done this is by originating the review of the University’s bereavement policy language to expand the definition of “immediate family” to include surrogate parents for employees who do not have traditional family arrangements. AY 19-20 EA Resolution #7 (Bereavement Policy) was created, and President Pollack/VP Opperman accepted the proposed language change on 6/24/20.
   
More recently, my focus has been around flexible work arrangements and inclement weather policy. I have used the opportunities when University Leadership comes to EA meetings to engage directly about these matters.
   
Thank you for considering your vote in support of continuing my unwavering employee advocacy efforts on the Employee Assembly.

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Research, Technology Transfer, and Information Technology Representative At-Large (Term ends Spring 2025)

Ellie Krumm

esk96@cornell.edu

Research, Technology Transfer, and Information Technology Representative At-Large

Hi! I’m Ellie (she/her),
   
When I first came to Cornell in 2017, after working for a private company for over 15 years, I was and still am excited to belong and be a part of everything at Cornell! However, I found my off-campus office was not as involved as I desired to be, and finding, subscribing, and sorting out information on various websites and newsletters to be rather cumbersome. Thankfully many years ago I became involved with the EA Communication Committee and was pleased to find they are advocates of providing everyone with an opportunity to sit at the decision-making table and a great resource for being involved.
   
As an elected official I aim to contribute further by continuing to provide the Cornell community with a variety of opportunities for involvement, mentorship, and inclusion, connecting to those who feel lost in Cornell’s vastness, who desire to be involved, but feel alone in their quest.
   
Additionally, with so many of us working from home or altered schedules, work-life balance is of utmost importance to me. I believe our job as elected Employee Assembly members is to reflect the Cornell campus as a whole, allowing our voices to be heard and aid in making suggested solutions become a reality.

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SC Johnson College of Business Representative (Term ends Spring 2025)

Derron Borders

db788@cornell.edu

SC Johnson College of Business Representative

My name is Derron Borders and I use they/he-series pronouns. I serve as the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion within the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management in the SC Johnson College of Business (JCB). I have been a Cornell staff member going on six years and have appreciated the advocacy and voice that the EA has given staff members when it comes to communicating staff needs to University leadership. I have also appreciated the communications from EA representatives to learn about the whys and hows of different decisions and initiatives from the top down. I would love to be able to be the representative for staff throughout JCB. In this role I will be an open ear to all JCB staff to make sure the their voice on the most important issues that they care about are heard by the EA and that, in return, I communicate how the EA is working to support and create a better experience for all staff at Cornell. I recently sat on a committee with staff members from all over the University to support Cornell's commitment to recruitment and retention of exceptional diverse staff. Working with folks from across campus to do the greater good was such an extreme pleasure and I would like to continue this work on the EA.