Terms Ending Spring 2025

Financial Affairs, Budget and Planning, Audit and Investment Representative

• Yalverton Luckain

 I am very interested in this role. I have extensive experience that would bring great value to this group. Thank you. 

SC Johnson School of Business Representative
   

• Pia Mengers

I am thrilled to be celebrating my one-year anniversary this March as a member of the Johnson Faculty Support team. This time has allowed me to foster meaningful connections with faculty and staff members in the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management.

Outside of work, I cherish quality time with my family, indulge in novels, tend to my garden, and express my creativity through various projects. As a candidate, I am committed to enhancing staff pride at the SC Johnson School of Business. I believe camaraderie is essential; I will continue to encourage and engage in activities that foster a positive work environment, as I have been doing as a member of the Faculty Support Wellness Committee. I will strive to be supportive and respectful of my colleagues, specifically by acknowledging the value of diverse perspectives and actions.
   
I am excited about the opportunity to serve and contribute to our vibrant community. Thank you for considering my candidacy!

Terms Ending Spring 2027

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Representative At-Large

• Ricky Boche

I am committed to contributing to the diverse community that makes this institution exceptional. It is with excitement that I express my interest in serving as the BIPOC representative at large on the Employee Assembly.

Having been part of the Cornell community for five years, and through my various roles, I have had the privilege of engaging with colleagues from across campus and hearing their insights and experiences. I have deliberately positioned myself in places where I can help students and staff of color. DEI and Multicultural affairs work have been central to my work since I first stepped on campus.

As a member of the Employee Assembly, I am committed to uplifting the voices of my colleagues. I believe in representation and transparent communication. I try to create a culture of openness and collaboration, and I plan to bring those values to the Employee Assembly. I am dedicated to fostering partnerships and collaborations by working collaboratively across departments.

In conclusion, I am deeply passionate about serving on the Employee Assembly and contributing to the continued success of Cornell University. I am confident in my ability to effectively advocate for the interests and well-being of our diverse workforce.

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning Representative

• Mel Banta

I've worked on the Cornell campus for over 20 years, and have spent the last year as a staff member within the AAP community as the Assistant Director of Facilities. Over the past year I have built relationships with Faculty, Staff, and Students within the college. I would like to further my commitment to the college by extending these relationships with the larger Cornell campus community. I am hoping that my involvement within the employee assembly will allow me to bring campus initiatives to the college and provide an open platform for communication.

Disability Representative At-Large

• Stephanie Resue

I am a current Employee Assembly representative and while my current seat is open for election, I would like to continue my work of being a voice for staff and I am excited to run for the Disability Representative At-Large so that I can be a voice for all individuals on campus who identify with a disability. We have a large population of staff, faculty and students who identify in some way with a disability (obvious or not) and I personally know how hard it can be to complete personal and professional responsibilities when managing a disability and how difficult it can be to navigate through and advocate for yourself, when needed. We have amazing resources on campus and I want to be able to share those resources and continue to advocate for members of the Cornell community to learn about and use them. I have been an active member of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committees on campus and would be honored to continue this work to continue to bring awareness to and to engage with and support our community at Cornell who have disabilities.

Division of Human Resources Representative

• Jamie Doss

I have been a member of the Cornell community since March of 2022 when I joined the Division of Human Resources (HR) as a Talent Sourcer in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment. In August of 2022, I was promoted to Talent Acquisition Partner, which entails recruiting for high volume positions and collaborating with people leaders and HR colleagues to fill those vacancies. In 2023, I was elected to serve as the Division of Human Resources (HR) Representative on the Employee Assembly. In this role, I also serve on the Benefits & Policy Committee and the Employee Welfare Committee. Through these experiences, I believe I can continue to use my platform to provide valuable input for Cornell employee policies, advocate for current and future members of our workforce, and engage our community. I have a strong sense of dedication and commitment to Cornell, and I would be honored to continue serving as the Division of HR Representative for the upcoming term. Thank you for considering my candidacy, and I look forward to the opportunity to perpetuate the mission of our illustrious institution.

International Representative At-Large

• Adam Blakeslee

Greetings,

I have been working at Cornell University for 20 years. The past 14 years I have been in the position of Immigration Specialist in the Office of Global Learning. I specialize in H1b, J-1, O-1 and permanent residency petitions and statuses. I graduated from a private international school and traveled to over a dozen countries thus far. I have an understanding and appreciation for the world and all that it offers. I have the luxury of having the world come to me in my current role here at Cornell. I have met so many beautiful people over the years and feel I would like to do more. I would like to be the Cornell International Representative at large as I know this role can have a both a positive and significant impact on the international community here at Cornell.

Library and Museum Representative

• Sean Chang

Over the course of my career at Cornell University, I have had the privilege to work in different libraries across campus. This granted me the rare opportunity to meet and work directly with the incredibly talented people that keep these libraries running, and see firsthand the vast range of different backgrounds, skillsets, and perspectives they bring with them to their work at Cornell.
   
I have had the honor to reflect on these experiences in my work as Library and Museum Representative since my appointment this past December, and I hope to continue to serve library and museum employees as a voice for their concerns and as an advocate for their best interests. Thank you again for your consideration!

More Than 20 Years Service Representative At-Large

• David McDermitt

Cornell is a very big place and there are lots of nooks and crannies which is both an opportunity to thrive or to feel lost. I would like to help employees understand some of the many resources that Cornell has and to feel empowered and know they have mobility within the campus environment.
   
I’ve been at Cornell for over 40 years, and have experienced the university as both a student and employee. So, as the ‘More than 20 years of Service Representative At-Large’, I have both an alum’s perspective and an older employee’s sensibility something which can be an overlooked aspect of diversity. Also, although I’ve worked in a number of departments and in both contract and private colleges, I have been an employee in the Research Division for the last dozen years, so I would also bring an understanding of the value of research employees to academic life on campus – especially appreciating the folks who come to campus outside of the normal M-F, 8-5 routine. 

School of Continuing Education, Summer Sessions, and eCornell Representative

• Ann Morse

I’m running for the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions (SCE) and eCornell seat. In the two months I’ve served on the EA, I’ve come to appreciate the critical role the assembly plays in identifying and addressing staff concerns and working with the administration to improve employees’ lives. I am eager to continue contributing to this vital effort.

As Cornell SCE’s communications director for more than 25 years, I am passionate about access to education and information and recently joined the EA Education Committee to advocate for expanded employee learning opportunities. Collaborating with remote staff at SCE, eCornell, and other units across the university reminds me daily of the importance of Cornell’s off-site employees and our flexible work arrangements.

I also bring to the EA my experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, former chair of the SCE DEI committee, previous facilitator of a campus-wide communications group, and graduate of Leading Cornell.

It would be a privilege to continue working with the EA to improve the ways Cornell recognizes, supports, and honors the valuable contributions of all employees. Thank you for considering my candidacy.