Spring 2026 Employee Assembly Candidates
Meet the Candidates
College of Human Ecology Representative
- Deb Surine
My name is Deb Surine, and I am a Program Assistant for AAD in the College of Human Ecology. I have been part of the Cornell community for 26 years, serving in CCE Administration, CHE HR, and now CHE AAD. For the past three years, I have had the privilege of representing AAD on the Employee Assembly and currently serve as Chair of the EA Education & Development Committee.
My time on the EA has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve met wonderful colleagues from across the university, deepened my understanding of Cornell’s governance, and contributed to committee work that has made a meaningful difference for staff. I am proud of the progress we’ve made and would welcome the opportunity to continue building on that momentum. I remain committed to amplifying staff voices and supporting initiatives that strengthen the Cornell employee experience.
College of Veterinary Medicine Representative
- Marcy Benda
I am in my 26th year at Cornell and the Veterinary College. I have always been an advocate for staff, to ensure fairness and to be sure opportunities continue to be available for staff. Shared governance gives employees the opportunity to have our concerns shared with other parts of the university and leadership. We need people to serve on the Assemblies who are committed to attend and participate in meetings and are able to speak up and be respectul of all of the members of our community. I have created and co-sponsored several resolutions for various concerns over my years of involvement in the Assemblies. I enjoy meeting new people and working on keeping Cornell a thriving instutution and a great place to work and learn. I have served as chair of the Education Committee, the Welfare Committee, the Expressive Activity Policy Committee and the University Assembly to name a few. I manage the Hospital Operations office and work with other offices and areas of the veterinary college so am a great advocate for all of our voices. Thank you for your consideration to continue to be the Veterinary College Representative.
Exempt Representative At-Large
- Armen Abrahamian
My name is Armen Abrahamian and I am an Admissions Counselor at the Undergraduate Admissions Office. In my time at Cornell, I have worked in 6 different roles in 4 offices. These experiences have made me a staunch advocate for the power of our work in higher education. I seek to bring my background as a young alumnus, staff, graduate student, and sibling of a student to the Employee Assembly.
Since becoming a full-time staff member, I have taken several courses through the part-time study benefit as well as enrolled as an employee degree program candidate in the Brooks School. I strongly believe that these benefits have improved my ability to contribute in my role and I've served as a non-voting member of the Education Committee of the EA advocating for these benefits to be more accessible and widely utilized.
Especially during these times, my focus would be on clear communication and workplace experience, to ensure each of us feels supported in our roles. Cornell is truly a special institution, and I would be honored to have your support representing the central administration on our Employee Assembly.
Less than Five Years Service Representative
- Nicholas Maggard
My name is Nicholas Maggard, and I’m running for Less than 5 Years of Service Representative At-Large on the Employee Assembly. I’m motivated by public service and by a simple goal: help Cornell staff feel heard, supported, and able to thrive in their work.
I bring proven leadership experience in Cornell's shared governance system, including prior roles on both the Student and University Assemblies. Through that work, I developed a deep working knowledge of how the Assemblies operate: how concerns become resolutions, how policy is shaped, and how to navigate the system in a way that leads to real change.
If elected, I will pair that knowledge with strong existing connections with senior university leaders to help elevate staff priorities and ensure employee perspectives are part of the decisions that affect our day-to-day work, particularly in a time of ever-increasing change. I’m committed to listening actively to your concerns and collaborating across units so the Employee Assembly can deliver practical improvements for staff across Cornell.
Representative At-Large (Two Positions)
- Theresa Lagasse
I am excited to express my interest in serving on the Employee Assembly. Since joining the University in 2008, I have been deeply committed to supporting our academic and research mission through strong financial leadership and collaboration. Over the years, I have held finance positions across three colleges and currently serve in the College of Veterinary Medicine. In that time, I co-developed and implemented a comprehensive training program for finance staff, led college-wide finance meetings to foster collaboration, and worked to streamline processes to improve efficiency and information sharing. My focus has always been on strengthening communication, building partnerships, and ensuring that staff members feel informed and supported in their roles. I am eager for the opportunity to contribute to initiatives that enhance communication, transparency, and efficiency while ensuring that staff voices are heard and valued.
- Danyel Wierson
My name is Danyel Wierson, and I am running for re-election as an Employee Assembly Representative At-Large. I am completing my first term and currently serve as EA Vice Chair of Operations and Finance, liaison to the Faculty Senate, and on the Education, Benefits & Policy and Welfare Committees.
I’ve been at Cornell for 10 years and serve as the Course & Communications Coordinator for the Department of Physics. I work with staff, students, faculty, and administrators across Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Human Ecology, and CALS. My work lives between academic operations and university policy, so I see how university decisions show up in departments and in the everyday work of staff. All three of my children, along with my daughter-in-law, are also Cornell employees, so this community matters to me both professionally and personally.
In EA, I ask tough, direct questions and push for clarity when staff impact hasn’t been fully considered. I believe staff deserve transparency and fairness, and I work to keep staff perspectives part of broader university conversations.
I would be grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Cornell staff.
School of Industrial and Labor Relations Representative
- Erwin Heffron
My name is Erwin Heffron, and I serve as the ILR Schools Residential Budget Coordinator and Contract Administrator. I am currently in my third year of work at Cornell, and I am running for the ILR School Assembly seat to ensure that employees' voices are heard as the school navigates ongoing financial challenges.
In my role, I regularly work at the intersection of budgets, policy, and the day-to-day operations that keep our units functioning. That experience has given me a firsthand understanding of how high-level decisions impact the staff who support Cornell’s mission every day. I believe it’s important that those voices are part of the conversation.
As a member of the Employee Assembly, I would have the opportunity to gain insight into how other schools across Cornell are managing similar constraints while also considering and advocating for the needs of our units and the staff who keep them running.
Outside of work, I can usually be found spending time with my partner, binge-watching older TV series, or attempting to cook a dish that is way outside my skill set. I also have a love for animals, video games, gardening, and most importantly, eating terrific food!
- Steven Hickey
I am excited to seek a seat on the Cornell University Employee Assembly because I believe in fostering a workplace where every staff member feels valued, supported, and heard. In my role as a Finance Manager at the Yang Tan Institute, I work closely with colleagues across departments, giving me a broad perspective on the diverse needs of employees and the challenges we all encounter in our daily work. I want to bring that perspective to the Assembly to help advance meaningful initiatives for our community.
My priorities include improving workplace communication, strengthening professional development, and advocating for policies that enhance staff well-being. I am committed to promoting transparency in decision-making and ensuring that employees at all levels have opportunities to contribute their insights. I believe that the University will thrive if the staff feel they have the ability to shape the environment in which we work. If elected, I will listen actively, collaborate thoughtfully, and work hard to represent the voices of employees with integrity and respect. Cornell is an incredible place to work, and I am dedicated to helping it continue to grow as a supportive, forward‑thinking institution for everyone.
School of Public Policy Representative
- Becca Campbell
I am interested in serving on the Employee Assembly to help ensure that the perspectives of non-faculty staff are meaningfully represented in university decision-making. As a staff member at the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, I have seen daily how collaboration, thoughtful policy, and inclusive dialogue can strengthen our institution and community. I would bring that same commitment to the EA by listening closely to colleagues, elevating staff concerns, and working constructively with university leadership.
Representing the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, I hope to contribute insights from our staff perspective; promoting staff well-being, professional development, and a strong sense of belonging across Cornell.
Serving on the EA would be an opportunity to advocate for colleagues, share ideas, and help ensure that staff voices remain a visible and valued part of Cornell’s future.
University Relations and Central Administration Representative
- Kate Supron
I am running for re-election to the Employee Assembly to fill the seat for the Representative for University Relations and Central Administration.
I currently serve on the Employee Welfare Committee and am one of the two EA liaisons to the Campus Planning Committee.
The role of the Employee Assembly is to represent the views, priorities and concerns of Cornell staff members regarding Cornell policies, procedures, campus climate to university leadership. The first step is to find out the background current practices on issues of concern, starting with outreach to Cornell colleagues in the appropriate unit to gain understanding and engage in dialogue with them.
Common longstanding issues of concern are parking and transportation, including the reliability of TCAT service to and around campus. We have good communication with Transportation Services leadership. The Employee Welfare Committee connects with Division of Human Resources colleagues, often those in Work-Life Balance unit.
I support a policy and practice of the EA body remaining neutral on social and political issues that are not related to Cornell.
With thanks for your consideration. I am happy to represent your views and concerns.
Women's Representative At-Large
- Ashley Blank
My name is Ashley Blank and I've worked on the Ithaca Cornell campus for five years as the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Affairs in the Mechanical and Aerospace department in the Duffield Engineering college. I have a BS in Elementary Education and Masters in Pastoral Studies and Curriculum and Instruction. I started out as an elementary teacher and worked on many groups that centered on teacher's assemblies./groups and valued the work, people, and experience. I became aware of the Employee Assembly this past year as I have a co-worker who is part of this community. I found the work and action to be focused on the goals and outcomes that I hope to exist for the employees at Cornell. I'd like to do my part toward letting others on campus know that this organization exists, and hopefully play a part to better the lives and working environment for those of us at Cornell. As a parent who works full-time, I understand the importance of balance and the obstacles/speedbumps for those of us that work and need to balance family/personal lives. For these reasons, I'd like to be considered for the EA role of the Women's Representative seat.
- Maria Peck
Hello,
My name is Maria Peck; I am a Boiler technician for the university on the Ithaca campus. I have been in the trades for the past seven years working as a plumber/ pipefitter.
I am running for the Women's representative position because I truly feel as though I can make a difference. In 2025 I received the "Women's Trades Hero Award' I was one out of fifty women selected in the United States for this award. This award represents women excelling in the trades and helping other females excel in the trades.
My goals if I am elected are to help and encourage females to accomplish their goals no matter what they are. I have gone through Cornells, ECornell programs in Essentials to management and Executives in management.
I believe learning every day to better myself is very important in doing so I can help our community navigate situations and be a better example for others. Mental health is very important to me finding a healthy work life balance should be a priority for all of us on Campus. I would like thank everyone for taking the time to read this and if elected I will do my best to make a difference for Cornell community.