University of Houston staff members have elected new representatives, including two longtime employees and former campus leaders.

Charles Henry, College of Pharmacy’s business administrator, and Carol Barr, College of Education’s business manager, were selected to fill two of 14 Staff Council positions. This is not the first time that Henry and Barr have won seats on the council.

Barr, who has been at UH since 1978, served as the organization’s president from 1991 to 1992. Henry, who has worked at UH for 25 years, was Staff Council president from 1998 to 2000.

“I thought that this would be a good time to take an active part again in Staff Council,” Henry said. “President Jay Gogue recognizes the contributions of staff to the overall success of the university. The opportunity for staff to work with the administration, faculty and students to make the University of Houston the best that it can be has never been so promising. I am looking forward to being a part of the process.”

Barr had different reasons for running for a Staff Council position.

“I decided to run for Staff Council after the annual faculty/staff Easter Egg Hunt,” she said. “The first Easter Egg Hunt took place the year I first served on the council. My entire family took part in the event again this year, which made me realize how much of my life and my family has been connected to UH.”

Barr, Henry and the other newly elected council members will begin their terms Sept. 1.

“I am very pleased with the results of this year’s Staff Council elections,” said Joe Papick, director of the Child Welfare Education Project in the Graduate School of Social Work and incoming Staff Council president. “I look forward to this coming year with all of the challenges and opportunities to work with all of the new members and continuing to work with the current members to serve our university and make it a great place for students, faculty, and staff.”

NEWLY ELECTED STAFF COUNCIL MEMBERS

Academic Affairs
Mary Andress-Reed, office coordinator – College of Pharmacy

Carol Barr, business manager – College of Education

Mary Douglas, director of placement services – Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management

Sharon M. Gates, advising assistant – Department of Chemical Engineering

Charles Henry, business administrator – College of Pharmacy

Ann M. McFarland, director of the Office of Community Projects – Graduate School of Social Work

Mary Schulz, academic advising specialist – Cullen College of Engineering

Patti Tolar, academic affairs coordinator – Department of Psychology

Susan Williams, administrative assistant - College of Optometry

Administration and Finance
Walter Rodriguez, deputy fire marshal - Department of Public Safety

Information Technology
Karl Bernard, information technology security analyst – Security and Disaster Recovery

Research and Intellectual Property Management
Mitra Rahimi-Kiani, technology transfer associate – Office of Intellectual Property Management

Selesta King, division administrator – Division of Research

Student Affairs
Rebecca Szwarc, administrative assistant – Residential Life and Housing