Staff Voters’ Guide - University of Houston
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STAFF COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON JUNE 20 - JULY 14, 2023

The 38th annual University-wide election for Staff Council representatives is scheduled from Tuesday, June 20, 6:00 a.m. - Friday, July 14, 2023, 5:00 p.m.  Voting in the 2023 election will be online only and in-person voting will not be available this year.

2023 Voting Instructions

Online voting at accessuh.uh.edu will be available from Tuesday, June 20, 6:00 a.m. - Friday, July 14, 2023, 5:00 p.m.

  • Select the Election icon under University Services.
  • You may need to refresh your icons if you do not see the Election icon.

Voting in the 2023 election will be online only and in-person voting will not be available this year.

In order to vote during the 2023 elections, voters:

  • Must be benefits-eligible (50% FTE or greater) staff members.
  • Must know their CougarNet account username and password.
  • May cast their vote for no more than the number of open positions available for their division and for one At-Large candidate.
  • May write-in one candidate for their division (if the division has open positions) and one At-Large candidate.
  • May cast their vote from any computer, phone, or tablet with internet access.
  • May only vote once. The online voting site will reject any voter's attempt to go through the voting system more than once.

The representative divisions, total representatives, openings, and candidates are:

 

Division Total for
Division
Open
Positions
Candidates
At-Large 3 1 2
Academic Affairs 17 6 5
Administration & Finance 11 5 3
Office of the President 2 1 2
Energy & Innovation (New) 1 1 1
Student Affairs and Enrollment Services 2 0 0
Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine 1 0 0
University Advancement 1 0 0
University Marketing and Communications 1 1 1

 

Multiple vacant positions will be filled by candidates who have received the highest numbers of votes (votes will be ranked in order from highest to lowest).

2023 Candidates

This Voters' Guide includes a list of all candidates by representative division and a brief biography.

  • Academic Affairs

     

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    Any'A Creeks 

    Director, Information Technology, Honors College 

    Hi all! I been with the university 14+ years, including student years. It has been an amazing ride to go from student worker to staff member. I currently am a member of The Honors College Information Technology department. I have enjoyed my time working with and on Staff Council committees over the past year and would love to continue doing so. 

    Serving on Staff Council has been rewarding and informative and I'm eager to continue being a part of such a hardworking and dedicated UH community. 

     

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    Brisa Gossett

    Department Business Manager, Rockwell Career Center, C.T. Bauer College of Business 

    Brisa M. Gossett is the Department Business Manager at the C. T. Bauer College of Business' Rockwell Career Center at the University of Houston. She began working at the University of Houston in 2006. Prior to joining RCC, Brisa served as Program Manager for the UH Staff Council and worked at the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) for over 10 years. She is a mentor in the UH Las Comadres Mentoring Program since 2020 and enjoys nurturing her mentee. Brisa is a member of HR Houston, the C. T. Bauer Staff Development Circle, and UH Staff Council's Awards & Advancement and Communications Committees. She earned a BBA and BS from UH in 2011. 

    I believe in the work that Staff Council does to serve the UH community by upholding its core values: Service, Training, Advocacy, Networking, Diversity, and Sustainability. 

     

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    Scott Mason 

    Program Director II, Academic Advising, Hobby School of Public Affairs 

    My name is Scott Mason, and I’m currently a Program Director 2 in the Hobby School of Public Affairs, where I help to manage our academic programs and perform other duties. Prior to joining the Hobby School about eight years ago, I worked in the Office of Online & Special Programs for seven years. My undergraduate degree in Management and graduate degree in Public Administration are both from UH. In addition, I’m a Life Member of the UH Alumni Association, and a season ticket holder in football and men’s basketball. I currently serve on Staff Council in Academic Affairs, and hope to continue serving and advocating for staff interests. Thank you for your consideration. Go Coogs! 

    I want to continue serving the university and advocating for staff interests. 

     

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    Marion Russell Dickson 

    Academic Advisor II, Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts 

    Greetings! I’m Marion Russell Dickson, a proud UH Alumna - Moores School of Music, D.M.A. 2014 - who lived and loved the UH Student Experience. My joy was to collaborate with Staff and Faculty while achieving my goals and dreams! As a Staff Member of the KGMCA Office of Student Success, I am ready to advocate on behalf of the UH Staff within that same direction! The potential impact for Staff Care and Concern for our UH Community within a campus-wide sphere is tremendous; there is an incredible amount of history for us to build upon while we move forward. The time is now for providing increased pathways for opportunities to be realized. By assisting with committees and actively assisting Council initiatives, I will support others in meeting their potential and overall career goals. Thank you for your consideration to be your representative on UH Staff Council! 

     

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    Kellie Sager 

    Administrative Coordinator, Electrical Engineering, Cullen College of Engineering 

    My name is Kellie Sager, and I’m currently an Administrative Coordinator with the Electrical & Computer Engineering department, where I assist with HR tasks such as hiring and payroll. Prior to joining UH in 2019, I worked at UT Dallas as the copy center supervisor. I am also attending school part time at UH in hopes of obtaining my Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts for Graphic Design. I have served on the Staff Council since November 2022 under Academic Affairs, and hope to continue serving and being an active member in the UH Community. Go Coogs! 

    I love being involved in UH community, advocating for staff in campus wide discussions, and volunteering at events. 

  • Administration and Finance

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    DaNesha Allen 

    Director of Contract Compliance, Food Services, Office of Administration 

    I am currently Immediate Past President for Staff Council and Director of Food Service for Auxiliary Services. I have also worked in the Division of Administration and Finance for the last 5 years. 

    I have served on Staff Council for the last four years and have enjoyed supporting staff-focused initiatives. I would love the opportunity to continue serving staff. 

     

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    Debbie Samuels 

    Director, UH Enterprise Systems Security Projects, Information Technology 

    Debbie Samuels is the Director, UH System Enterprise Security Projects. Debbie attended the UH campus for three years and received her B.S. in Management Information Systems from the University of Houston Downtown and a M.S. in Management Information Systems from Houston Baptist University. She met her husband a UH track star while attending UH and married at the A.D. Bruce Chappe 27 years ago. We have three children and two granddaughters. One daughter recently graduated from UH December 2020 and participated as a standout UH track star. Thanks for the opportunity to have served as the staff council DEI Committee co-chair for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. It has been an amazing opportunity for me personally and professionally with great benefits and rewards. I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with some of the most amazing UH faculty and staff at UH. It has been very rewarding to assist in the DEI initiatives and events including HERStory Workplace Conversations, the DEI Book Club, and the MLK Jr. collaborations with the CDI. It has been a pleasure working with the staff council leadership and other committees. I am happy to see how the DEI committee has grown its membership, goals and initiatives and am honored to have been a part of the many accomplishments and successes. I look forward to the new changes and opportunities for the committee and the opportunity to continue to work towards the UH staff council mission. 

    I would like to serve on Staff Council because I like to serve and fellowship with people on wonderful causes to improve, enhance and offer leadership and teamwork toward positive mission and initiatives for the university, people, and programs. 

     

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    Cesar Villagran 

    Senior Facilities Project Inspector, Facilities Planning and Construction 

    Cesar Villagran has been a Senior Inspector in the Facilities Planning and Construction Department for 10 years. 

    I want to listen generously to the staff concerns. I want to take the appropriated measures and use the resources available to me to be a voice for the staff. I am committed to taking a nervous system aware approach so the UH staff can feel safe in sharing in a way that won’t be judged or dismissed. 

  • At-Large

     

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    Janelle Brown 

    Manager, Housing Services, Student Housing & Residential Life 

    In my role, as Housing Manager in SHRL, I oversee Housing Operations with a concentration on Accounts and Assignments, and all things 'housing'. I have been in this role for 11 years and over 20 with the University. For the past 2 years I have served on SC, as Secretary, and most recently Staff Affairs Co-Chair. 

    For me it's all about helping the University forward their mission, and helping staff and students be successful. I also enjoy the staff engagement and activities. 

     

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    Trever Thomas 

    Program Manager II, Valenti School of Communication, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 

    With over 20 years in Higher Education, I relocated to Texas and joined the University of Houston in August 2018 as an Academic Advisor II in CLASS (Valenti School of Communication). I currently serve as the Program Manager II for the COMM Advising team. My interest in Staff Council goes back to my 2nd year at UH when I first learned that there was an opportunity for staff to be seen and heard and connect with my fellow Colleagues to learn and grow. This is an amazing and valuable opportunity, to possibly have a seat at the table representing the Advising community on campus, and hopefully share fresh perspectives, suggestions, initiatives, and solutions on how we can be better for those that we service. 

    I would like to be considered for nomination to Staff Council to be a voice for the Academic Advising Community here at UH. Outside of my duties here at UH, I currently serve as the Regional Chair for TEXAAN (The Premier Academic Advising Association of Texas) - Region 5 which is made up of 20 Universities and Community Colleges within Southeast Texas. I would like my efforts to expand here on campus to include how we as Advisors can have more of a voice and share our story with the rest of the Campus body, and our President to bring awareness to the very ones that play an instrumental part in the success (and matriculation) of our students - "Advisors Matter". Advisors are a crucial part of the academic community, and it is important that we too be represented here (with Staff Council). 

  • Chancellor/President

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    Nam Nguyen 

    Assistant Business Administrator, Athletics 

    As a proud graduate of the Bauer College of Business (BBA ’07, MS ’08), I have been employed with the University of Houston since 2014 and currently serve as Assistant Business Administrator for the Athletics department supporting the success of our student-athletes and the University’s transition to the Big 12 conference. I am one of the current Staff Council representatives serving under the Division of the Chancellor/President and serve as the University Advisor for the UH Vietnamese Students Association. I enjoy bringing a servant’s heart to what I do at the University and would continue to bring the same Cougar Pride and enthusiasm serving Staff Council. Thank you for your support and Go Coogs!!! 

    To provide input toward the improvement of the University staff working experience. 

  • Energy & Innovation

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    Deidra Perry 

    Program Director II, UH Energy 

    Dr. Perry has worked at the University of Houston for the last 10 years, rising from Office Coordinator to Administrative Coordinator to the Department Business Administrator for the Provost's Business Office and most recent the Program Director for the Division of Energy and Innovation. She received her Master of Science in Human Resource Development and Doctor of Education from the University of Houston. 

    Not listed (Not a self-nomination)

  • Student Affairs and Enrollment Services

     

    There are no openings for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services this year. Staff members in Student Affairs and Enrollment Services will be able to vote for or write-in an At-Large candidate.

  • Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine

    There are no openings for the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine this year. Staff members in the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine will be able to vote for or write-in an At-Large candidate.

  • University Advancement

    There are no openings for University Advancement this year. Staff members in University Advancement will be able to vote for or write-in an At-Large candidate.

  • University Marketing and Communications

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    Enrique Garza 

    Multimedia Designer, University Marketing and Communications 

    Enrique Garza is a Multimedia Designer for University Marketing. He currently serves as Staff Council Representative for the University Marketing & Communications Division and is Chair of the Communications Committee. Enrique leads his committee to publish the monthly Staff Connect Newsletter, maintain the Staff Council website and social media presence, create graphics and content to promote council programs and events. Enrique was the recipient of the 2022 Friends of Staff Council Award. 

    Not listed (Not a self-nomination)