UMCES Staff Council

Revitalized in mid 2016, the UMCES Staff Council was formed to be the voice of staff members in the spirit of shared governance and a partnership between UMCES staff and the president and administration of UMCES. Each of the individual labs nominated and voted on members to serve on the UMCES Staff Council.

Interested in staff council or want to know more? Read our helpful FAQs or email us with a question!

2020 – 2021 Executive Board


April Lewis – Chair
Molly Pickel – Vice Chair
Rona Kobell - Secretary
Kurt Florez – Past Chair

2020-2021 Representatives: 

• AL: Cami Martin and Rhonda Schwinabart*
• CA: April Lewis* and Amy Griffin 
• CBL: Samantha Mais and Theresa Holloway
• HPL: Kurt Florez and Julia Bliss
• IMET: Molly Pickel and Michelle Prentice*
• MD Sea Grant: Rona Kobell and Kevin Bruce
• Lisa Ross (Ex Officio member, Director of Human Resources)
• Lori Stepp* (Ex Officio member, Executive Assistant to the President)

*Also serves on Council of University System Staff (CUSS)

Standing Committees:

Communications Committee: Kevin Bruce (chair) The communications comittee maintains the Staff Council website, generates a newsletter on a regular basis, communicates information from the Council of University of System Staff (CUSS) to UMCES staff, posts meeting agendas and archives previous meeting agendas.

Staff Awards Committee: Michelle Prentice (chair) With the assistance of Ex-Officio members, Lisa Ross and Lori Stepp, this committee is charged with coordinating the submission process for both the UMCES Staff Excellence Award and the Board of Regents Award. The Staff Excellence Award, the first of its kind at UMCES, is presented to an individual Staff member who consistently demonstrates a high level of commitment and dedication to UMCES, has a positive impact on their work environment, is flexible and demonstrates cooperation and collaboration among their peers and supervisor while carrying out their job duties. They will present the winner with a plaque of recognition and a $500 stipend at the first Staff Appreciation Day in September 2018.

The Board of Regents USM Staff Awards represents the highest honor bestowed by the Board of Regents for achievements of Exempt and Nonexempt Staff employees from institutions within the University System of Maryland. The awards are presented to individual Staff employees who have demonstrated excellence.  Brian Duke was the first BOR Staff Award recipient for UMCES for the category Effectiveness and Efficiency.

For more information about staff awards, see our Staff Awards Webpage.

Staff Appreciation Day: Charged with planning and executing Staff Appreciation Day where all staff members from all units, who are able and willing to participate, can meet in an informal setting where members of the administration can show their appreciation for their efforts throughout the year. The event will be held at Centennial Park, a location central to all units, in September, and all staff members and administrators, including the President, Vice Presidents, and Directors, are encouraged to attend. 2020-2021 Chair: Molly Pickel.

Detailed reports of UMCES Staff Council committee activities for the 2017-2018 meeting year can be viewed in our Annual Report to the UMCES President.

Downloadable copies of past staff council meetings are provided here:

• April 9, 2020 Meeting
• February 12, 2020 Meeting
• December 11, 2019 Meeting
• August 14, 2019 Meeting
• June 12, 2019 Meeting
• February 13, 2018 Meeting
• December 12, 2018 Meeting
• October 10, 2018 Meeting
• August 8, 2018 Meeting
• June 13, 2018 Meeting
• April 11, 2018 Meeting
• February 14, 2018 Meeting
• December 13, 2017 Meeting
• October 11, 2017 Meeting
• August 17, 2017 Meeting
• June 14, 2017 Meeting
• April 6, 2017 Meeting
• January 31, 2017 Meeting
• December 14, 2016 Meeting
• October 18, 2016 Meeting
• September 20, 2016 Meeting

Downloadable copies of Council of University System Staff (CUSS) newsletters:

• Winter 2019