Letter from the President

Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the end of the year, I want to pause and express my heartfelt gratefulness to each of you. Your commitment, creativity and resilience have made this an extraordinary year for our staff community. Together, we’ve faced challenges and turned them into opportunities for growth and collaboration.

As I wrap up my fourth month as Staff Senate President, I am filled with gratitude for the more than 4,000 talented and hard-working staff members who are the backbone of our university. Your dedication ensures that every person and every interaction matters. While UNL faces its share of challenges, I am confident we will navigate these trials together, thanks in large part to the exceptional leadership and collaboration across our campus.

I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Staff Senate Executive Committee—Jerri Harner, Morgan Green McConnell, Jordan Gonzales, Doug Pellatz, and Joann Ross—for their unwavering commitment to ensuring staff voices are heard at decision-making tables. Their work exemplifies what shared governance should be: collaborative, transparent and impactful.

This year has been marked by significant progress and collective achievements. Here are just a few highlights for which I am thankful:

• Expanded District Meetings: Through the efforts of VP of Internal Affairs, Jerri Harner, we’ve broadened opportunities for staff engagement through district meetings, creating spaces for meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
  
• University of Nebraska Staff Advisory Board: Our close alignment with UNK, UNO, and UNMC staff governance groups continues to strengthen system-wide collaboration, led by VP of External Affairs, Morgan Green-McConnell.
  
• Town Hall Feedback Report: Progress is underway on initiatives from last summer’s Town Halls, including expanded wellness resources, holiday shutdown policies and increased staff involvement in budget processes.
  
• Having a Seat at the Table: Through representation on the Academic Planning Committee during the Budget Reduction Process, staff voices were part of critical decisions. Shared governance worked—and that matters.
  
• Leadership Transparency: Our campus visit with President Gold and Chancellor Bennett underscored leadership’s willingness to engage openly. The Health Insurance Webinar is another example of proactive communication that builds trust and clarity.
  
• Professional Growth: Organizational Development and Training expanded offerings like NRICH, NSPIRE, NCLUDE, and the All-Staff Conference, providing no-cost opportunities for learning and leadership development.
  
• Wellbeing Resources: The Employee Assistance Program and HealthierU broadened services, ensuring staff have access to counseling and workplace support when needed.
  
• Staff Senate Committee Restructuring: Committees are the backbone of Staff Senate. We are working to ensure our structure is agile, relevant and impactful as the university navigates change.
  
• Task Force on Workplace Culture and Wellbeing: Continuing efforts initiated by Executive Advisor Jordan Gonzales, this task force is finalizing strategies to enhance wellbeing and engagement across campus..

More details at: https://staffsenate.unl.edu/