JHU Staff Advisory Council seeks new members

Note: This story was updated Dec. 16 to reflect that the deadline was extended to Friday, Dec. 20.

Self-nominations are now open for the second round of members to join the Johns Hopkins University Staff Advisory Council, which was announced in 2023 and formally launched in February of this year.

When the SAC was created, some members were randomly selected to serve terms of one year rather than two, creating staggered membership terms to allow new representatives to join the council every year. Moving forward, all membership terms last two years. Members may serve up to two terms but must nominate themselves and be elected for each term.

Guided by its mission, the SAC aims to be an inclusive body for university staff, to advise leadership by promoting innovative solutions to multifaceted staff needs and to leverage collaborations with accountable university partners.

The SAC lifts up staff priorities ranging from employee experience to policies and procedures and has met with university leaders to exchange ideas. The council fulfills an important goal of both the Second Roadmap on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Ten for One strategic framework as the university seeks to foster a dynamic workplace where all staff can thrive personally and professionally.

The number of seats available for each division or unit is determined by the number of its employees. There is a minimum of two seats for each across job levels.

The nominations being sought for this cycle are to maintain the SAC's broad representation. The representatives needed by division and job level can be found on the Staff Advisory Council website. The self-nomination period is open through Friday, Dec. 20; individuals interested in joining the SAC should complete the online self-nomination form. Your nomination submission will be used during elections.

Why join the SAC?

Participation on the council allows members to develop leadership and team collaboration skills, and to use their unique perspectives to help inform key decisions and policymaking for staff initiatives at Johns Hopkins. Those who serve on the SAC will have opportunities to network with others across the university, have access to leadership for the purpose of sharing information from the council, and will gain visibility within their division, as well as across the university. In addition, membership on the university SAC is considered professional development and can be documented as such in SuccessFactors.

All full-time JHU staff in good standing (to be verified by Human Resources) are eligible. Only self-nominations are accepted; staff cannot nominate someone else. The council meets monthly for two hours, with additional subcommittee meetings. Participation is voluntary and is considered work time.

Full-time staff can vote for candidates from their division. Elections are expected to take place in January 2025.

Here's what three current SAC members have to say about their experiences on the council:

Lindsey Culli, communications associate in the Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-chair of the SAC Engagement and Recognition subcommittee: "Serving as an inaugural member of the Staff Advisory Council has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The SAC provides a platform to forge connections, drive meaningful change, and elevate staff voices within our institution. It's been gratifying to collaborate with colleagues from across various departments and divisions, all of whom are passionate about improving the staff experience and contributing to an inclusive environment where staff contributions are recognized."

Coretta Bennett, senior director of Design and Construction in University Administration and co-chair of the SAC Policies, Procedures, and Practice subcommittee: "Being a member of the inaugural Staff Advisory Council has provided me with valuable insights into the broader JHU organization and allowed me to contribute my expertise to help enhance impactful initiatives already in progress. Additionally, my decision to co-chair the Policies, Procedures, and Practices subcommittee has been a unique opportunity to collaborate with dedicated colleagues from across various divisions. Together, we've worked to elevate initiatives that will have a lasting, positive impact on staff members. As the new incoming SAC members join, they will inherit a strong foundation built by those before them and will undoubtedly bring fresh, bold perspectives to continue advancing our work."

Ellen Libao, assistant administrator and senior financial manager at the Krieger School and SAC member: "I'm deeply grateful to my KSAS colleagues for electing me, and I'm excited about the important discussions already taking place across various divisions and departments. The work of the SAC is an invaluable tool for fostering a genuine, inclusive culture at JHU. It helps ensure that leadership stays connected with staff at all levels, reinforcing transparency and making certain that the voices of staff are heard in shaping the future of our institution. Please consider running for the JHU Staff Advisory Council. Your participation would be a meaningful way to contribute to this important work and help shape the future for our JHU staff."