Voting is now closed.
Also see: 2015 University Senate candidates and 2015 Faculty Advisory Council candidates
Daniel Mundra
Daniel Mundra
I have worked at the UO for over 4 years, 3 of them as an Analyst Programmer at CASIT and more than a year as Web Services manager at CASIT. I am interested in serving on the OA Council to reach out and work with other OAs around campus and learn from them how they serving their department and campus’s needs. The biggest challenge both the UO and OAs face is trying to provide excellent, efficient and fast service in the current climate of distrust and budget cuts.
Randy Sullivan
Randy Sullivan
Randy Sullivan has been with the university since July 2014 working as the Digital Production Manager at the Knight Library. He’s a professional Photographer where he received his formal training at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara,
California. After completing his BS in Commercial Photography and Scientific Photography, he went on to receive his Masters of Science in Photography as well as a Master’s of Fine Art. Randy stayed on at Brooks as instructor and lab manager. After Brooks Institute Randy moved to the East coast working for the National Park Service in Harpers Ferry, WV and then at the National Archives in Washington, DC. Randy has done all types of photography from conservation photography, sports, weddings, and portraits, and is now exploring the abstract. He has also worked for the L.A. County public defender’s office as an expert witness related to photography. Randy has won several awards for his “Organic Abstracts”.
Larissa Ennis
Larissa Ennis
As a senior program manager at Academic Extension, I work with a variety of departments (both academic and administrative) across campus to provide educational experiences to nontraditional audiences. I came to UO in 2002 to pursue a graduate degree in English, and transitioned into a staff position in Academic Extension in 2008. In my almost 13 years at UO, I have served in a variety of capacities: GTF, adjunct instructor, and officer of administration. My time at the University of Oregon and my experiences in these varied roles leads me to understand that shared governance is not a luxury afforded to a few, but rather a responsibility we all share. UO has faced some tremendous challenges in recent years, and as we work to determine the future of this institution, we need to be sure OAs’ voices are heard.
The OA category encompasses a vast expanse of administrative and managerial roles here at the university. We face a variety of challenges, especially being the only unrepresented employee group at UO. Currently, we are grappling with the impacts of multiple changes in senior leadership, the institutional governing board, the faculty union, and broader conversations regarding the changing nature of higher education. I hope to serve on the Officer of Administration Council to represent the voices of OAs on this campus in this formative time, as we work to shape the future of this university.
Peter Bauer
Peter Bauer
Hello, my name is Pete Bauer and I began my career at the UO in the Office of the Registrar in 1996, first as Assistant Registrar and later as Senior Assistant. In 2002 I moved to the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships as the Management Systems Coordinator.
Before my UO career, I worked with the Forest Service and the Peace Corps. I taught myself computer skills and programming while working as forester, and those skills enabled me to land a job here. Working in Registrar and Financial Aid has certainly opened my eyes to the very complex world of data management and reporting. I have seen many changes over the years with OA employment. In 1996 we were hired as Instructors, with faculty privileges. That soon changed when the OA job classification was created. OA’s have worked ever since to define their role here with some success, but not everything we desired.
I am interested in serving on the OA Council to help all OA’s have a voice in campus issues, especially with the recent changes to governance we’ve transitioned to this past year. Transparency in decision making is important and OA’s need to see that and also embrace that idea when managing as well. I also believe that we deserve the respect of knowing our job is secure. We as OA’s deserve job stability and the confidence that the University trusts us and will invest in our future along with the other groups on campus. Multi-year contracts can and should be given to OA’s who have proven their worth over the years.
This is an exciting time for the University as we begin a new era with a new President. I look forward to seeing our institution evolve and to see our students, faculty, and staff unite to improve the greater good.
Holly Syljuberget
Holly Syljuberget
Holly Syljuberget is the office manager for the Business Affairs Office (BAO), and has served the university in that capacity since 2007. She is a Eugene native, and attended the University of Oregon. Holly shares the goals and the mission of the Officers of Administration Council (OAC) to facilitate communication, identify and address pertinent issues, liaise with central administration, and create opportunity for collegiality, all of which are even more meaningful in this era of shared governance. She has been instrumental in helping the BAO reach its many goals over the years, and is excited to have the opportunity to expand her knowledge of the university community and to contribute to the important work and forward progress being made by the OAC.
Lara Fernandez
Executive Director for The University of Oregon’s Summer Academy To Inspire Learning (SAIL) program
Lara Fernandez joined the SAIL program in May 2011 as the Associate Director. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada, and received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont. Lara has an eclectic work background in program development, management and counseling with diverse populations. Her related past employment includes: development and management of a shelter for battered women in Nevada; counselor for Aspen Achievement Academy, a youth wilderness program designed for interventions with youth who have criminal backgrounds, Utah; creating and directing the City Kids to Wilderness Project in Wyoming for low-income, inner-city high school students to discover life without boundaries in the wilderness, program development and case-manager for Indian center in Nevada, Administrator and Conference Manager for MP Associates, Colorado managing city wide trade shows and events across the country, and she is also a mother of three, avid trail runner and outdoorswoman.
Statement of Intent:
My interest in applying for this position is to assist the UO in developing new systems to provide clear roles, increased sense of value and better understanding of the Officer of Administrator (OA) role on campus. I believe with effective and efficient hiring and position maneuverability process, we will not only increase performance, professionalism as well as retention of OA staff. I believe it is our duty as a University to uphold clear standards to create a place where everyone can feel valued and have their needs addressed. If elected in this position, I will strive to meet these ideals and represent you to the best of my ability.
Keith Frazee
Keith Frazee
How long you have been at the UO and in what capacity(ies)?
I started working for the UO in June 2013 in Orientation Programs in the Division of Enrollment Management. Prior to joining the UO, I worked at Baylor University, Westmont College, and the University of Missouri. I currently serve as the Assistant Director of Orientation Programs and coordinate the orientation and transition of new students through IntroDUCKtion and Week of Welcome.
Why you are interested in running for the OA Council?
I would like to continue serving on the OA Council to establish an onboarding and orientation process for new OAs at the UO. I would also like to ensure the student experience is the central value of our work, and it is my hope despite the many different roles and responsibilities OAs have at the UO, we have a shared vision of the promotion of student success.
Your views of the challenges the UO faces or that OAs face
Some of the challenges I’ve recognized the UO facing include the centralization of efforts that have historically been largely decentralized and defining the role and voice of OAs in the shared governance of the institution. I believe OA’s play a powerful role in addressing both issues, and we are equipped to do so effectively and efficiently when communicating well with one another. This past year the OA Council was called upon for input by university administration, and our role is increasingly validated among the decision-makers of the university. I would like to continue this momentum and help in any way I can.
Jane Irungu
Jane Irungu
I have worked at the UO since September 2010. My initial appointment was Associate Director, Office of Multicultural Academic Success. I focused on student retention and success: advising, counseling, scholarship administration, staff development and supervision.
In 2012 I was appointed Director of Graduation and Post-Graduation Success of the newly established Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence. In 2013 I transitioned to director of the center.
For the last five years, I have been following news on shared governance at the UO. I have attended a few senate meetings and a couple of OA Council meetings. I have learned a lot on how shared governance works. That being said, I would like to be part of the leadership to add my voice in the great work that the council is doing. I am intrigued by the differentials in classification, recognition, promotion and professional development of OAs at UO. I want to learn more. I am also interested in issues that relate to equity and inclusion: recruitment, retention, diverse workforce etc.
OA’s are a diverse group in terms of education, experience, remuneration and work environments. The services provided by OAs are part of the engine that runs this campus. Nevertheless, there needs to be more focus on their professional development, their remuneration, and a clear system of promotion among other concerns.
I would be humbled to serve.
Linda Favero
Linda Favero
I launched the Career Center’s Alumni Career Services program in fall 2008 in Portland’s White Stag Block. I enjoy working with students, recent graduates and alumni in career transition to initiate job searches, form professional connections and ready themselves for the job market. In addition, I connect employed UO alumni to the Career Center so they can provide advice, share their knowledge, and identify potential employees. When I was a senior at UO (1988-89), I began my career at the Career Center as the Student Coordinator for the Career Development Internship Program. I never lost touch with my true passion as a career counselor during my 18 year career as a marketer, coach, and trainer at two Portland law firms. In addition, I am the Student Life Liaison in Portland and inform, orient and respond to concerns + emergencies, classroom + student conduct, and health + wellness issues. My volunteer work focuses on raising awareness and funds for clean water, sanitation and hygiene for the people of Zambia as a founding board member of WaterAfrica. I also served on the UO Alumni Association National Board of Directors from 2007-2010.
I am interested in serving on the OA Council to offer a voice for the OAs in Portland and advocate for their needs and concerns. I also strongly collaborate with all career professionals on campus as co-chair of the Career Professionals Consortium (CPC). The CPC represents over 25 UO professionals across 10+ colleges and departments. Furthermore, I work with many OAs in Student Life and Advancement. After 6+ years at UO and working with a variety of professionals across campus, it would be a privilege to serve on the OA Council.
Stephanie McGee
I am excited to be a part of the election process on our campus at the University of Oregon. I am currently the Employee/Labor Relations Specialist in HR. I am fairly new to campus, but I believe that my past experience will allow me to significantly contribute to the overall
success in either the OA Council or the University Senate.
My current position allows me overall vision because the Employee and Labor Relations section of HR touches every entity level on campus. Working with each employee group on a daily basis requires the highest level of analyzing the needs on campus as well as formulating solutions to given problems. One of the major things that I see severely lacking on campus for OA’s is a well-rounded set of implemented policies that would provide guidance to OA’s and also to those working with the OA’s. Previous policies were clearly written to for faculty administration rather than for professional staff. I would like to be a part of the current effort to clarify and improve policy development and
interpretation.
As a quick introduction, I have a BBA in Accounting and a JD in law. I have been a licensed attorney for thirteen years and have worked within higher education for over 20 years throughout Alaska, Hawaii and California. Although my primary focus was in the private sector, I always maintained a strong connection to the public university systems
through service, consulting, and mentoring students, faculty, and advisors. My experience working with campus planning committees, faculty, student and university senate boards as well as policy analytics, drafting, implementation and review will all contribute to my
ability to advocate for the needs of the campus.
My legal and business background will allow me to provide a fresh insight to the very unique needs of the UO campus at large as well as enable me to effectively communicate with different constituent groups on the campus. Providing a voice that can bridging gaps, partnering with diverse groups with sometimes competing goals, present issues and provide ideas for solutions is a passion of mine. I see an opportunity for new eyes and perspective to continue to forge effective partnerships with a newer Board of Trustees, newer unions, a new Ombudsman position and some large changes in the administration on campus.
I would greatly appreciate your support in this opportunity to serve the UO community.
Leeann Ford
I’ve experienced the UO from a variety of different perspectives: a student (MAcc 2008), a GTF instructor, and an OA since December 2011 when I accepted a position as the Business Manager for Information Services. Prior to that, I worked as a governmental and nonprofit auditor with a local public accounting firm.
I want to serve on the OA Council in order to learn more about the UO by participating in its governance. I’ve served on the Budget Advisory Group for the last two years, and it has been a revelation regarding the challenges facing the university, but also the ability of diverse groups to balance competing interests and accommodate constraints to arrive at a workable solution. I’m attracted to the OA Council because of the breadth of its range of interests and potential influence.
Personally and professionally, I’m interested in how governmental organizations work, and what can be done to make them more effective and transparent. I had an inside view of a number of them during my audit career and found that underneath apparent differences the same issues tend to recur. In my work, I’m focused on finding, analyzing and using data in order to make good decisions. I’m committed to open and honest inquiry and respectful discourse as necessary factors of good governance.
Leslie Fountain Williams
Leslie Fountain Williams
Leslie Fountain Williams joined the university in 2011, where she served as the Assistant Director of Budgets and Operations for Undergraduate Studies. She currently serves as the Finance Manager for the University of Oregon Police and Parking & Transportation Departments. She is active in the community and has served on the advisory board of Looking Glass for the past two years.
One of the challenges I see is organizational change. We are at a critical point in the university’s history. We are transitioning in our governance structure, with a new university president soon to arrive.
Being able to understand the needs and demands that drive our change will offer our student population, faculty and staff, and our community the opportunities to facilitate productive communication, which will allow us to work together, in a concerted effort through change. I would be honored to serve on the OA Council and work to provide a voice for OAs across the institution.
The following candidates for Officers of Administration Council submitted no statements:
- Scott Austed
- Dena James
- Laurie Woodward
- Cecilia LaFayette
- Kelly McIver
- Michael Smith
- Bonita Damewood
- George Hecht
