Meet the Committee Members for 2025-2026 Term

Barrett Neda.jpg

Neda Barrett, Staff Council President

Title/Position
Human Resources
Function Representative
Sam Mitchell

Sam Mitchell, Vice President/President Elect

Title/Position
Administration; Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk
Function Representative
James Jorris

James Jorris, Staff Council Past President

Title/Position
Behavioral Health; Health Care
Function Representative
Hilary Jensen

Hilary Jensen, Staff Council Secretary

Title/Position
President; Provost; General Counsel; Human Resources; Strategic Communications; University College; Continuing Education
Organizational Representative
Ashley Peters

Ashley Peters, Staff Council Budget Officer

Title/Position
VP for Medical Affairs; Iowa River Landing; University Hospitals and Clinics; Psychiatric Hospital; Centers for Disabilities and Development; Child Health Specialty Clinics; Special Child Health Services; UI Health Care Affiliates
Organizational Representative
Josey Bathke 1

Josey Bathke, JD, MBA, ARM-P, SPHR , Executive Committee Member at-large 2025-2026

Title/Position
Administration; Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk
Function Representative
Amanda Bibb

Amanda Bibb, Executive Committee Member at-large 2025-2026

Title/Position
College of Law
Organizational Representative
Mel Sanders.jpg

Mel Sanders, Executive Committee Member at-large 2025-2026

Title/Position
UI Athletics
Organizational Representative
Bridget Toomey

Bridget Toomey, Executive Committee Member at-large 2025-2026

Title/Position
Behavioral Health; Health Care
Function Representative

Contact Information:

For questions, please contact staff-council@uiowa.edu

Chair:

President of Staff Council

Purpose:

To provide leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for Staff Council and to support the effective execution of Council responsibilities between full Council meetings.

Scope of Concern:

  • Formulate goals and direction for Staff Council initiatives and activities.
  • Advise and assist Council officers
  • Act on behalf of the full Council between regular meetings when timely action is required, with actions reported to the Council.
  • Review all proposed amendments to the Staff Council Bylaws in accordance with the Policies & Procedures Manual.
  • Coordinate agenda planning
  • Support shared governance collaboration

Membership & Terms:

Voting members include:

  • President
  • Vice President/President Elect
  • Past President
  • Secretary
  • Budget Officer
  • Four at-large members elected by Council

Officer terms:

  • President: 1 year
  • Vice President/President Elect: 1 year
  • Past President: 1 year
  • Secretary: 1 year
  • Budget Officer: 2 years

Succession follows the Vice President → President → Past President model.

Election Process

Election Process:

Executive Committee members must be elected members of Staff Council.

At-large Executive Committee members are nominated and elected by the full Council prior to the start of the operational year, as outlined in the Bylaws. 

Nominations are open for a defined period, and members may be nominated for both officer and at-large positions. 

Elections are conducted by the Council.

The structured succession model ensures leadership continuity and institutional knowledge within Staff Council.