Any idea who represents you on Staff Council? The feedback we’ve received suggests for many staff members the answer is “no.” In response, we are launching a new Councilor Spotlight series in the monthly newsletter. The Spotlight series is intended to introduce Council members as well as provide a glimpse of the work that occurs on Staff Council. Why would you want to contact your representative? They can elevate your concerns or ideas, help you find information, and connect you with resources across campus. Use this link to find your representative: https://staff-council.uiowa.edu/about-staff-council/councilor-directory.    

Sam Mitchell is a Quality and Operational Improvement Engineer, and Staff Council Function Representative for Administrative, Audit, Compliance, Legal and Risk staff members. Mitchell joined the University of Iowa in 2015. This year she is the chair of the Communications Committee, and a member of the Health Care committee.

When asked what staff council project she is most proud of, Mitchell shared “I’m proud of the advocacy work we do as Staff Council group. Last year staff members brought forward their concerns about losing insurance coverage for online mental health appointments through Doctor on Demand. Staff Council escalated this concern to leadership and this benefit was reinstated in Fiscal year 2024.”

Some additional Q&A with Sam:  

Q: What is something you do outside of work for fun?    
A: Biking is something that brings me joy. I choose to bike to work year-round and am fortunate to have developed a strong community of friends who also enjoy biking. To date I have participated in 9 Ragbrais, biked in 8 states and 3 European countries.

Contact information: Samantha-mitchell@uiowa.edu