Results:

Congrats to our new 2026 CLAS Staff Council representatives!

  • Our newly elected officials term will begin  June 1, 2026 and end May 31, 2029.
  • Results:
    • Group 1:
      • Luke Roleck
    • At-Large: in alphabetical order by last name...  
      • Susmita Das Sarkar
      • Beth MacKenzie
      • Lindsay Vella


CLAS Staff Council would also like to thank all those who voted in this election.  Our winners of the gift card drawing will be announced shortly.

Again, thank you to all who participated in this election, whether it be seeking a position or voting!

Group 1
(Academic Support, Libraries, and Information Technology)

Luke Roleck

Luke Roleck

Candidate Statement
Group I

I have spent a little over a year in CLAS as an Admissions Counselor on the undergraduate recruitment team. In my eyes, the most important part of my career as an Admissions Counselor is making sure that I'm guiding prospective students towards making the right choice for them, even if that choice might lead them away from our institution. I see myself taking a similar approach with addressing issues on Staff Council – making sure that my contributions and participation in discussions help lead to changes that best serve the people around us, not the interests of the institution. In our increasingly unsure environment, an issue I am passionate about is ensuring that diverse voices are heard and celebrated, not silenced.

At-Large

SusmitaDasSarkar2

Susmita Das Sarkar

Candidate Statement
At-Large

What is your role in CLAS?
I am IT Project Coordinator for CLAS TS.  I oversee the Student Technology Fund (STF) and Computer Classroom Renewal (CCR) programs.

How long have you been with CLAS?
I have been at CLAS for more than a year now.

What is the main issue you see facing staff that you'd like to address while on staff council?

If elected to the Staff Council, I intend to focus on two primary pillars:

i. Empowering Career & Professional Growth
Staff members are the engine of this institution. I believe we must create more robust opportunities for continuing education and professional development. My goal is to advocate for policies that not only encourage staff to grow in their fields but also formally allow for the time necessary to participate in events of interest. Supporting our staff’s growth is an investment in the University’s future.

ii. Building a "One Team" Culture
I am passionate about moving from a "departmental" mindset to a "sustainable work culture" mindset. I want to help bridge the gap between leadership direction and the daily experiences of staff on the ground. By fostering a symbiotic environment where communication flows both ways, we can ensure every staff member feels truly connected, included, and valued. We are one institution, and we should work toward our goals as one cohesive team.

BethMacKenzie

Beth MacKenzie

Candidate Statement
At-Large

My name is Beth MacKenzie, and I’m a Program Manager in the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. I’ve been at the university for 10 years, four in Facilities Management and six in CLAS. 

Many staff across CLAS are feeling stretched. Heavy workloads, ongoing changes at the college and university levels, and outside pressures have created stress and uncertainty. I believe stronger communication and deeper connections across campus can help CLAS staff feel less siloed and more like a community. When staff have colleagues they can turn to for support, ideas, and problem-solving, the work feels more manageable and collaboration happens more naturally. 

CLAS Staff Council has made important progress in elevating staff voices. If elected, I would build on that work by finding more ways to strengthen communication between staff and leadership, creating more opportunities to share ideas and resources, and ensuring concerns about workload, professional development, work-life balance, equitable pay, and other challenges are heard. 

In my current role, I partner with colleagues across campus to advance sustainability.  I will bring that same collaborative approach to Staff Council. 

LindsayVella

Lindsay Vella

Candidate Statement
At-Large

I am the Departmental Administrator for Cinematic Arts, a position I began in December after working in the dept admin role across seven other units in CLAS. I’ve been part of the University of Iowa community since 2011—first as a graduate student and teaching assistant in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, briefly as an administrative secretary in the Main Library, and for the past decade in CLAS. I am currently wrapping up a term on the Administrative Leadership Team’s Executive Committee.

If elected to the CLAS Staff Council, the primary issue I would look forward to advocating for is strengthening staff retention and support – work that is also closely connected to increasing recognition and visibility of staff expertise and ensuring that staff voices are meaningfully included in shared governance at both the departmental and collegiate levels.