Staff Council
Wentworth’s Staff Council serves as an advisory body to Wentworth’s president. The bylaws outline the Staff Council’s role in representing the perspectives of staff to the administration, sharing ideas on best practices in their respective areas that support the University’s mission and strategic initiatives, and facilitating communication between the administration and staff at all organizational levels.
The Council’s purpose and objectives include:
- Supporting the strategic initiatives of the University
- Providing comment on changes or additions to University policies, practices, and programs for addressing issues of common concern
- Communicating with staff at all organizational levels about the work of the Council
- Actively supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University
- Endorsing and promoting community‐building programs and activities to support closer working relationships and collaborations between and among organizational areas and employees at Wentworth
- Advocating for and modeling an environment of respect and fairness and building community through effective communication
While the Council is not a decision‐making body, members of the Council provide valuable input, advice, and recommendations on behalf of staff colleagues to the University’s administration.
History
In November 2020, Wentworth President Mark A. Thompson announced the establishment of a working group of representative staff members from across the University to develop Wentworth’s first-ever Staff Council as an important first step in supporting staff engagement and collaboration.
Divisions held elections during March 2021 and elected their first representatives to sit on the Council.
Charge of Council
- Provide comment on changes or additions to University policies, practices, and programs for addressing issues of common concern
- Communicate with staff at all organizational levels about the work of the Council
- Actively support diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University
- Endorse and promote community‐building programs and activities to support closer working relationships and collaborations between and among organizational areas and employees at Wentworth
- Advocate for and model an environment of respect and fairness and building community through effective communication
Staff Council Details & Contact Information
Contact a council representative by following the link listed in the bios below or email us at StaffCouncil@wit.edu. We are happy to hear your thoughts for how the Council can address the challenges, personal ideas, or changes you believe should occur for Wentworth staff members.
Staff Council Members
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Academic Affairs: Pia Romano, Council Chair
My name is Pia Romano (she/her), I am the Staff Council Representative for Academic Affairs. I am excited to be on Staff Council to become more involved in the growth of Wentworth as a workplace and a university. I have worked at Wentworth since August 1994. I have a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from Simmons University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Secondary Education from Suffolk University.
As a Reference & Instruction Librarian, I have the privilege of meeting many people on campus. I spend time assisting with research, meeting with classes to introduce library resources and research tools. I also teach research skills and information literacy. As a librarian, I work with everyone on campus. In addition to helping students, I meet with faculty and staff to help with research. I also co-host the Womxn’s Book Club for female identifying faculty and staff at Wentworth.
I look forward to meeting more staff on campus and acting as a sounding board and voice. I want to ensure that staff is not overlooked in the decision making on campus. I really hope to create a space where staff members will reach out with any campus concerns and issues so council can work to resolve them.
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Institutional Advancement and External Relations: Samantha Cavedon, Council Vice Chair
My name is Sam Cavedon (she/her), and I am the Staff Council representative for the Institutional Advancement and External Relations (IAER) department. While I have various careers in early education and fundraising, Wentworth Institute of Technology is my first experience in working in higher education. I have been at Wentworth for a little over two years now. I think intercommunication and collaboration between departments is what Wentworth needs to thrive, and I hope to help support my colleagues with my unique perspective and adaptability. I’m looking forward to becoming more involved with other members of the Wentworth community.
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Enrollment Management: Kayla Caulfield
My name is Kayla Caulfield and I am the Visit and Event Coordinator in the Admissions Office. I have worked at WIT since August 2022. In my role, I co-advise our Admissions Ambassadors; organize the class visit program for admitted students; schedule group tours (campus visits for community organizations); and assist with the planning of our large-scale Open House and Welcome Day events. I grew up in Billerica, MA, I hold a BFA Design degree from Lesley University, and my brother is a 2017 WIT alum. I look forward to collaborating with fellow staff council members on how the Enrollment Division can continue to support our campus partners in order to provide the best experiences to our students. Additionally, I want to make certain that the University's Inclusive Excellence pillar is carried throughout all staff members' work experiences so employees can thrive in their roles.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Open
Contact Staff Council: staffcouncil@wit.edu
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Business: Sharon Gaffney
My name is Sharon Gaffney (she/her), I am the Staff Council Representative for the Facilities / Business department. You can find me in the Planning & Construction as the Project Manager since 2019. Currently I am pursuing a BA in Project Management. I have a degree in Illustration and Graphic Arts and training in architecture, I found my little niche in the development and construction industry for the last 20+ years with my own small design firm. When I changed my career path, I enrolled in the CPCE program for Bim/Revit and was enamored with the campus and people ever since. Working and studying at Wentworth, I have a unique opportunity that allows me to see things with different perspectives, as staff and student. With my position in Facilities, I interact with many faculty, staff and students on campus. As a Staff Council member, I look forward to meeting more staff members and I hope to broaden my views and knowledge so that I can be a productive resource for our staff on campus.
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Public Safety: Audi Lopes
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Human Resources, Finance, and President's Office: Open
Contact Staff Council: staffcouncil@wit.edu
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Digital Technology Services: Ricardo Then
I’ve been working at WIT for almost 4 years. I started as a work study student and moved my way up to my current position. I am also a Wentworth alumnus, graduating in 2019 with a BS in Computer Networking and a minor in Security. Some of my interests consist of researching new security threats, photography, and exploring new hiking trails.
I have many goals that I would like for this council to fulfill, but a few of the main ones are regarding relationships and communication. I believe it is extremely important to have a relationship between our faculty and staff members, which can allow us to better understand and resolve the concerns they may have. The members of the council (myself included) should do everything in our power to ensure that our colleagues feel welcomed when bringing issues to our attention and strengthening the relationship with one another would greatly help in ensuring we all feel comfortable.
In my opinion, communication is also important in the success of this council. We should do our best to welcome open communication within the Wentworth community in regard to the school’s agenda (e.g. monthly events, activities, emails). Gathering feedback on these plans and events should also be one of our top priorities. Communication should not be a one-way channel; it should be something that both the members of the council and the WIT community can utilize to clearly express their thoughts and concerns.
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Student Affairs: Valerie Mamish
My name is Val Mamish and I work in Housing and Residential Education as a Community Director overseeing 555 Huntington Ave. Prior to joining the residential life team, I gained valuable experience working within student affairs working in student involvement. During this time, I actively supported the planning and execution of large-scale programs and provided guidance to student leaders within their respective organizations. I offered assistance in areas such as budget management and program planning.
As a Community Director, I have the privilege to supervise our Community Assistants, maintain one of our on-campus residential buildings, and meet with residents to ensure they are living in a safe and welcoming environment. I thoroughly enjoy working with students to ensure that they have the support they need and feel like they belong within the community they live in. Being on staff council I aspire to facilitate an inclusive and collaborative environment where the voices of my colleagues can be heard. My goal is to foster collaboration between staff, faculty, and various departments in order to cultivate an equitable and welcoming workplace for all members of our community.