Candidates 2021

JENNIFER BUCALO
Academic Foundation Center

As a Rutgers alum and current director of partnerships and engagement for the Academic Foundations Center, I am passionate about creating opportunities for all students. Throughout life I often asked myself, how can I be what I do not see. At RU-N, I see myself, I see you, and so much more. The diversity is what attracted me to the campus and getting to know the staff and faculty is what kept me here. I believe that we need to look at life from an anti-deficit perspective because oftentimes research focuses on what is not working instead of celebrating and appreciating the people that are and making a positive impact. We all have a story; I believe that we need to take time and learn from each other (in addition to all the research).

GINNY CAPUTO
Rutgers Law School

As a career Rutgers employee I recognize that as staff members we see Rutgers through a different lens which provides an important point of view to the overall Rutgers experience. Having a platform to provide that perspective is important and as part of the staff council I hope to continue to enrich the Rutgers experience for staff as well as all in our RU-N community.

ALEXANDRA CHARLES
Enrollment Services

I have been a part of the Rutgers University-Newark family for 8 years. As I have learned and navigated our campus culture, I would love to join the Staff Council to be an impactful voice and resource for staff members. I am a good listener, a collaborative team member, and have a passion for fairness. I hope to contribute to Staff Council by bringing staff together in a more meaningful way and recognizing the diversity and resourcefulness of the Rutgers University-Newark community.

MELISSA DONES
IPO – Facilities

As per her nomination, Melissa “has served RU-N SC well over the past couple of years and we would continue to benefit from her positive attitude, generous personality, and her invaluable input!”

MONICA GIRON
RBS – International Program

As indicated in her nomination, “Monica has been an active representative with SC as well as assisting with other programs at RU-N and she would continue to be an asset to us!”

TWYLA HARDY
Center for PreCollege Programs (CPP)-TRiO Talent Search East

I believe in the future of our beloved Rutgers University-Newark Staff Council and with the right leadership we can surely bring change and become inclusive, instead of divisive. As a returning Staff Council member, I will encourage transparency, fairness, and an open forum of communication, which is imperative in community development. My resume reflects that I have substantial project management, recruiting and training experience. I strongly believe that these elements along with my problem-solving and multitasking abilities, leadership attributes; and nonetheless my outgoing interpersonal and communication skills, will make me a valued member of RU-N Staff Council.

I am academically, socially, politically, and culturally conscious. I am able to relate and adapt to all groups of people and believe in diversity. With my knowledge and expertise, I will be able to serve our staff community efficiently and effectively to get things done in a timely fashion. I am not a stranger to hard work, and will dedicate myself to make adjustments necessary to accomplish the goals of our community. Remember it takes a village and our village is RU-N Staff Council! Thank you in advance for your support and consideration.

SHIRNEL JEAN BAPTISTE
RBS – Undergraduate Programs

As an employee who has been part of the institution for over 15 years, which includes the positions of student worker, part-time employee and now full-time employee, I have seen the university grow and change in a direction that is staff development and appreciation focused. I would like to be part of a group that allows employees the freedom to show each other that they love and care for them. In my years here at Rutgers I have been given an opportunity to work with amazing people who continue to help and support each other grow personally and professionally. I want to help be a voice, confidant and agent for my fellow employees. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to join such an amazing group of individuals.

TAYDEN JUDGE
Office of Reservations and Special Events

I believe I would be a great addition to Staff Council because of my strong communication skills, fearless demeanor amidst change, and willingness to always go the extra mile to get the job done. As a member of Staff Council, I look forward to working with colleagues around campus to facilitate positive interactions between all departments, as we move forward with re-opening our campus under the guidance of our senior leaders.

RU-N is slowly getting back to safe operations and during this time the RU-N community, including staff, will go through additional changes. It is important that staff feel heard during this time. I believe it is the work being performed by Staff Council that will ensure staff are not left voiceless or uninformed.

LUZ KOSAR
RBS – Management & Information Management

Many years have passed since I started working at Rutgers. I very slowly grew professionally with my effort and dedication at work. But my voice and the voice of many other colleagues were never heard and the representation as staff body in campus never progressed, as it should have. We the staff are the majority of employees at Rutgers, our voice should have been louder as a group, but did not. The representation of staff at all different bodies of the school is limited with a huge unbalance in rights and decision-making. The RU-N SC was created giving us hope to make changes happen and I humbly ask you to please let me participate as a member to fight for equality and inclusion for all of us as a group. The culture at Rutgers will not change overnight; the RU-N SC committee is part of the first steps for change and hope. With your permission and approval, I would like to be part of it.

NANCY MASTERSON-NEWKIRK
University Advancement

I’ve worked at Rutgers-Newark for six years and have been an HLLC prospective student interviewer since 2015. I served as the programming chair for the Women’s History Month 2021 event and was on the marketing/comm committee last year. I was a judge for the 2021 Rutgers-Newark Student Research Showcase for Research Week. I’m also a member of the RU Foundation’s DEI Initiative.

I would love to serve on the Staff Council and help our already vibrant community grow and evolve to be even better. The Council has improved morale and communication & helped us feel more connected as we deal with challenges and opportunities. I’d be proud to help with this important work. As Chancellor Cantor says, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for!”

JOY McDONALD
Academic Technology Services

I’ve had the pleasure of serving the RU-N Staff Council for the past three years as a representative as well as on the communications, elections, and bylaws committees. Staff Council has allowed me to meet and collaborate with many staff members across the campus. Staff are integral to the success of RU-N and I hope to continue to be “A Voice for Staff”.

Thank you for your consideration.

JIM McLAUGHLIN
Academic Technology Services

As a member of the Rutgers-Newark Community for the past 8 years, I have collaborated with many colleagues throughout the university. During this time, I have had the opportunity to serve on various committees and working groups enhancing the way RU-N provides technology throughout our campus. I appreciate the nomination to serve on the Staff Council and look forward to being a supportive representative advocating for my colleagues ideas and opinions.

HAROLINA MENCHON
SASN Spanish & Portuguese Studies

In all honesty, I never considered becoming a representative for RU-N Staff Council. However, after being a part of the Staff E-ppreciation committee, I found myself wanting to interact more with the Rutgers community. I met some great people in the committee and I would like to continue collaborating with others, learning from them as well, and giving a voice to our staff.

JOSEPHINE NAGLE
Rutgers Law School

I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the RU-N Staff Council to be a voice for staff and humbly seek your support to continue as a representative. Even during the pandemic, the Staff Council has tried to keep staff informed and continues to advise the chancellor and her team. If re-elected, I will continue to engage and listen to all, ask hard questions, research, advocate, and work with the incredible, devoted volunteers who serve our staff community.

PARTH PATEL
Academic Scheduling

As someone who is still relatively early in my higher education career, I feel the opportunity to partake in the Staff Council will allow me to gain valuable insight in various functions and departments on the RU-N campus in order to continue to gain a more well-rounded and whole understanding of the various cogs in the university wheel. Collaborating with colleagues across different teams and departments will also allow me to learn from those with more experience and different opinions from myself, as well as provide me with the chance to hopefully contribute a fresh perspective to actively partake in working with, for, and serve as a voice for the RU-N staff.

RABEYA RAHMAN
Honors Learning-Living Community

I consider the works of the RU-N Staff Council to be significant and vital. Staff Council is the conduit that serves as a positive influence by allowing the staff – key, but most often invisible, members – of the university to express their issues and concerns. As a collective voice, we can maximize our contributions to discussions, policies, and solutions that directly affect the campus and university. Our work plays an important aspect in our lives, and for some, our work is part of our community. As a result, I embrace the Staff Council’s commitment to addressing the needs of the RU-N campus staff towards creating a working environment where all staff are valued members and actively play a major role in fulfilling the RU-N mission.

WENYLLA REID
Career Development Center

I have worked within the Rutgers University system for roughly 16 years in 4 departments (RBS-NB, University Career Services-NB, Athletics NB, Career Development Center-N) across two campuses, all within the capacity of career services. My tenure has helped shape how I view the Rutgers system broadly and the myriad of available opportunities within the University. I believe that Rutgers has much to offer to staff, faculty, students, and indeed the state of NJ. I am also honored to work at a Rutgers campus that prides itself on supporting and advancing the city of Newark, where I grew up.

As a member, I would be able to contribute my skills and experiences to advance the goals of the RU-N Staff Council and promote initiatives and ideas.

HENRY RODRIGUEZ
Career Development Center

I have had the privilege of being involved with Staff Council since the beginning as the concept of providing a voice for the staff on this campus was just a hope. Now that the Staff Council has begun to display what is possible, I would love the opportunity to continue my engagement and lend my services to the cause.

PERMELIA TONEY-BOSS
IPO-Envir. Services-Newark

We have two levels of staff here at Rutgers University, support & administrative. It takes time to acquire the knowledge/skills necessary to recommend changes that will benefit the students, faculty, and staff here at RU and continuity is extremely important. As support staff, we are on the front line. We interact on a daily basis with students, faculty and staff. It is key that we have a voice in the decisions that are made on our behalf. My affiliations include Newark Pre-School Council Inc.-Executive Board, PTA’s, UMDNJ Board of Concerned Citizens (BCC), Rutgers University, AFSCME Union officers, steward and Member Educator, CBTU, VOW (Voices of Workers) national advisor and various community organizations.

LEON VAKS
SBDC / Accounting AIS, RBS

I feel that I have a lot to contribute to improve life of our staff. I was working at Rutgers for a number of years as well as in the industry and a number of other educational institutions. I love my colleagues and I know that some of them are hurting. I have ideas on how to help and I have will and determination to communicate my ideas and once accepted to help implement meaningful improvements. When a person spends great deal of time at work every single day for a many years often juggling other responsibilities to family members, to students, to communities we belong to, to our neighborhoods, a person deserves the best working environment possible. I want to share some of my ideas and be engaged with my dear colleagues.