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Staff Senate

A national accreditation team required a self-study to be conducted at Virginia Tech in 1987. Included were questions concerning the quality of work life for staff at the university. Two critical issues emerged: the need for improved communication on policies and issues and the desire for a formal staff vehicle that would be equal with the Faculty Senate in voice and responsibility. The new governance structure with university-wide staff representation began on September 26, 1989. A constitution and bylaws were established and the newly created Staff Senate held its first meeting on September 19, 1991.

The Staff Senate is one of the ways all non-faculty salaried and non-student wage staff can participate in shared governance at Virginia Tech. The Senate is made up of elected representatives from each college and administrative area of the university. As does the Faculty Senate, the Staff Senate selects and recommends staff members to serve on the commissions and committees that make up the university governance system.

Staff Senate presidents

  • 1991-1994 Sharilyn McConnell
  • 1994 (July-August) Charlie Stott
  • 1994-1995 Wyatt Sasser
  • 1995 (July-September) Fred Phillips
  • 1995-1996 Wyatt Sasser
  • 1996-1998 Spencer Allen
  • 1998-1999 Ben Poe
  • 1999-2001 Delbert Jones
  • 2001-2003 Jimmy Martin
  • 2003-2005 Sue Ellen Crocker
  • 2005-2007 Jean Brickey
  • 2007-2008 Judy Alford
  • 2008-2010 Tom Tuckey
  • 2010-2012 Maxine Lyons
  • 2012-2014 Sue Teel
  • 2014-2016 Dan Cook
  • 2016-June 2017 Alex Parrish
  • June 2017-June 2019 Robert Sebek
  • June 2019-June 2021 Tamarah Smith
  • June 2021-present Serena Young