In recognition of their dedication to the mission of the U of A, the U of A Staff Senate is proud to announce and celebrate four exceptional employees as the Employees of the 2nd Quarter for the 2024-25 academic year. These individuals exemplify our core values and make significant contributions to their units and the broader campus community.

Category I: Professional/Non-Faculty - Academic

Julie Brogan — HR partner, College of Engineering. Brogan stepped in to handle the processing of travel expenses and other purchases made by the Dean's Office when a colleague left, quickly mastering the process to ensure the office's continued efficient operation. She also took on the responsibility of organizing several events, such as coordinating two workshops focused on "Engineering Applications in Agriculture" in collaboration with Bumpers College, which were crucial to their success. During the recent transitions, Brogan supported the associate deans in maintaining the smooth running of their offices and delivering services to the faculty.

Category I: Professional/Non-Faculty Administrative

Ally Sanford — office manager and career events assistant, Office of Career Connections. Sanford efficiently organized logistics for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Career Fair, including scheduling shuttles, ordering catering for over 700 people, renting tablecloths, creating employer table signage, coordinating QR code assembly and submitting security requests. When faced with a compressed timeline, she successfully adapted and ensured everything was taken care of ahead of time, while also helping launch a successful color-coding system for the fair. Sanford's problem-solving skills were evident when she managed to secure additional tables from a rental company, despite the short notice, ensuring the fair had the necessary equipment.

Category III: Technical/Paraprofessional

George Holmes — master scientific research technologist, College of Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Holmes has provided excellent support to professor Miaoqing Huang's teaching and research activities for 15 years, purchasing and setting up numerous computers and other gadgets for the professor and his students. For Huang's GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) Programming and Cloud Computing classes, Holmes worked closely with the Arkansas High Performance Computing Center to set up a stable teaching cluster with necessary software, benefiting several courses in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department for more than five years. He has also been instrumental in supporting professor Lu Zhang's research lab and her 20 research students, consulting the team for the best equipment options for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning projects.

Category IV: Skilled Crafts/Service/Maintenance

Juan Ramirez — radio dispatcher, Transit Operations. Ramirez handles multiple complicated tasks with accuracy and clarity, quickly assessing traffic and route issues for buses and para-transit drivers and passengers. His exceptional customer service skills shine through even when dealing with disgruntled, confused or problematic callers, making him a valuable asset in keeping transit operations running smoothly. Ramirez's positive attitude and dependability make him a welcome presence in the office, as his colleagues know he will handle any challenges that arise throughout the day.

To nominate a staff member for a future employee of the quarter title, visit this website. The next deadline is April 15.

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About Staff Senate:  Created in 1976 by Board of Trustees Policy 810.1, Staff Senate and its elected senators have the responsibility of making recommendations to university leadership on any matter of staff concern, including quality of work life, the efficiency of operations, and staff service to the campus community. Staff Senate advocates in the areas of compensation, working conditions, health and wellness, fringe benefits, safety, parking, and other workplace issues. In addition, Senate works to celebrate, recognize, and give back to staff through programs such as Employees of the Quarter & Year, awards for Staff Team and Part-Time Employee of the Year, Staff Appreciation Week, the annual Staff Appreciation Picnic, Staff Senate Scholarships, and RazorGifts.

Monthly meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month from 1:30-3 p.m. and are open to the public both in-person and virtually.  Meeting details, lists of sitting Senators, and additional information can be found at the Staff Senate website.