PROUD to Be FSU Staff Senate

Welcome! A Message from FSU Staff Senate President, Roni D. Stearns, MSHR

“It is my esteemed honor and privilege to serve as your 2025-2027 Staff Senate President. Representing the brilliance, hard work, and loyalty our staff brings to the campus of Fayetteville State University gives me great joy.

It is my goal to help our campus reimage and re-engage our Senate body, continue to advocate for the welfare and support of our staff and to continue to ensure the voices, ideas, and concerns of our staff community is honored, valued, and heard.

As the Staff Senate continues to serve as a strategic partner in the success and well-being of our staff, we want to reaffirm our purpose and commitment to you.

Our Mission

To advocate for, engage, and empower staff by serving as the collective voice in shared governance, fostering professional growth, and contributing to the success of Fayetteville State University.

Our Vision

To be a strong, respected, and collaborative body that champions staff interests, promotes fairness and transparency, and strengthens the university community.

Our Core Values

Advocacy – Championing staff rights, needs, and contributions.
Access & Opportunity– Ensuring fairness and access to growth opportunities for all staff.
Transparency – Promoting open communication and accountability.
Engagement – Building strong connections within the university and UNC System.
Collaboration – Partnering across divisions, faculty, students, and leadership.
Well-being – Supporting the holistic health and work-life balance of staff.

Videos

Photos

Bronco Getaway. June 14, 2022

Bronco Getaway. June14, 2022

Michael King, Employee of the Year, pictured with Interim Chancellor Valentine

Cliff Bender, Innovations Award, pictured with Interim Chancellor Valentine

Award winners and presentation speakers from left to right: Human Resources Training Specialist Roni D. Stearns, Michael King, Chief of Staff Wendell Phillips, Chancellor Peggy Valentine, Gloria Wells, Cliff Bender, and FSU Staff Senate President Patricia Flanigan. (Mary Bush, Public Service Award, was not able to participate in the awards presentation)

Gloria Wells, Outstanding Service Award, pictured with Interim Chancellor Valentine

Staff Appreciation Day

About Staff Senate

The Staff Senate was established by the Chancellor Willis B. McLeod in 1998 as a representative body which:

Advises the Chancellor and his/her designee as requested
Considers rules, policies, regulations and procedures affecting SHRA and EHRA (non-teaching) staff
Encourages communication concerning general employment interests and concerns, current University operations, and University plans or prospects
Makes constructive suggestions for a more efficient and effective University working environment among all employees.

2026 Executive Committee Members

2026 Executive Committee Members

President/Chair: Ms. Roni D. Stearns

The President is responsible for conducting the Senate meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee. The President will serve as an ex-officio member of each committee except the Election Committee. The President shall serve as liaison between the Senate and the Chancellor, the Board of Trustees, the Faculty Senate and Student Government Association. Informal duties of the President include meeting periodically with the Chancellor, the Director of Human Resources, and other appropriate University officials.

Vice-President/Vice-Chair: Ms. Chanieca Hudson
- Serves in the President’s absence, chairs the Employee Recognition Committee, assists with committee appointments, and helps ensure committees fulfill their responsibilities.
Secretary: Ms. SeQuenna Townsend
- Maintains accurate meeting minutes, keeps the roster of Senators and Alternate Senators, and manages official correspondence related to attendance compliance.
Corresponding Secretary: Ms. Adrina Russell
- Maintains accurate meeting minutes, keeps the roster of Senators and Alternate Senators, and manages official correspondence related to attendance compliance.
Treasurer: Arnescia Moody
- Maintains financial records, manages Senate funds, provides financial reports, and supports budgetary and financial oversight activities.
Parliamentarian: Mr. Robert Gutierrez
- Serves as the Senate’s authority on parliamentary procedure, advises the presiding officer on Robert’s Rules of Order, and presides when both the President and Vice President are absent
Web Coordinator: Ms. Essence Floyd
- Serves as a member of the Executive Committee and supports the maintenance and communication of Staff Senate information through the Senate’s web presence.
Membership Coordinator: Vacant

2026 - 2028 Staff Senators

2026 - 2028 Staff Senators

Academic Affairs
- - Ms. Mallonee Clay
  - Mr. Jerone Gray
  - Ms. Amy Coleman
    - Alternates: Ms. Chellese Smith Mebane, Ms. Vanessa Scott, Ms. Leta Brown, Mr. Terence Page
    - Proxies: Ms. Nicholle Young Saint Leone, Ms. Aeriel Coats, Mr. Dwane Hodges, Ms. Stephanie Hart, Mr. Shelton Richardson, Ms. Kathy Bizzell
Athletics

- - Ms. Ronda Brown
    - Alternates/Proxies:TBD

Division of Enterprise Operations
- - Ms. Arnescia Moody
  - Ms. Tracey Leach
  - Ms. Roni Stearns
  - Ms. Stephania Oates
  - Mr. Robert Gutierrez
  - Ms. Chantelle Morehead
    - Alternates: Ms. Essence Floyd, Mr. Ivan Williams, Mr. Roderick Fullwood, Mr. Spencer Coleman, Mr. Allen Hearon
    - Proxies: Mr. Josh Lashley, Mr. Jaquavius Truesdale

Division of External Affairs and University Advancement
- TBD
  - Alternates: TBD

Division of Finance and Administration
- - Ms. Tierra Daugherty
    - Alternates: TBD
    - Proxies: TBD

Division of Legal, Audit, Risk, & Compliance
- - Ms. Tanya Savage
  - Ms. Chanieca Hudson
    - Alternates: Ms. Tamara Davis, Mr. Timothy Lloyd
    - Proxies: Mr. Donnie James, Mr. Richard Yandle, Mr. Joseph Bates

Division of Strategic Enrollment and Student Success
- - Ms. Shawnta Cummings
  - Ms. Jordan Houston-Taylor
  - Ms. Durenne Moore
  - Ms. Erika Bradford
  - Mr. James McDuffie
    - Alternates: Ms. Angel Osman, Ms. Yolanda Davis, Ms. Annette Umerah, Ms. Jocelyn Clay, Ms. Beverly Lammie
    - Proxies: Ms. Shonta Carlton, Ms. Susanna Willock, Ms. Cortnee Barnett, Mr.Jah-Mez Coley

Division of Student Affairs
- - Ms. Adrina Russell
  - Ms. SeQuenna Townsend
    - Alternates: Mr. Roderick Heath

Office of the Chancellor
- - TBD
    - Alternates: TBD

Current Staff Senate Bylaws:

Section 4. Senator Responsibility

4.1. General -- It is the responsibility of each Senator to be aware of the needs and concerns of those whom he or she represents and to present to the Senate those items that are pertinent to his/her area of representation or the University at large. Senators are expected to attend all meetings of the Senate, to participate in its deliberations, and to report periodically the Senate's actions to the members of their respective areas. Senators shall communicate with their respective areas by correspondence, e-mail, or other appropriate means on a regular basis. Senators should endeavor to develop a thorough understanding of all University policies. Senators should direct all personnel matters including but not limited to employee grievances, appeals, hiring practices, and supervisory concerns to Human Resources. Senators are not intended as a vehicle to deal with individual issues, grievances, or complaints, nor as a means to circumvent regular administrative channels.

4.2. Attendance -- Each Senator is expected to attend monthly Senate meetings, community meetings, and committee meetings. If a Senator is absent consecutively from three regularly scheduled Senate monthly meetings or is absent five regularly scheduled Senate monthly meetings within a nine-month period, he or she will be replaced automatically. The Senate Alternate from the same electoral area will be invited to complete the unexpired term of the replaced Senator.

Opportunities for Staff

Staff Senate Grant

The Staff Senate Grant Award was established in 2015 by Fayetteville State University (FSU) Staff Senate. The mission of the grant is to provide financial assistance to FSU staff employees earning a degree at any degree granting institution or for other professional certification.

Description

The Staff Senate Grant Award principally targets professional success through 2 to 4-year academic programs, graduate and certification/licensing program, professional development or attending a conference. The Grant Award establishes a financial advantage to allow employees the training and skills needed to enhance one’s abilities. Recipients are selected by a selection committee.

The grant will be applied to the cost of tuition and/or fees. Payment will be made directly to the provider of services. One grant in the amount of $250 will be awarded per semester. The grant award will be offered to four (4) staff members once each academic year.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant must be a permanent staff employee at FSU.
Applicant must be enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education, community college, or other certifiable professional development opportunity (does not have to be FSU) or conference.
Applicant must be in good academic standing (minimum 2.5 GPA)

Required Documentation

Completed application form
One letter of recommendation
Official transcript in a sealed envelope (If Applicable)
Name of provider/ organization/Intuition
An essay to include the following:
- How will the educational opportunity help the applicant perform his or her job?
- What skill sets will the applicant gain?
- What are the long-term educational goals of the applicant?
- What are the long-term career goals of the applicant?

Deadline

All applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on or before the respective deadline date. The deadline for applications is to be determined (TBD). Applications postmarked after this date will not be considere.

Please email OR submit application in person to the current committee chair.

Staff Senate Grant Application Form

For additional information, please contact a member of the Grant Award Committee

Chair: Dwayne Hodges ext. 1645

Events

Join us for our monthly Staff Senate Meeting held on the third Thursday of each month from 2:00pm to 4:00pm in a hybrid format.

Meeting Location
JC Jones Boardroom
2nd Floor, Chesnutt Library

We value your participation and engagement, and we look forward to your attendance.

Governance

Established in 2006 under System President Erskine Bowles, the UNC System Staff Assembly is an advisory body of SHRA (formerly SPA) and EHRA (formerly EPA) Non Faculty Employees who represent the Staff of the 17 schools that make up the University of North Carolina. Delegates from Fayetteville State University serve on the UNC System Staff Assembly. https://myapps.northcarolina.edu/staffassembly/

Staff Senate Bylaws

Bylaws (Revised on October 18th, 2018)

Annual Reports

Annual Reports

Fiscal Year 2020-21 (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2019-20 (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2016-17 (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2015-16 (PDF)

Fiscal Year 2014-15 (PDF)

Minutes

Executive Committee Minutes

Staff Senate Minutes