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About NUSAC

Our Mission

The Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC) serves as an advisory voice and change-agent for Northwestern staff in matters relating to community engagement, professional opportunities, and workplace concerns. This is accomplished through active engagement with staff, the University President, the Office of Human Resources and/or various senior administrators.

NUSAC is composed of staff, appointed by the President or his/her representative, from among the exempt and non-exempt staff of the University. It serves an important function for communication between the University’s administration and the staff. The Council’s primary liaison shall be with the Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resource Officer. The Department of Human Resources shall provide, from its resources and budget, a reasonable amount of support for the Council’s activities. The functions of the Council are as follows:

  • To work with the Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resource Officer, the Senior Vice President for Business and Finance, and the President, in hearing and reviewing staff concerns and interests.
  • To serve as a “sounding board” for Central Administration on proposed actions and programs that will affect the staff.
  • To initiate suggestions for improvements in the staff relations of the University and to help bring to the attention of Central Administration useful ideas that may originate from within the staff.
  • To recommend to the President staff members who can serve as appointees on other University committees where such appointments are appropriate.
  • To serve, in general, to help make Northwestern’s educational community an efficient, fulfilling and attractive environment for employment.

Learn more by reviewing our NUSAC Summary document.

2023-24 NUSAC Council

Executive Board

 
Brian Drabik
Executive Committee – Chair
Director of Financial Aid Operations
Office of Financial Aid
Joan Trimuel Williams
Executive Committee – Vice Chair
Director, Office for Regulatory Affairs
Feinberg School of Medicine
Jennifer Gerrard
Executive Committee – Secretary
Senior Director
Global Engagement and Intercultural Initiatives
Office of the Vice President for International Relations
Samuel Okun-Perlin
Executive Committee – Treasurer
Financial Administrator
The Graduate School

 

Council

   
Inez De La Fuente
Outreach Committee Co-Chair
Associate Director of Enrollment Operations
School of Professional Studies
Ishrat Fatima
Systems Analyst Lead
IT Admin Systems Enterprise Systems Human Resources & Student
Stephanie Simko
HR Committee Co-Chair
Associate Director of Faculty and Staff Services
University Libraries
Wendy Roberts
Journeyman Carpenter
Facilities Management
Valerie Smith
Benefits Committee Co-Chair
Associate Director of Admissions
Undergraduate Admission
Kristine Casman
Benefits Committee Co-Chair
Associate Department Administrator, Department of Ophthalmology
Feinberg School of Medicine
Stephanie Cisneros
Assistant Director for International Student Services
Kellogg School of Management
Funmilayo Ojikutu
Associate Director Academic Advising, School of Education and Social Policy
Lisa Jene Collins
Outreach Committee Co-Chair
Business Administrator
(Earth and Planetary Sciences Department/Environmental Sciences Program) Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Rebecca Erickson
Communications Committee Co-Chair
Senior Clinical Veterinarian
Center for Comparative Medicine,
Office for Research
Cymon Kimmel
HR Committee Co-Chair
Assistant Director of Enrollment Management
School of Professional Studies
Beth Tucker
Program Advisor, Operations
Northwestern Career Advancement
Eric Budzynski
Associate Director for Religious Life & Chapel Music
Religious & Spiritual Life, Student Affairs
Alex Schultes
Assistant Dean for the Student Experience
Northwestern Qatar
Analiz Castillo
Research Data Analyst
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Feinberg School of Medicine
Lindsey Dugue
Course Support Specialist
Finance Dept.
Kellogg School of Management
Kristin Jacobson
Administrative Assistant IV
Development and Alumni Relations
Feinberg School of Medicine
Rebekah Sigman
Assistant Director of Community Relations
Department of Athletics and Recreation
Jack Thomas Taylor
Interim Director
Associate Curator and Manager of Exhibition Planning
The Media Majlis at Northwestern Qatar
Erin Johnson
Coordinator of Communications
Center for Talent Development/ SESP
Chris Yohe
Communications Committee Co-Chair
Director
Environmental Health & Safety
Department of Safety & Security

For a list of past Council members, please visit our Historical Membership Page.