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Staff Council Representatives Bios

Each staff council member has contributed a brief bio so you can learn more about the individuals you have elected to serve you and the EKU community.


Beverly Burrus Staff Council
Beverly Burrus
- Continuing Ed. and Outreach (incl. Extended Campuses), Planetarium
Chair, EKU Staff Council
Currently I serve as the Senior Coordinator for Student Support Services in Continuing Education and Outreach.  I am an EKU alumna and have been employed at Eastern for 31 years serving in the College of Business, University Advancement and the President's office prior to my current office.  I believe these years of services in various areas has given me the background and experience to be beneficial to our staff.  Eastern, her students, and all of the folks that work together to make EKU such a great place have been much of my life for these years.  I look forward to returning to EKU all that she has given me by serving on the Staff Council.

Ann Cotton Staff Council
Ann Cotton
- Student Affairs, Public Safety
Secretary, Staff Council; Chair, Staff Recognition and Professional Development Committee
I work as an Administrative Assistant in the office for the Vice President for Student Affairs at Eastern Kentucky University. I have been here at the University for 11 years working in Career Services as a Recruiting Coordinator, and in University Development as an Account Examiner. I love working at Eastern Kentucky University and have had many active roles on campus including being the Secretary for EKU Women.  I am excited to serve on the Staff Council and cannot think of anything more worthwhile or rewarding then representing my coworkers to help them have a voice in their working community.

Tamala Cox Staff Council
Tamala Cox
- Enrollment Management
I am currently the Director of The Education Pays Center. For more information about the program please visit our website at www.academicaffairs.eku.edu/edpays/ . I have served the state and the university in this position for five years. Prior to this I worked at several places across campus (Student Success Institute, Career Services, etc.). I have a B.S. in Psychology and a M.A. in Mental Health Counseling. I also serve on various committees in the community and on campus. I am honored to say I am an employee and graduate of this fine institution. My goal is to be a servant leader. I believe we all want what is best for the university. With this in mind, I will do my very best to represent Enrollment Management and the university as a whole. Again, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve on Staff Council.

Stephanie King Staff Council
Stephanie King
- ITDS, Media Resources
Vice-Chair, Staff Council
I have worked at EKU for ten years; I started as a student worker in Academic Computing and worked my way to a full-time position with the department.  I have worked as a Secretary, Senior Clerk, Senior Secretary, Computer Lab Associate and currently Telecommunications Coordinator and I am an EKU Alumni.  I have been married to Bruce for 9 years and have a beautiful 3 year old daughter named Haylie Grace.  I am proud to serve the University and its staff members as a representative of the first Staff Council.

Jey Marks Staff CouncilJey Marks - Athletics, Development, EKU Foundation, Arlington
After graduating with a degree in Business Administration from EKU in the spring of 2000, I began my career at EKU as an Admissions Counselor. Later that year, I moved to the Office of Student Development serving as the Coordinator of Student Activities and Leadership Development.  In 2001, I became Coordinator for Student Activities and Greek Affairs.  In 2002 I came to serve in the same capacity with additional responsibilities under a new title, as Assistant Director for Student Involvement and Leadership in the Office of Student Life. During which time I worked with our Greek Community and advised the Student Activities Council.  In January of 2005, I took a lateral move over to the Office of Alumni Relations as the Assistant Director. I now am currently serving as the Associate Director of Alumni Relations. Helping to build upon relationships with other alumni forged as an undergraduate student and staff member. I am happily involved in the Richmond community serving as a Richmond Ambassador for the past 2 years, a Leadership Madison County graduate, and have served on more than 6 local chamber/city committees. I enjoy being active in both the Richmond and EKU community. I have complete enjoyed my involvement on the EKU Staff Council over the past 3 years serving as the Student Affairs and now University Advancement council member.

Carol T. Thomas Staff Council
Carol T. Thomas
- College of Education, Library
Chair, Issues and Benefits Committee
I have worked for EKU at EKU Libraries for 28 years. I am a Richmond native and have 3 children and 3 grandchildren! I am an avid supporter of EKU Football. I am currently an Ex-officio member of the Libraries Classified Staff Advisory Team and have been a member of this team since 2000. EKU staff are a very vital part of the EKU community and I look forward to continuing my service to EKU's staff. The experience of being a member of EKU's Staff Council has been overwhelmingly educational! I am honored that your confidence in me has given me the opportunity to serve you.

Rebecca Hacker Staff Council
Rebecca Hacker
- Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Business & Tech., and related programs
Currently I serve EKU as Academic Support Supervisor for the College of Business and Technology. As a proud EKU alumna, I have served EKU in several capacities during the last 22 years. My employment at EKU began in 1985 and has included areas throughout the entire campus community (facilities, purchasing, athletics, and academic advising). As Staff Council representative for the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Business & Technology (and related programs), I will actively serve as an instrument of communication between staff, the Staff Council, and the President. I will passionately strive to provide recommendations on matters pertaining to staff welfare while serving the Mission of the University. I welcome the opportunity to hear from each of my constituents.


Jennifer Evans Staff Council
Jennifer Evans
- Training Resource Center
Chair, Communications Committee
I have been employed by EKU for 13 years with 11 of those years in the Training Resource Center.  My current title is Online Learning Specialist and involves working with grant funded staff to deliver online learning to employees of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services.  I’m extremely appreciative that my co-workers in the Training Resource Center have given me this opportunity to represent them and to give the staff at EKU a voice in matters that directly affect them.

Debra Simpson Staff Council
Debra Simpson
- Maintenance and Skilled Trades (Facilities Services, Housing)
I have worked at the University for 17 years in Facilities Services. I started in the Family Housing Department as a Custodian for 4 years and Head Custodian for 4 years. The last 9 years I have worked in the Front Office at Facilities Services as Senior Clerk, Senior Secretary and Senior Offices Associate. I am married to Tommy Simpson he also work in Facilities Services in the Paint Shop.  I have one son Travis who is a freshman at Madison Central High School. I hope to use my years of services and experience to service the other staff members in Facilities Services as their representative on the Staff Council.

Sheila Adkins Staff Council
Sheila Adkins
- Colleges of Health Sciences and Justice & Safety, DOCJT
While employed with EKU for over twenty-three years, I have held positions in the areas of Academic Computing (now IT), the College of Business and Technology, and currently serve as an Academic Administrative Specialist for the College of Health Sciences. My husband and I have been married for 37 years, have two sons, and five grandchildren (2 boys and 3 girls ranging in age from 1 year to 9 years old). We have called Richmond home since moving here in 1982 from a small coal-mining community in Mingo County West Virginia. I feel honored and look forward to representing the staff from the College of Justice & Safety, Department of Criminal Justice Training, and the College of Health Sciences.

Sharon Smith Staff Council
Sharon Smith
- Custodians (Facilities Services, Housing)
I have been an employee of Eastern Kentucky University for 22 years in the Facilities Services department. I began working at E.K.U. as a custodian servicing Walters Hall and in 3 years I was promoted to Custodial Foreman. After 14 years of service as custodial Forman I was promoted to my current position as custodial Supervisor where I have served for 5 years. When not on campus I enjoy spending time with my husband of 30 years, William, our son Michael and our 4 year old Grandson, Jayden. I look forward to serving on the staff council and representing Facilities Services Department and the Custodial Staff.

James Zabawa Staff Council
James Zabawa
- Financial Affairs, Administration
James Zabawa, a native of Augusta, Georgia, serves as the Associate Director of Purchases and Stores at Eastern Kentucky University. James graduated from Augusta State University with a degree in Business. Since becoming employed at the University in 2003, he has prompted his family to become part of the EKU family. His wife, Debbie works in the Office of Equal Opportunity. His daughter, Krista, is a recent graduate of the University and is currently employed in the Office of Financial Affairs. His son, Jared is a student worker for the History Department as well as a freshman at the University. James enjoys being a part of the EKU community and therefore welcomes the opportunity to serve on the Staff Council.


Steven Fulkerson

Member Ex-officio

VOLUNTEER MEMBERS

Diane Tyer - Communications Committee, Issues and Benefits Committee

Jean Lloyd - Communications Committee

Phillip Logsdon - Communications Committee

Kathy Adams - Issues and Benefits Committee

Tom Arnold - Issues and Benefits Committee

Gary Barksdale - Issues and Benefits Committee

Garry Hicks - Issues and Benefits Committee

Chuck Hill - Issues and Benefits Committee

Patsy Hodge - Issues and Benefits Committee

Gladys Johnson - Issues and Benefits Committee

Richard Parks - Issues and Benefits Committee

Donna Simmons - Issues and Benefits Committee

Wally Skiba - Issues and Benefits Committee

Connie Dirks - Staff Recognition and Professional Development Committee

Shelley Park - Staff Recognition and Professional Development Committee

Carey Parks - Staff Recognition and Professional Development Committee

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