Kicking off a new year of Staff Senate
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 15, 2025) — As the University of Kentucky Staff Senate begins a new term, the senate welcomes 109 elected senators from across the institution. These determined staff members represent voices from every corner of the University of Kentucky and serve as a bridge between administration and 28,000 staff colleagues. Whether on the main campus, UK HealthCare, at extension offices or working remotely across Kentucky, every staff member has representation in the Staff Senate.
Under the leadership of Chair Carl Harper, the Staff Senate is embracing a powerful guiding theme this year — “Telling Our Story.” Harper’s commitment to service and storytelling reflects the senate’s purpose: to advocate for staff, support continuous improvement and enhance communication across units and leadership.
Joining Harper on the executive team are:
- Marie Marefat, vice chair
- Ginni Haynes, secretary
- Amanda Hornsby, treasurer
- Kelly (Kel) Hahn, parliamentarian
A full-time program coordinator also supports the Senate. Bobbi Jo Allen provides continuity and administrative leadership throughout the year. Long-time staff senator Mike Adams was appointed historian.
Staff Senate meetings are 1-4 p.m. the second Thursday of each month, and open to every staff member. These meetings are offered with hybrid access, allowing colleagues to stay engaged with senate efforts. During these meetings, the Staff Senate shares progress on programs, discusses university-wide updates and highlights the work of the committees.
As committees begin to form, the Staff Senate looks forward to sharing stories of impact throughout the year, highlighting how staff across units are working together to shape a stronger, more inclusive University for Kentucky.
For more information, visit https://staffsenate.uky.edu/.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.