UK Staff Members: Vote for Your Representative to the UK Board of Trustees

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 10, 2019) — Voting is now open for the University of Kentucky staff representative to the Board of Trustees election and will close Friday, May 24.

Staff members can vote here after signing in with their linkblue credentials.  

The UK Staff Senate invites all university staff to participate in the campaign and election process. The staff trustee candidate is David Melanson, assistant director for external affairs and development in the Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER). Melanson is the current staff representative to the Board of Trustees and is running for re-election. 

“For the past 15 years, the University of Kentucky has been my professional home. I became the university’s first presidential speechwriter in 2004 where I wrote for then-President Lee T. Todd Jr. I then worked at the UK College of Pharmacy, helping to tell that college’s rich story of educational, service and research excellence. I now work for the UK Center for Applied Energy Research — a place that is committed to discovering the new technologies and innovations that will power our Commonwealth and the world in an environmentally responsible manner for generations to come,” Melanson said.

“There is one common ribbon that has tied my UK experience together: staff. The people who work for this university have been mentors and friends," Melanson said. "But most important: they challenged me and forced me to think differently. 

"Over the past three years, I have had the distinct privilege of representing UK staff as the staff representative to the UK Board of Trustees. Each and every day, I am reminded of our shared commitment and values and all we do to improve lives across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. At every board meeting and trustee function, I share that collective voice with my board colleagues. I tell our amazing story, pointing out what we do each day to ensure UK can be the university this state needs it to be. If elected, I will partner with you to help ensure that this university will be a better place tomorrow than we are today.”

Eligible staff members are encouraged to take part in the election process. UK staff who are 0.50 time equivalent or greater and those in phased retirement are eligible to vote any time between May 10-24 and at UK Appreciation Day on May 23.

On Monday, June 3, official election results will be announced. The elected staff trustee will begin the term July 1.

Questions and comments may be directed to Ann Eads at ann.eads@uky.edu or Denee Wilson at denee.wilson@uky.edu.