Staff Council
Wentworth’s Staff Council serves as an advisory body to Wentworth’s president. The bylaws outline the Staff Council’s role in representing the perspectives of staff to the administration, sharing ideas on best practices in their respective areas that support the University’s mission and strategic initiatives, and facilitating communication between the administration and staff at all organizational levels.
The Council’s purpose and objectives include:
- Supporting the strategic initiatives of the University
- Providing comment on changes or additions to University policies, practices, and programs for addressing issues of common concern
- Communicating with staff at all organizational levels about the work of the Council
- Actively supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University
- Endorsing and promoting community‐building programs and activities to support closer working relationships and collaborations between and among organizational areas and employees at Wentworth
- Advocating for and modeling an environment of respect and fairness and building community through effective communication
While the Council is not a decision‐making body, members of the Council provide valuable input, advice, and recommendations on behalf of staff colleagues to the University’s administration.
History
In November 2020, Wentworth President Mark A. Thompson announced the establishment of a working group of representative staff members from across the University to develop Wentworth’s first-ever Staff Council as an important first step in supporting staff engagement and collaboration.
Divisions held elections during March 2021 and elected their first representatives to sit on the Council.
Charge of Council
- Provide comment on changes or additions to University policies, practices, and programs for addressing issues of common concern
- Communicate with staff at all organizational levels about the work of the Council
- Actively support diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University
- Endorse and promote community‐building programs and activities to support closer working relationships and collaborations between and among organizational areas and employees at Wentworth
- Advocate for and model an environment of respect and fairness and building community through effective communication
Staff Council Details & Contact Information
Contact a council representative by following the link listed in the bios below or email us at StaffCouncil@wit.edu. We are happy to hear your thoughts for how the Council can address the challenges, personal ideas, or changes you believe should occur for Wentworth staff members.
Staff Council Members
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Academic Affairs: Pia Romano, Council Chair
My name is Pia Romano (she/her), I am the Staff Council Representative for Academic Affairs. I am excited to be on Staff Council to become more involved in the growth of Wentworth as a workplace and a university. I have worked at Wentworth since August 1994. I have a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from Simmons University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Secondary Education from Suffolk University.
As a Reference & Instruction Librarian, I have the privilege of meeting many people on campus. I spend time assisting with research, meeting with classes to introduce library resources and research tools. I also teach research skills and information literacy. As a librarian, I work with everyone on campus. In addition to helping students, I meet with faculty and staff to help with research. I also co-host the Womxn’s Book Club for female identifying faculty and staff at Wentworth.
I look forward to meeting more staff on campus and acting as a sounding board and voice. I want to ensure that staff is not overlooked in the decision making on campus. I really hope to create a space where staff members will reach out with any campus concerns and issues so council can work to resolve them.
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Institutional Advancement and External Relations: Samantha Cavedon, Council Vice Chair
My name is Sam Cavedon (she/her), and I am the Staff Council representative for the Institutional Advancement and External Relations (IAER) department. While I have various careers in early education and fundraising, Wentworth Institute of Technology is my first experience in working in higher education. I have been at Wentworth for a little over two years now. I think intercommunication and collaboration between departments is what Wentworth needs to thrive, and I hope to help support my colleagues with my unique perspective and adaptability. I’m looking forward to becoming more involved with other members of the Wentworth community.
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Enrollment Management: Kayla Caulfield
My name is Kayla Caulfield and I am the Visit and Event Coordinator in the Admissions Office. I have worked at WIT since August 2022. In my role, I co-advise our Admissions Ambassadors; organize the class visit program for admitted students; schedule group tours (campus visits for community organizations); and assist with the planning of our large-scale Open House and Welcome Day events. I grew up in Billerica, MA, I hold a BFA Design degree from Lesley University, and my brother is a 2017 WIT alum. I look forward to collaborating with fellow staff council members on how the Enrollment Division can continue to support our campus partners in order to provide the best experiences to our students. Additionally, I want to make certain that the University's Inclusive Excellence pillar is carried throughout all staff members' work experiences so employees can thrive in their roles.
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Inclusive Excellence: Alexis Pellechio
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Human Resources, Finance, President's Office: Vicki Cupper
My name is Vicki Cupper, and I am the Senior Representative for Purchasing & Auxiliary Services in the Finance Department. I have worked at Wentworth since October 2011. In addition to my many responsibilities, I play an integral role in the procurement card program by creating accounts for faculty and staff, training new users, and processing expense reports. I also work with external organizations who rent space on campus for events. I grew up in Mississippi, and I graduated with a degree in public relations from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. I look forward to being a member of the Staff Council and being an advocate for other members of the Wentworth community.
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Public Safety: Audi Lopes
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Digital Technology Services: Megan Grandmont-Melendy
Since May 2023, I have served as the Technology Trainer and Communication Specialist at Wentworth Institute of Technology. I hold a Master’s in Teaching and a Master’s in English from Salem State University, as well as a Bachelor’s in English from Boston College.
In my role, I create training materials and communications to help employees use workplace technologies. My work involves collaborating with colleagues in DTS and other divisions to understand their unique challenges and develop tailored solutions.
These connections—both within DTS and across the university—equip me to advocate effectively for staff: I am attuned to employees’ priorities and can draw on campus-wide partnerships to amplify their voices. During my term, I hope to create new channels for my colleagues to share feedback with the Council, as well as improve visibility into the Council’s work, showcasing its impact and raising awareness of it as a mechanism for change.
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Student Affairs: Valerie Mamish
My name is Val Mamish and I work in Housing and Residential Education as a Community Director overseeing 555 Huntington Ave. Prior to joining the residential life team, I gained valuable experience working within student affairs working in student involvement. During this time, I actively supported the planning and execution of large-scale programs and provided guidance to student leaders within their respective organizations. I offered assistance in areas such as budget management and program planning.
As a Community Director, I have the privilege to supervise our Community Assistants, maintain one of our on-campus residential buildings, and meet with residents to ensure they are living in a safe and welcoming environment. I thoroughly enjoy working with students to ensure that they have the support they need and feel like they belong within the community they live in. Being on staff council I aspire to facilitate an inclusive and collaborative environment where the voices of my colleagues can be heard. My goal is to foster collaboration between staff, faculty, and various departments in order to cultivate an equitable and welcoming workplace for all members of our community.
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Business/Facilities/Physical Plant: Sharon Gaffney
My name is Sharon Gaffney (she/her), I am the Staff Council Representative for the Facilities / Business department. You can find me in the Planning & Construction as the Project Manager since 2019. Currently I am pursuing a BA in Project Management. I have a degree in Illustration and Graphic Arts and training in architecture, I found my little niche in the development and construction industry for the last 20+ years with my own small design firm. When I changed my career path, I enrolled in the CPCE program for Bim/Revit and was enamored with the campus and people ever since. Working and studying at Wentworth, I have a unique opportunity that allows me to see things with different perspectives, as staff and student. With my position in Facilities, I interact with many faculty, staff and students on campus. As a Staff Council member, I look forward to meeting more staff members and I hope to broaden my views and knowledge so that I can be a productive resource for our staff on campus.