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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Campus Operations and Facilities, Business: Jason Collamore
My name is Jason Collamore, I work for the facilities department in the HVAC shop. I started at Wentworth in 2013 as a plumbing contractor assisting the plumbing and HVAC shops three days a week. I got well acquainted with the staff here and formed strong working relationships with many people. I got to know the buildings and all the various systems on campus. I saw working at Wentworth as a great opportunity to grow as a mechanic and learn about many different types of systems and equipment. When a position opened in 2015, I applied and was excited to get hired full time into the HVAC shop as a B mechanic. Over the years I worked my way up to licensed plumber position for HVAC. In my current role I am responsible for maintaining, repairing and operating all parts of the heating and cooling systems including boilers, pumps, piping/ insulation, cooling towers, valves and building automation to name a few. I look forward to coming into work every day and making a positive difference in the comfort of all faculty/ staff and students.
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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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Enrollment Management: Derek Mitchell
My name is Derek Mitchell and I am Associate Director with Student Financial Services. I have been with WIT since November 2024. I have been involved with higher education since 2014 in various roles. In my current role, I oversee the front line services for Student Financial Services to ensure we provide a positive and helpful experience for all our students and families. I am excited for the opportunity to work in tandem with several stand outs from across the university to advocate for staff and to continue to make Wentworth a great place to work and get an education.
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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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Inclusive Excellence: Kathleen Portillo
Kathleen Portillo-Varela is an educator and advocate passionate about creating spaces where all students feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. As Director for Campus Culture and Connections at Wentworth Institute of Technology, she leads programs that foster belonging and equity across campus. She also co-directs RAMP, a summer bridge and leadership program for incoming first-generation college students from Greater Boston, helping them build confidence, connection, and community. Guided by her belief in education as a tool for transformation, Kathleen is committed to cultivating opportunity, amplifying student voice, and advancing justice in higher education and beyond.
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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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Wentworth Police: Daniel Arevalo
Hello, my name is Daniel Arevalo. I’ve been a member of the Wentworth Police Department since September of 2022. As your new member of Staff Council, I’m looking forward to being a voice for our department and collaborating with other colleagues to make WIT an even better place to work. If you see me on patrol around campus, please feel free to stop me and say hi! In my spare time, you can usually find me shooting hoops, playing acoustic guitar or simply playing around with my two Goldens Summer and Murphy!
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University Advancement: 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.