Academic Staff Executive Committee Minutes 07-23-2026

Approved 08-20-26

ASEC Agenda

Thursday, July 23, 2026, 1:30 – 3:45 p.m.

Zoom

Members present: Richard Barajas, Hanna Blazel, Molly Censky, Aaron Crandall, Alissa Ewer (chair), Nancy Kujak-Ford, Nola Walker

Members absent: Eunsook Jung and Diane Stojanovich

Guests: Kent Weigel

The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m.

Motion to convene in closed session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c), and (f) to discuss appointments to the Protest Administrative Review Team and nomination to the Institutional Ethics Committee (Barajas). Seconded. Approved.

Motion to reconvene in open session (Crandall). Seconded. Approved.

Business

• Appointments and Nomination – for vote

Motion to appoint Kristin DeMartino and Carrie Kruse to the Protest Administrative Review Team (Barajas). Seconded. Approved.

Motion to nominate Amita Kapoor to the Institutional Ethics Committee (Kujak-Ford). Seconded. Approved.

Automatic Consent Business

The minutes of July 9 were approved.

General Reports

ASEC Chair Alissa Ewer reported concerns from academic staff about the reduced rate parking eligibility threshold. Due to campus-wide pay plan increases, some employees who were previously eligible now exceed the threshold and have lost access to the reduced rate. Chair Ewer will contact Assistant Vice Chancellor for Transportation Services Patrick Kass to discuss the concern and potential options for addressing it. Effective July 26, Carmen Romero-González will assume the role of executive director for employee experience and culture. Ashley Miller has been named the vice provost for enrollment management and will begin her new role on September 8. ASEC plans to invite these recently named hires to a meeting this fiscal year.

Secretary of the Academic Staff Mallory Musolf reminded ASEC that their planning meeting will take place at Union South on August 5. To better align with their intended purpose, ASEC listening sessions will be renamed ASEC office hours. These sessions will also transition to a monthly schedule for the coming year.

Guest: Kent Weigel, Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs

Sarah Barber has been appointed vice provost for academic affairs and chief of staff in the Office of the Provost. Her appointment is effective July 27. She will succeed Eden Inoway-Ronnie, who will retire in August. Vice Provost Weigel recognized Eden’s years of dedicated served and expressed gratitude for her longstanding contributions to the university.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs and ASEC are co-sponsors of the Academic Staff Chats. There was discussion around planning for the 2025-26 Academic Staff Chats Series, including potential topics, speakers, and other ideas for the upcoming year. Potential discussion topics for this year’s chat series include career advancement and promotional pathways, as well as effective approaches to employee recognition and community building.

Business

• September Assembly Agenda

ASEC reviewed the draft agenda. OHR is scheduled to present at the September Assembly meeting.

• Liaison Assignments

ASEC finalized liaison assignments for the CASIs and standing committees. ASEC will vote on University Academic Planning Council and Campus Planning Committee assignments at their meeting on August 20.

• Topics for next ASEC meeting guests:

Dean of the International Division: strategic priorities; staff interactions and input; CASI engagement

Meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Mallory Musolf, secretary of the academic staff