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College of Human Medicine

2025-26 Dean’s Support Staff Advisory Committee

Meeting minutes are detailed below. Click the heading to view that month's minutes.

 

Present: Nicki Brown, Ryan Johnston, Rachael Vettese, Nadija Kadunic, Tae Blair, Liz Stanton, Carol Parker, Heather Soule,

New Member: Mar Dunstone (8.25.25)

Regrets: April Stafford, Quinn Sawyer, Karla Cody 

  1. Welcome and Introductory Activity
    1. We represent a group of people, Staff. What is 1 thing you would like to bring to the Dean’s attention this year as a staff member and for the staff?
  2. Carol Parker Presentation: AAMC Support Staff Report | One Team One Health
    1. One Team One Health
      1. Healthsciences.msu.edu/one-team-one-health
        1. Share your voice link – important to add your opinion

https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ImZM2qvsaYoK6a

  1. Job security, if you want feedback at your department meeting invite Carol Parker.
  2. Transparency in academic affairs is extremely important.
  3. Dean and its effect with the One-One - protect and help each other.
  4. How do we keep people while going thru this process, (One-One)
    1. Stay true, the things we do are important, we want people to be the best they can be.
      1. Story – Voice!!! Staff create that type of team to support each other
        1. “I don’t think I can do this anymore.... Lunch & Learn
    2. AAMC
      1. Standpoint survey 2015 29 medical school participation
        1. What to improve: Include all staff faculty in next survey, next survey 2026?
        2. 2/3 are unhappy – then pay attention
      2. Mentoring: L&L Keep? Friend/Shared Information from MGT
        1. Don’t have to be the perfect person to mentor
        2. You issue’s - don’t let them get in your way of being a great resource.
        3. Need to be asked – who could help you? Dept administrator?
        4. New word for Mentor – Resource Guide???
      3. Harassment:
        1. Title IV, HR can’t get involved with the process of investigation.
          1. So much goes down that they will never work again.
          2. Age, women – less respected
  5. Hang up with reporting - retaliation or something else?
    1. Individualized and trust
  1. Political being brought into meetings – not understanding they are talking with a political tone/language such as; “you know those reds”
  2. Suggestion: L&L Deal with Civility, difficult conversations & larger crowd/settings
  1. DSSAC appointed seats – SharePoint DSSAC, all have been added to the list
    1. Secretary, appoint/ must have served 1 year prior
      1. Rachael Vettese
    2. Treasurer, appoint / must have served 1 year prior
      1. Heather Soule
    3. DACD, Representative, X2 – committee members
      1. Rachael Vettese - Liz send DACD bylaws
      2. Liz Stanton
    4. Sub-Committee Charge, see bylaws
      1. Identify Sub-Committee Chairs and areas of impact for each sub-committee
        1. Communication Subcommittee
          1. Nadija Kadunic: co-lead
          2. Tae Blair: lead
          3. Ryan Johnston
        2. Governance Subcommittee (Bylaws)
          1. Heather Soule: co-lead
          2. Rachael Vettese: Lead
  • Staff Engagement Subcommittee
    1. Liz Stanton: lead
    2. Nicki Brown
    3. Rachael Vettese
    4. Mar Dunstone
  1. Awards & Recognition Subcommittee
    1. Nicki Brown: co-lead
    2. Heather Soule
    3. Ryan Johnston: co-lead
  2. Meeting Plans
    1. Sub-Committee Meeting Plans
      1. Co-chairs want to meet once a month with each committee lead, if needed
      2. Sub Committees should meet no less than every other month
    2. Committee meeting Plans
      1. Full committee meets every month
        1. Sub-committees will come to each meeting with an update
        2. Tae - Send a poll out to the committee to figure out meeting date/time

To Do:

  • Staff Bio and headshots for website, deadline August 31
  • Send Liz and Rachael – 1 Important Issue you would like to bring to the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Diversity.
    • Suggestion: Safety and Security in our roles! And why?
  • What are we, as staff, looking to accomplish in this year’s DSSAC committee. “What is important to work on and what suggestions do you have”.
    • Maybe consider Difficult Conversations | representative who can speak on Civility/Culture
  • We need representation from all staffing groups – phone a friend to see if they would like to join the DSSAC – it is a great opportunity to relay back to the Dean what is important to us and to Engage and Encourage our fellow staff members.
  • Tae and Liz to work on a message re: One – Health re: Voice
  • Adjourn 12:06PM

 

Attendee: Tae Blair, Rachael Vettese, Liz Stanton, Ryan Johnston, Karla Cody, Mar Dunstone, Heather Soule

Regrets: Nicolette Brown, Nadija Kadunic, Quinn Sawyer, April Stafford

  1. Update from Chair
    1. Introduce Mar, Karla, Quinn, and April
      1. i) Mar joined after the retreat. Admin Assistant for Bioethics and Social Justice. Assists with website and research.
      2. ii) Karla was unable to make the retreat. Was on the first DSSAC and is still on. Works for Family Medicine as a Clerkship Assistant/Residency Network Coordinator.
    2. Lunch & Learn
      1. i) DACD wants to bring faculty perspective to Staff.
    3. Website Design
      1. i) Carol Parker and Steven Kaatz/Comm Team is re-designing the DSSAC website
  • Sub Committee Updates
    1. Governance
      1. i) Review of bylaws and will report at the next meeting.
    2. Communication
      1. i) October Newsletter in works
    3. Awards & Recognition
      1. i) Karla joins Awards & Recognition
      2. ii) Ryan reported. They have not met yet. Liz will meet separately with Ryan.
    4. Staff Engagement
      1. i) Mar and Karla join staff engagement
        • Discussion of adding 4th quarter of staff development during the summer months.
          • Okay with either a summer Lunch and Learn or a volunteer opportunity in the summer.
            • (i) Accessibility
            • (ii) Meals on Wheels
          • Health & Wellness/Harassment. Maybe invite Karen Stanley-Kime about increasing morale.
          • Adding Shoutouts in the newsletter and move to Awards and Recognition committee.
        • Projects for DSAAC
          1. Lunch & Learn
            1. i) DACD | support staff L&L
            2. ii) Accessibility, Lori Dykstra
          2. Staff Awards
        • Open Discussion
          1. Rachael and Ryan were in two separate meetings and reassured that Supratik is very similar to Dean Sousa
          2. Check-in with Carol about us needing to do anything with Supratik coming into the Dean’s role
          3. Brainstorm Lunch and Learn Ideas
          4. Brainstorm ideas on how to show staff value to upper management
          5. Idea to resend a staff wide survey for professional development topics, common stressors

Adjourn 4:00pm

Attendee: Rachael Vettese, Liz Stanton, Ryan Johnston, Heather Soule, Nicolette Brown, Nadija Kadunic

Regrets: Tae Blair, Karla Cody, Quinn Sawyer, April Stafford, Mar Dunstone

  1. Update from Chair
    1. Review Previous meeting minutes
    2. Review DSSAC website
      1. Reminder to upload photos to the Teams Folder
    3. Sub Committee Updates
      1. Governance
        1. Review bylaws
          1. Make sure that no specific numbers are listed for Lunch and Learns
          2. Review language on recruitment
        2. Communication
          1. Learning to utilize software to create newsletter
            1. Showcase support staff award winners
            2. Would like to have a collage of all headshots
            3. Highlight of new dean/thanking Dean Sousa
            4. Highlight Open Enrollment
            5. One Team One Health Feedback
            6. DSSAC Feedback Space Creation- Qualtrics
            7. Liz will locate Carol’s email about survey creation
            8. Add DSSAC emails into newsletter and on website
          2. Staff Engagement
            1. Liz is working on a Health and Wellness as a Noon Lectureship with Karen Stanley Kime in Marquette
            2. Still looking for a subcommittee lead
  • Add committee recruitment into newsletter
  1. Appreciation Certificates
    1. Two different ones: For those on committee vs. leadership/those who helped with Lunch and Learns
  2. Staff Recognition/Awards
    1. Move certificate project to this group
    2. Waiting to hear from Carol about Budget
      1. Needs to put in a proposal for staff appreciation award into Teams
  • Discussion that not everything is awards based, could be joy in the workplace

Doodle poll for DSSAC – Staff Engagement

Adjourn 4:00pm  

Next meeting: November 17th, 2025, 3:00pm, zoom 

Present:  Tae Blair, Karla Cody, Ryan Johnston, Lisa Pasbjerg, Heather Soule, Rachael Vettese 

  • Update from Chair, Vice-Chair
    1. DSSAC Listserv: who will take ownership of managing?
      1. i) A brief discussion regarding the need for someone new to manage the every-changing listserv for CHM Support Staff. We did not identify anyone from today’s attendees
    2. Website Design, Web point person
      1. i) The DSSAC will have committee representation to work with IT on the DSSCA webpage. Nadija Kadunic volunteered for this role.
  • Sub Committee Updates
    1. Governance
      1. i) Bylaws
        • Protocols for funding – add to bylaws if this is not already there
      2. Communications
        1. i) October newsletter distributed; next issue: January 2026
      3. Awards & Recognition
        1. i) For the Exceptional Support Staff monetary award of $1,000, we are not able to gross up to net $1,000, per university guidelines.
        2. ii) DSSAC Membership recognition certificates will be issued
      4. Staff Engagement
        1. i) Initiatives – report up to the Chair and Vice-chair prior to Go-Live of any initiative; followed up by whole committee approval
        2. ii) Mar: create a survey re: Professional Development interests for support staff
  • Adjournment

Present: Karla Cody, Mar Dunsmore, Quinn Sawyer, Heather Soule, Ryan Johnston, Nicki Brown, Liz Stanton, Nadija Kudunic

Regrets: April Stafford, Rachael Vattese, Tae Blair, Carol Parker, Lisa Pasbjerg

  • Update from Chair, Vice-Chair
    1. Meeting attendance
    2. Membership
      1. i) Recruit your co-workers
        • No takers in community staff job responsibilities
        • We want to encourage fellow staff regardless employed body
      2. ii) Survey
        • Create in Qualtrics, granting access to all members via their MSU ID
          • Membership
          • Professional Development L&L
  1. DSSAC Tracking Sheet
    1. i) Subcommittee review and update
  • Secretary Report
    1. Uploads to website (receives all materials to be uploaded)
    2. Following the monthly meetings, the Secretary will distribute the meeting recording link to DSSAC members
      1. i) Vote for the recording, no quorum to approve. This recording for today will be destroyed.
  • Treasurer Update
    1. Treasurer updated the process with: All initiative funding requests are to be vetted through the Chair, then the Committee, CHM leadership, and finally, treasurer for tracking.
      1. i) Vote from committee, no quorum to approve. Email to committee members to get approval.
    2. Staff awards were funded and distributed in November and tracking sheet updated.
  • Sub Committee Updates
    1. Governance
      1. i) Bylaws update, no updates
      2. ii) Adjust the quorum number for vote: If not Roberts rule of order
    2. Communications
      1. i) Web Design Update – Nadija – Steven Kaatz
        • 8 community campus and contracted staff
          • Vote on contracted staff – email to staff
  1. ii) Newsletters are created in SharePoint
    • January newsletter
    • Special newsletter pre and highlights on quarterly
    • Views limited on who seen – Nadija to research funding for mail chimp
  • iii) Listservs (two reps needed) - Ryan and Nicki
    • All Staff Listserv
    • Community Staff (tbd Contract staff) -MSU Affiliates (Non-Green and White) Listserv
    • Green and White Listserv
  1. Awards & Recognition
    1. i) Quarterly Staff Recognition
      • Newsletter Shout Out w/Hyperlinks
        • Pull out best of the best and decide on outcome of award – process to come
      • All-Campus (8) Hyperlinks featuring what that campus is all about
    2. ii) Update on Exceptional Support Staff Awards for 2026
      • Tbd, with shout outs supporting
      • highlight – med news can support
    3. Staff Engagement
      1. i) Community Service
        • Valentine Cards Initiative – Select Campus Champions for all 8 campuses
      2. ii) Professional Development (L&L)
        • Under consideration based on survey:
          • Interim Dean Town Hall
            • (i) Need support from other people
            • (ii) Look at survey – timeline (May)
          • Committee Recommendation
        • iii) Health and Wellness
          • Karen Stanley-Kime and April Yuki confirmed (Date TBD)
  1. iv) Email to Vote on combine health and wellness and professional development as lunch and learns
  • Update on CHM Learning Committee

  • Open Discussion
    1. Creating a more inclusive committee (2 reps)
      1. i) Have a champion from each of the 8 campuses
      2. ii) Review Org Charts to identify individuals
  • 2026 DSSAC Meeting Schedule
    1. Monthly, 3rd Monday, 3 pm
      1. i) A holiday reschedule will move to 4th Monday
  • Headshot and bio – Nadija to ask if they are interested in having their headshot on website.
  • Adjournment
    1. Next Meeting: January 19, 3-4 pm, Recorded and Transcribed