At NC State, the role of the Staff Senate is to “serve as the representative voice for staff in matters relating to the university, support staff members in the realization of their full potential at the university and advance university excellence through its efforts.”

That’s exactly what the eight staff senators representing the Division of Academic and Student Affairs (DASA) will set out to do this year. 

Alexis Steptoe, the assistant director of wellness for Wellness and Recreation and chair of the Staff Senate Community Service and Engagement Committee, explained that staff senators take the concerns of their constituents back to the larger staff senate, and also share information that they learn in committee meetings back with their constituents. 

“We want to have a space where staffers’ needs and concerns are heard at the highest level. We’re a pipeline to get information to those places where conversations happen,” Steptoe said. 

The Chair of the Staff Senate also has a seat in Chancellor Kevin Howell’s university council meetings, and is directly responsible for ensuring staff members’ concerns are heard. 

For the 2025-2026 school year, Director of Multicultural Student Affairs Jameco McKenzie will represent DASA as the staff senate chair.

“I get to help shape the university’s future and make a real difference in how staff members experience the workplace,” McKenzie said. “The work done by more than 7,100 staff members across the university is essential to NC State’s success and mission. Whether in instructional support, student services, facilities, IT, operations, housekeeping, administration, extension or student development, every role contributes to the strength and progress of our university.”

Each Staff Senate member serves on a committee designed to serve various topics in support of NC State staff.

In addition, this year, the goal of DASA’s group of staff senators is to have more face time with its constituents. To that end, this semester, the group will attend all DASA co-working sessions, during which they will be available to answer questions and hear concerns from DASA employees. 

The DASA staff senators will also publish a monthly newsletter, and have set aside the following additional times to meet with constituents this semester: 

• Sept. 17, 12-2 p.m., Talley Student Union Lobby
• Oct. 21, 3-5 p.m., Talley Room 4280
• Dec. 16, 3-5 p.m, Location TBD

Below is a list of each DASA staff senator, their role within the division, their committee assignment and why they chose to serve the division in the Staff Senate. 

Jameco McKenzie

Job Title/Department: Director of Multicultural Student Affairs

NC State Staff Senate: Chair of the NC State Staff Senate

Why I Chose Staff Senate: I chose the Staff Senate because I truly value being active in the campus community. Being part of the Staff Senate has helped me meet fellow employees and learn more about how a large, dynamic university like NC State operates.

Alexis Steptoe

Job Title/Department: Assistant Director, Wellness, Wellness and Recreation 

Committee Assignment: Chair, Staff Senate Community Service and Engagement 

Why I Chose Staff Senate: My passion for employee well-being inspired me to become a staff senator. This role is an opportunity to uplift staff voices, ensure they are heard and be part of the change-makers who guide us forward as higher education evolves. I’m excited to work in a capacity that ensures NC State remains a place where every member of the Wolfpack community can thrive.

Brownishia Clark

Job Title/Department: Assistant Director, Office of Student Conduct

Committee Assignment: Communications Committee

Why I Chose Staff Senate: I serve on the Staff Senate because I believe it is important to speak up for what is right and to advocate for those whose voices may go unheard. It is both an honor and a privilege to represent District 24, home to so many dedicated and hardworking individuals who deserve nothing less than the best. I am committed to ensuring their perspectives are valued, their needs are championed and their contributions are recognized.

Jay Cannon

Job Title/Department: Associate Director, Student Leadership and Engagement 

Committee Assignment: Access, Belonging and Opportunity 

Why I Chose Staff Senate: I chose to serve on the Staff Senate because I really care about making a difference for my colleagues and our campus community. I enjoy finding ways to bring people together and tackle challenges that truly matter. DASA is a big division, so for me, serving on the Staff Senate is about being a bridge between staff and leadership and making sure everyone’s voice gets heard. 

Lisa LaBarbera-Mascote

Job Title/Department: Senior Director, Student Success Initiatives

Committee Assignment: Employee Experience and Engagement Committee

Why I chose to be a senator: Staff Senate is a great way to have your voice heard at the university level. I joined the Staff Senate so that I had an opportunity to elevate the needs of staff members at NC State and hopefully impact change that will positively impact staff’s experience on campus.

Maria Limmen

Job Title/Department Nurse Practitioner, Head of Occupational Medicine, Campus Health

Committee Assignment: Vice-Chair, Staff Senate Resources and Environment Committee

Why I Chose Staff Senate: I joined the Staff Senate to help make NC State an even better place to work. As a staff senator, I enjoy being the voice for all of our employees, and communicating with university leadership about matters that impact us at work, and beyond. I enjoy being part of the Staff Senate, as it makes a big difference for staff in the NC State Wolfpack.

Stefanie Guarinello

Job Title/Department: Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care, Campus Health

Committee Assignment: Chair of Staff Senate’s External Affairs

Why I Chose Staff Senate: My first two-year term as a staff senator commenced in 2023. I had been listening to staff members voice assorted concerns for several years and identified that there was both a lack of a unified voice and a knowledge gap on many of the same issues. I decided I could help by becoming involved and subsequently a resource and liaison to those around me. I am also now serving my second one-year term as the chair of the External Affairs Committee which also places me on the Executive Board. This additional responsibility has been quite enlightening and rewarding. I have gained personal fulfillment by understanding the university in a broader way and by meeting so many different people from all the various DASA departments and the university at large. 

Trevis Belle

Job Title/Department: Assistant Director, Multicultural Student Affairs

Committee Assignment: Access, Belonging and Opportunity 

Why I Chose Staff Senate: I want to be able to represent individuals who are doing great things in their roles and have amazing ideas, but often go overlooked. I want to ensure everyone at NC State feels included and respected. This opportunity will also allow me to understand the inner workings of the university from this perspective, which I am also excited about.