Staff Assembly President Encourages Involvement

Graduate Student Services Coordinator Rachael Martin is serving this year as president for the UC Merced Staff Assembly. Martin shared the Staff Assembly goals for the year, her role in supporting graduate students and what one thing has made an impact on her life. 

How long have you worked for UC Merced? Tell us a little about your job responsibilities.

In February 2013, I will have five years of service at UC Merced. Graduate Student Services (GSS) provides coordinated services, events, information and support to enhance and enrich the educational experience of UC Merced graduate students. GSS aims to provide intellectual and social assistance to graduate students through a collaborative campus-wide effort, with the goal of helping students achieve a successful work-life balance, develop professional and personal leadership skills, overcome barriers, and build connections to campus resources, fellow graduate students, faculty and staff.

What prompted you to take on a leadership position in Staff Assembly?

Over the past four-and-a-half years, I have served on a myriad of staff and student committees. I decided to serve on behalf of Staff Assembly upon receipt of the 2011 Staff Excellence Award in efforts to give back to the campus community.

What are your goals this year as president of Staff Assembly?

My main goals include enhancing the internal and external operations of Staff Assembly by creating and adhering to a strategic plan that includes creating processes and procedures to enhance the internal and external communication and decision-making process; organizing, streamlining and creating easy accesses for information sharing; and improving staff participation on Staff Assembly's  internal and external campus committees. 

What are some of the biggest challenges facing Staff Assembly?

Staff Assembly currently has an opt-in email communication list of 300 plus staff members where feedback on matters of interest to staff is often solicited. We have more than 700 staff at UC Merced and need more staff to be involved in the information sharing and decision making process. Staff Assembly is an assembly of staff dedicated to improving communication between UC Merced administrators and staff. The objective is to provide service to UC Merced by advising and providing a staff perspective to decision makers. Staff voice matters. Opt-in. Get involved.

If you could meet one person dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Gustav Klimt — to see the artist at work.

What one thing has happened in your life has made the biggest impact on who you are today?

At the age of 19, I received advice from a mentor which changed the direction of my life. That encounter also demonstrated the importance of having a mentor in my life. Having an ethical, moral and centered person offering advice and guidance allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.

Spotlight is a new feature that we hope you will all contribute toward. It is meant to be an interactive Q&A with a UC Merced staff or faculty member. In the Oct. 12 issue of Panorama, we will highlight entrepreneur-in-residence Jerry Mattingly. We encourage you to submit questions to communications@ucmerced.edu by Oct. 5. Also, let us know if you have someone you would like us to include for a future Spotlight.