Staff Council selects Executive Committee members for 2024-25
The University of Colorado Staff Council (UCSC) has completed the 2024 election process and is excited to introduce our Executive Committee for the upcoming year.
Ja’Net Hurt, CU Denver, and Kimberly Slavsky, CU Anschutz, who previously served as co-chair and vice chair respectively, will be sharing the responsibilities of leading UCSC as co-chairs.
The UCSC serves not only staff at the four campuses but also at system administration and the CU Foundation office. Our staff representatives share a common goal of helping the entire university community, especially fellow staff, and being a voice that resonates across the University of Colorado system.
Joining Hurt and Slavsky as leaders of UCSC is Vice Chair Deann Barrett from UCCS. She is the HR director for the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences and president of the UCCS Staff Council. Barrett previously worked in HR for K-12 and has lived in Colorado Springs for nearly 20 years. She has two grown boys, a daughter-in-law and a giant hound dog. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, and traveling with her husband of 30 years.
Jan Owens, CU Boulder, will be serving this year as treasurer while continuing to serve on the CU Boulder Staff Council. Owens, who works as the administrative assistant for the Center for Student Involvement, believes serving on Staff Council allows her to make positive changes for the university community. Being involved in the campus community is not just something she helps students do but believes is important for herself as well. Owens earned her bachelor’s in marketing from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She is a Colorado native who loves the beach, energy healing, traveling, and hanging out with her family and dogs.
Cameron Brooks, CU Boulder, will serve this year as secretary while also working as the Office of the Provost human resources coordinator. Brooks is grateful to have served on the Boulder Staff Council for the past four years, and to have this new opportunity to serve on a higher level. Her initial desire to serve on Staff Council came about because she strives to reflect through her actions, and the opinions of the hard-working, like-minded and driven individuals who surround her; all while looking to make a difference with individual problem-solving abilities in this ever-changing world. Brooks is also a wife, stepmom, cousin, aunt and (her favorite) grandma. In her free time, she loves working in her garden, working out, being in nature with friends, going on walks, snowboarding, cooking something delicious, or exploring somewhere new and unknown.
Annie Melzer, CU Anschutz Medical Campus, will serve as our communications officer. She is a CU Denver alum who has been an engaged and active member of the UCSC for over nine years. Melzer joined Staff Council in 2015 when she started working at CU. Her university experience not only equipped her with the necessary knowledge but also instilled in her a strong work ethic and a commitment to volunteering her time on this council while representing the staff perspective. She thoroughly enjoys being a part of the Staff Council as it allows her to collaborate with a diverse group of individuals who are dedicated to improving the work environment and fostering a sense of community within the organization. She appreciates the opportunity to contribute her ideas and insights to initiatives that aim to enhance the overall employee experience and promote a positive workplace culture. Being able to actively participate in decision-making processes and make a meaningful impact on the organization is truly rewarding and fulfilling for her.
Melzer says it best when she says, “I encourage those seeking new connections and positive change to join our council.”
Please join us in welcoming our new University of Colorado Staff Council leadership. If you are interested in learning more about this talented group and the work they do, go to www.cu.edu/ucsc.
- Co-Chairs – Ja’Net Hurt and Kimberly Slavsky (two-year term)
- Vice Chair – Deann Barrett (one-year term)
- Treasurer – Jan Owens (one-year term)
- Secretary – Cameron Brooks (one-year term)
- Comms Officer – Annie Melzer (one-year term)