About Staff Council

Staff are at the heart of all we do!

group photo of staff council members with chancellor — Staff Council Membership

2025-2026

Our Purpose

group photo of Executive Board with chancellor

The purpose of The University of Mississippi Staff Council (the Council) is to support the mission of the University by serving as an advisory group to the chancellor (or the chancellor’s representatives) in matters that affect the welfare of the institution and/or its staff. The Council is committed to assessing, prioritizing, and communicating concerns relating to staff and in seeking solutions in order to promote the welfare of staff while contributing to the success of The University of Mississippi. Staff Council serves this purpose through:

Engagement

Staff Council Membership serve as the voice of UM staff by serving on the Chancellor's Standing Committees, Advisory Group to the Chancellor, and advocacy for improving the lives of UM Staff.

Education

Staff Council promotes the education of UM Staff through staff development and financial resources, such as the Textbook Scholarship Fund and Children of the Staff Scholarship Fund.

Events

Staff Council hosts and sponsors staff-focused events to promote personal and professional development, networking and fellowship, and to show appreciation for all our staff does for our UM community. Events include Red & Blue Graduation Ceremony, Staff Appreciation Week, staff luncheons, cooking classes, intramural tournaments, and more!

Employees

UM Staff are always at the heart of everything Staff Council does through advocacy, education, and other opportunities that engage staff at the University of Mississippi.

A Message from the President

Presidential Theme: Ignite the SPARK!
Service • People • Advancement • Recognition • Kindness

Message coming soon!

Premalatha Balachandran, Ph.D., MBA

President, Staff Council
Principal Scientist, National Center for Natural Products Research
Instructor, School of Business Administration

prembala@olemiss.edu
662-915-3463

2026-2027 Executive Board

President: Premalatha Balachandran, Ph.D., MBA
Vice President: Tripp Sanders, Ph.D.
Secretary: Nyterica Jenkins, MA
Treasurer: Wesley Dickens, MBA
Scholarship Manager: Kiara Willis, Ed.D.
Marketing Manager: Anna Lauren Heavener, MA
Staff Member of the Month Manager: Jessica Coker-Hughes, MA
Webmaster: Matthew DeLoach, MA, CPP
Immediate Past President: Lolita Gregory, MS

2026-2027 Executive Board

Premalatha Balachandran

Principal Scientist

Tripp Sanders

Manager of IT Services - Student Housing

Jessica Coker

Associate Director of Admissions Outreach

Matthew Deloach

Pre-College Programs Enrollment Manager

Wesley Dickens

Director of Career Services

Lolita Gregory

Assistant Dean Undergraduate Recruitment and Retention

Anna Heavener

Success Coach

Nyterica Jenkins

Academic Advisor II

Kiara Willis

Executive Assistant

Membership

The UM Staff Council membership consists of 38 staff members across all EEO staff categories elected by the general staff membership of the University of Mississippi, including its regional campuses.

During the late Spring or Summer months, the Staff Council will send out a call for nominations via UMToday to join Staff Council for a three-year term (starting and ending in August). Staff members may nominate a colleague or self-nominate in the portal in myOleMiss.

Elections will occur at the end of Summer before Fall semester begins. Staff members will vote via Staff Council Elections via myOleMiss. Newly elected members will be announced once the voting period ends.

The Staff Council Ambassador Program provides staff members the opportunity to be a part of Staff Council and help the Council with its engagement and outreach efforts. Staff Council Ambassadors are non-voting members.

For more information, email staffcouncil@olemiss.edu.