After the 2023-24 Staff Senate elections, Ruby Matheny, assistant director of Alumni Engagement, took over as president beginning in July. Her term will last for two years, and she can run for another two-year term afterward.
Matheny has served in roles at Metropolitan State University of Denver for eight years in Academic Affairs and Student Affairs before settling into her current one with University Advancement.
Ahead of the upcoming school year, the Early Bird interviewed Matheny to discuss Staff Senate goals, what the body is working on, how to get involved and how she spends her time outside of work.
EB: What are you hoping the Staff Senate can accomplish under your leadership in the long term?
Matheny: Thankfully, we’re starting from a great foundation. We want to build on the shoulders of past achievements such as flexible work arrangements. First and foremost, I hope we can be a responsive body that empowers our staff. I want to make sure that the whole community knows that they’re included and their thoughts and opinions are valued. I also want to find ways to enhance our collaboration with the Faculty Senate.
EB: What is the Staff Senate working on right now? What are the immediate areas of concerns that need addressing?
Matheny: Right now, we are exploring three broad areas: (1) merit-based pay, (2) workload and (3) graduate tuition. Each of these issues impacts our University in different ways, but they all share a common thread: the well-being, motivation and productivity of our staff. I don’t anticipate these to be our exclusive focus, but it is where we are starting.
EB: How can staff members get involved in the Staff Senate without being a senator, and why should they?
Matheny: A great first step is as simple as attending a Staff Senate meeting. We welcome contributions, but you don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. Attending a meeting is a great way to get a sense of the issues we’re focused on and our agenda. You can also join a committee to get more deeply involved and help shape our collective path forward. If the current Staff Senate agenda doesn’t resonate with you, contact your senator and let them know what you would like to see the Senate focus on. And of course, you can vote for your senator.
EB: What do you like to do outside of work?
Matheny: Well, I have four teenage daughters, so mostly I “like” to navigate hormones and the trials of the underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, which is likely causing some emotional dysregulation for one of them at some fairly intense level of severity, relative to their life experience, of course. So I spend a lot of time soothing jagged emotions. I also enjoy the outdoors.