OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Ellen Kaye (she/her)
Co-President

I have worked as a cataloger at Howe Library since January 2019. I have been involved with our union since its beginnings in fall of 2019, serving on the Organizing Committee, the Bargaining Team and Table Team, and as co-lead negotiator bargaining our first contract. I view being co-president as an awesome responsibility, and a continuation of my service to our union. As co-president I see my role as coordinating and supporting the work of the board and executive committee, helping to infuse all of our work with our core principles, and building and nurturing participation in our union to enable more and more of us to step into leadership roles and contribute to our collective work in order to continue to build solidarity, equity, and power among staff at UVM.

Vacant
Co-Lead Steward

Cameron Ishee (she/her)
Communications Lead 

I’ve been at UVM since February 2022, as a program support admin in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. I work with the UVM Vaccine Testing Center, and the Translational Global Infectious Disease Research Center. I went to my first union action while I was still a temp, a honk-and-wave on a freezing day, where I met the friend who gave me the coat I’m wearing in my photo. I joined the Kronos bargaining team to fight for our workplace culture and the flexibility guaranteed in our contract, and I went on to become Communications Lead to continue the community building that this union stands for.

Ashley Bolger
Membership Lead 

I have worked at UVM since October 2022, first in Howe Library and now as a Professional Advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences. I became involved with UVMSU by taking on our data work and became Membership Lead in January of 2024.  UVMSU has given me community, education, and power in my workplace, and I am grateful to be in this role and working with so many of our members. 

As the Membership Lead, I manage our Union's member data, oversee the Membership Committee and New Employee Orientation, and support our Local Steward program. If you have any questions about UVMSU membership, let's chat!

Claire Whitehouse (she/her)
Co-President

I work as a Research Specialist at the Center for Rural Studies, a social science research center in CALS, where I focus primarily on issues related to food and agriculture. I’ve been a UVM staff member (and proud UVMSU member) since August 2022, after graduating from UVM with an M.S. in Food Systems. UVMSU’s first contract win a week before I graduated was one of the main reasons I was interested in working at UVM. I joined the Social and Education Committee shortly after starting my position at CRS, became Social and Education Lead in May 2023, and then stepped in as co-president in December 2023. I’m honored to serve our union as co-president and to work for and with members to grow our union and improve working conditions at UVM.

Jack Roberts
Co-Lead Steward (interim) 

I have worked at the Dana Health Science Library’s circulation desk since 2020. I became involved in UVMSU when we were bargaining our first contract, which was an empowering experience for me. I joined the Sick Leave Bank Committee and became the area steward for the ETS/EPSCoR/Libraries cluster. As co-lead steward I want to help members use the tools of contract enforcement to become strong advocates for themselves and others.

Jackie Bruning
Treasurer

I have worked for the Rubenstein School since 2014.  Starting in the business office for 5 years before moving to the Dean’s Suite.  I am currently working as the Academic Affairs Coordinator.  I was involved in the union campaign from its earliest stages in 2018 to its establishment.  I have a degree in management with a concentration in finance and for many years volunteered as treasurer for various local nonprofit small organizations in Vermont.  Prior to moving to Vermont in 1994, I worked as an internal bank auditor for M&T Bank in southern New York.  I am thrilled we finally have representation at the table and view being the Treasurer an honor.

Evan Haley
Social /Educational Lead 

I have worked at UVM since October 2020, in the Center for Student Conduct. I first became involved in UVMSU as a member of the bargaining team for our second contract. I stepped into the Social/Education lead role a few months after bargaining began during the 23-24AY. I am a Vermonter and completed a BA in History/German Language and Literature and an M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs at UVM. I am currently pursuing an Ed.D as a doctoral student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program.
 
I think that our union is one of the strongest facilitators of community on our campus, and I think that an educated and informed membership is crucial to our union’s continued success. I am excited about working towards both of those goals in my work as the Social / Educational Lead for our union.

Max Tracy (he/him)
AFT Field Rep

I joined UVM Staff Union as the AFT Field Rep in May 2023 after having previously served in a similar role with the Vermont Federal of Nurses and Health Professionals for several years. Before that, I worked at UVM for over 10 years as an International Admissions Counselor. While on staff, I participated in several staff organizing campaigns.  I also attended UVM as a student, having graduated in 2009. When I was a student at UVM, I led the Student Labor Action Project and, later, Students Stand Up, both of which fought for livable wages for all workers at UVM and, during the 2008 economic crisis, against staff layoffs.  Now that staff are organized, I am excited to work with UVMSU members to continue to build your union!