LaWana Richmond, a business analyst and
postal center manager at UC San Diego, has been named Staff Advisor to the
Regents-designate for the 2015-2017 term beginning July 1, 2015.
Richmond joins Deidre “De” Acker of UC Merced, the 2014–16 staff advisor, after a systemwide search. Acker will be the staff advisor, replacing Donna Coyne of UC Santa Barbara whose two-year appointment ends June 30.
President Janet Napolitano selected Richmond from finalists recommended by a selection committee that included current and former staff advisors and other staff from campuses and the Office of the President.
“LaWana’s passion for UC and her experience with numerous staff organizations make her an excellent choice as the next staff advisor-designate,” Napolitano said. “Her research on employee engagement will be particularly valuable in this role, and I very much look forward to working with her during the next two years.”
A 10-year UC employee, Richmond has been active in staff organizations at UCSD throughout her tenure, serving as chair of the Black Staff Association, chair-elect and chair of the UCSD Staff Association and as delegate to the Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA).
“I’d like to be a bridge regarding communication and understanding,” Richmond said. “When people hear about staff concerns, they usually think all we’re interested in is our next salary increase. Similarly, staff sometimes thinks senior leadership and regents don’t think about them and forget that they are people, too.”
In addition to her day job managing the UCSD postal center, Richmond is completing a doctorate in educational leadership — focusing on black staff engagement in strategic planning, innovation and collaboration — through a joint program at UCSD and CSU San Marcos. Like many UC students, she has worked diligently on her education, first earning an associates degree in marketing, then transferring to San Diego State University, where she earned a degree in operations management. While working full-time and parenting two children, she earned a master’s degree in information science.
With her doctorate nearly complete, Richmond felt now is the time to take the opportunity to represent staff and learn more about the UC system.
“I’d like to show how staff contributes to the UC system, that we add value and that there are initiatives going on that we can support,” Richmond said.
“We have staff who do things like staying late to make sure a faculty member’s proposal is properly prepared to meet submission requirements for funding. They sometimes don’t get acknowledged for their contribution.”
As staff advisor-designate, Richmond will bring the voice and perspective of staff and non-Senate academic employees to Board of Regents deliberations. She will participate as a non-voting advisor on seven Regents' committees.
Learn more about the role of the Staff Advisor to the Regents here: http://staffadvisors.universityofcalifornia.edu.