President's Address

Greetings All,

When I assumed this role a year ago, I knew it was going to be a year of adventure. A year where I’d have the responsibility and privilege of representing our staff in a capacity I would have never imagined (albeit with more gray hair). Three hundred and sixty-five days later, I can confirm I was right about all of it.

This year we didn't accomplish everything on my list (which my family would tell all of you is 100% my MO). However, I never finish my list because I always have way more on the list than I could ever reasonably get done, whether it's a single day or 365 of them; there will always be more on my list. But what we did get done, I couldn't be more proud of.

We continued to establish staff's value through meetings with former President Tate, former Provost Haggerty, and participation in the University Council meetings, APIC committee meetings, Campus Safety meetings, and with the Board of Supervisors. We were included in decisions and communications, fostering collaboration between administrative units and staff. This pattern of inclusion has accelerated into our administrative transitions, when the Staff Senate Executive team and I met with Provost Blanchard, and your new Staff Sentate President Quinneka McDonald, President-elect Tammy Millican, and I met with LSU System Interim President Matt Lee. I know I speak for all of us on Staff Senate when I say we could not be more excited or hopeful about what these changes in leadership mean for staff and our ability on Staff Senate to represent and advocate for staff across the institution. We are in full agreement with our administration that we want LSU to be the best place to work in Louisiana. And I wholeheartedly believe we have the foundation of leadership on Staff Senate and support from administration to make that a reality.

As long we are on the subject of our administration and their commitment to the staff experience, President Lee announced Friday that we will receive merit increases this year! This is no small feat to pull off in a time when many institutions are seeing their budgets slashed and many in higher education are facing tough financial decisions. I would like to thank President Lee, the Board of Supervisors, and our Legislature for all their work to ensure the financial well-being of LSU that allows for these increases.

Returning to our winning year, we did check off a bunch of things from my to do list:

  • award career excellence and enrichment funds;
  • find a way to accept payment through the Foundation so we can fundraise for Staff Senate scholarships and programs;
  • fee support scholarship update;
  • pass a resolution to update the staff dependent scholarship;
  • award scholarships; launch a new regalia closet; and
  • finalize and adopt an updated strategic plan.

We added new events to our already long list of fun things we do to engage and celebrate across campus. From the new staff reception, pumpkins and door decorating in the fall, to Holiday on Campus, to the most incredible Staff Appreciation Week with my personal favorites being the stadium tours, the Staff Stripes Awards we presented to eight outstanding recipients, and of course, the ice cream social. My heart could not have been more full than that last day, talking to Interim President Lee about how magical the week was, and sharing in the joy and appreciation our staff expressed at every event.

When I moved to Louisiana, my mortgage broker told me to try and get a job at LSU because "nobody ever leaves there." While I now know that wasn't entirely true, I followed her advice and started applying. My first interview was with the Transportation Research Center with Dr. Marie Walsh, where I told Marie that I like challenges and putting on a show like Disney, where I can make the magic happen. I started on May 20, 2019, and Marie promptly informed everyone she was retiring. When she did, she left me a cute little pink polka dot Minnie Mouse pen and a note that said "Olivia, make the magic happen." And today, more than six years later, that pen and note still hang in my office. The words are faded and barely legible, but I know exactly what that note means, and I see it happening every day across campus from countless members of our staff.

Walt Disney said, "There is no magic in magic. It's all in the details." Our staff members handle all the details that make LSU exceptional every single day. From ensuring our grounds are beautifully landscaped and buildings maintained to providing guidance to our students about everything from classes to important life decisions, and everything imaginable in between. Our staff are and always will be the magic in the details.

Thank you all for entrusting me to be your advocate and your voice for the past 365 days. It has been an honor that I will always treasure.

Cheers. And Geaux Tigers.

Olivia Hope

Staff Senate President