Representation on TUSC is computed as follows:
From 1-99 employees= (1) representative
From 100-249 employees= (2) representatives
From 250-499 employees= (3) representatives
From 500+ employees= (4) representatives
Academic Affairs
Kay Kazinski
Dale Schmertzler
College of Education
My career as an administrative assistant at Towson University began in 2004 with a position in the College of Education. The primary focus of my responsibilities is with the graduate programs and includes a variety of activities involving prospective and current students, faculty and administrators. It has been my pleasure to offer support to the college and I have very much enjoyed working with everyone in the Towson University community. I am pleased to be a member of the TUSC and hope to promote the value of staff employees through this association.
Sidney Pink
Dance
Sidney Pink has served as the Administrative Coordinator in the Department of Dance at Towson University since fall 2010.
Prior to joining the Department of Dance, Pink worked for more than five years in nonprofit arts administration at Theatre Project in Baltimore and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. He also served as the Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator at Chesapeake Arts Center in Anne Arundel County, MD.
As a volunteer Gallery Coordinator for the John Fonda Gallery in Baltimore Pink has coordinated and curated more than 50 exhibitions over the past six years featuring emerging regional artists. He also serves on the Theatre Project Board and is a member of the Emerging Arts Advocates Committee with the Maryland Citizens for the Arts.
Pink lived in Japan for four years where he created his artwork and exhibited. As a visual artist, Pink has exhibited in New York, Baltimore, San Francisco, L.A., Berlin and Tokyo. His work has been featured in various publications including Fine Line Magazine, Japan's Artcollector, and the New York Times Magazine. Pink is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. He lives in Baltimore with his wife.
Robin Walczak
I have been at Towson University since November 2011. I started in University Admissions and am currently an Executive Administrative Assistant in the Office of Graduate Studies. I welcome the opportunity to help as well as learn from TUSC.
Administration and Finance
Deniz Erman
Clara Fang
Facilities Management
Clara Fang became Towson’s second Sustainability Manager on November 14, 2012. Clara is responsible for developing new sustainability initiatives as well as coordinating staff, faculty and students working on sustainability. She serves on the President’s Climate Committee and oversees implementation of the Climate Action Plan. Clara comes to Towson from Swarthmore College where she was the school’s first sustainability coordinator. Prior to that she worked in the Mayor’s Office of Energy and Sustainability in Albany, New York. Clara holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, an MFA in Creative Writing from University of Utah, and a BA in English from Smith College. Her writings about sustainability appear on her blog, Residence on Earth.
Kimberly Gartside
Bobby Zengel
Financial Services
I recently joined the Towson University staff in January 2012, working in the Financial Services department as part of the PeopleSoft Financials Team. I transferred to the university from the Harford County Department of Social Services where I examined financial documents in support of the eligibility process for long-term care assistance. Prior to my state service, I spent over seven years in service of the United States Air Force Special Forces performing the duties of an Aerospace Maintenance Technician. In addition, I’ve provided contractual appraisal services for Morgan Stanley supporting multi-million dollar property sales between financial institutions.
Executive Division
LaVern Chapman
Gay Pinder
Exempt
Julie Hall
Mike Noll
Human Resources
I was employed at Towson University between 1999-2004 and returned in 2008 to the Office of Human Resources. Working in the Training and Development unit of Human Resources has given me the opportunity to not only interact with staff from across the campus, but as the mission of TUSC states "to promote the value and talents of its staff employees." During training workshops, I hear staff concerns and would like to continue to channel those concerns to be resolved. As a member of TUSC in my second term, I would also like to continue to identify, increase, and promote all of the resources and opportunities that are available for staff professional development and enrichment. I hold a B.A. from Temple University and an M.S. in Human Resource Development from Towson University.
Anthony Rosas
Theatre Arts
I have been at Towson since August of 2000. I work as the Technical Director for the Department of Theatre Arts. I actually nominated myself because I wanted to get more involved with the decision making process of the university and felt that being on the staff council would allow me to have a voice at the university beyond just sending an e-mail. I feel like I am in touch with many of the staff members here at the Center for the Arts, and if nothing else can represent them and other employees fairly and responsibly.
Brenda Yarema
Office of Technology Services
I have worked at Towson University since 1993. Before that, I worked for the Hubble Space Telescope and Westinghouse Electronic Systems Group. I currently work for the Office of Technology Services in the role of Network Project Engineer. It is my job to facilitate and manage various IT projects for the Towson campus. One of my favorite projects was the installation of our campus-wide wireless network which was activated in February 2005. I have been a member of the state-wide USM Women's Forum Executive Committee since 1995 and have worked to ensure Towson is well represented on this important committee. In 2006, I became involved in the Maryland election process, not for political reasons but rather I feel every citizen in Maryland needs to be informed and involved in the decision making process of our General Assembly. I hold a BS from University of Maryland in Information Systems Management and a MS from Towson University in Instructional Technology.
Non-Exempt
Jayne French
Center for Student Diversity
Jayne began her career at Towson University in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice in February 2002. After five years in the department she moved to the Provost Office and later to Cook Library. However, she always missed the direct contact with students and so in September 2012, she accepted her current position in the Center for Student Diversity.
Jayne currently serves on the Towson University Staff Council (TUSC) and the USM Council of University System Staff (CUSS). Jayne truly enjoys being involved both on and off campus. She currently volunteers with the MD Special Olympics, NAMI Metro Baltimore, and does crocheting for various non-profit agencies. She also enjoys spending time with her beautiful granddaughters.
Jayne was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and after spending some years living in the Pacific Northwest (Bellingham, WA) she moved to Maryland in 2001. Her love of the open road has taken her to all the lower forty-eight states and parts of Canada and Mexico. Jayne’s travels have included the states of Hawaii and Alaska (after flying there first, of course).
Mary Hickey
Mass Communication and Communication Studies
My association with TU is a long-standing one, both as an employee and as a student. As a staff member, my career started 18 years ago as a contractual employee working for the Associate Director in the University Bookstore. I became a regular employee shortly thereafter as the Customer Service supervisor. Six years later I accepted a position in the Graduate School working on the organization and management of graduate student records. In December 1999 I took an administrative assistant position in the Department of Mass Communication and Communication Studies.
Ginger Ross
Art
In 2006, I began my career at Towson University as the Administrative Assistant II for the Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education. My extensive customer service background in the corporate world and a BS in Art from Towson University made me the perfect fit for the job. My primary responsibilities are student relations. I also represent the department to prospective students and during open houses. I really enjoy my work at Towson and it will be a pleasure and honor to serve on the council.
Contingent Staff
Aaron Guy
Aaron Guy serves as the Continuing Education and Technology Manager of the Center for Professional Studies (CPS). He is responsible for the overall development, continuous enhancement and implementation of the non-credit, certificate based, professional development courses administered through CPS. Aaron works with various Towson University faculty and industry professionals to further enrich the content and credibility of the continuing education courses. He is also the project manager for the Maryland State Department of Education's (MSDE) Educator Effectiveness Academy online conversion project, as well as the Safety and Transportation Knowledge Online (STKO) project funded through the Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO).
Aaron began working in CPS as a graduate assistant spearheading the implementation of the ACEware Student Management system for the department. Aaron has earned a Master of Science degree in Applied Information Technology from Towson University in 2007 and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) through the University of Baltimore / Towson University joint program in 2011. Aaron is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Student Affairs
Tasha Benn
Ron Butler
Housing and Residence Life
My career here at Towson University began in the summer of 2005 working in the department of Housing & Residence Life, within the division of Student Affairs. Currently, as Director of Residence Life my role includes working with the leaders and staff within HRL to engage, develop, and support the academic success of the more than 4,700 students living on campus. Prior to coming to TU my home was in southern California with work experience both at both UC, Irvine and UCLA. An area of focus while serving on TUSC would be to work with the university to continue to take steps to adequately value the talents and contributions of TU staff.
University Advancement
Barbara Czajkowski
Development
I have been working at Towson since August of 2000. I started in the University Store as a part-time cashier. In March of 2001 I transferred to the Development Office as an Administrative Assistant under the division of University Advancement. I have supported the Director of Special Events which gave me the opportunity to interact with many other departments on campus. I have supported almost every Director in the Development Office at one time or another. Both of my sons graduated from Towson. What can I say -- I really enjoy working at TU and love helping TUSC in their endeavors.
Division of Innovation and Applied Research
Nicole Schiraldi
Nicole Schiraldi is the Communications & Events Manager for the Office of External Affairs within the Division of Innovation and Applied Research. In this role, Nicole serves as the Event Manager for the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), a not-for-profit organization headquartered at Towson University. While primarily serving as the key liaison for the annual CUMU conference, she also works on marketing initiatives for the organization. Nicole is the Division's primary event planner and provides business development and marketing support for the Division's centers and partners in business and government. A native of New Jersey, Nicole graduated with a B.S. from Towson University in 2010.
Sharon Turner
Sharon Turner joined the Towson Team in June 2012 as the Contracts Administration Manager for the Division of Applied Research and Innovation. She previously worked as a Manager of Lease Administration for one of the nation’s largest shopping center owners overseeing a team of analysts and a diverse portfolio of mixed-use properties. She also worked as a Forecasting and Budget Analyst for the private and public sectors.
Sharon enjoys managing projects and working with people in all capacities. Her involvement as a community organizer, a volunteer at the New Song Academy, PTO President and board member for her son’s schools allowed her to utilize her advocacy, team building, leadership, organizational and decision making skills. As a TUSC Member, she is honored to serve as a liaison for issues affecting the welfare of the University.
Sharon enjoys yoga, traveling, reading and knitting. She holds a BA in Finance from the Notre Dame of Maryland University and has completed some graduate courses in management. She is also currently studying for a certification in Project Management.
8000 York Road | Towson, MD 21252 | 410-704-2000
