Donna Coyne Named Staff Advisor-Designate

Donna Coyne, associate director of admissions for application services, has been selected as the Staff Advisor-Designate to the UC Board of Regents. She is the first UCSB staff member to be so honored.



Coyne, who will serve a two-year term beginning July 1, joins Kathy Barton of UC Riverside, the 2012-14 staff advisor. She replaces Kevin Smith of UCLA whose appointments ends June 30.



"Donna's energy and commitment to staff issues ensures she will well represent their concerns," said UC President Mark G. Yudof in announcing Coyne's appointment. "In addition, her perspective as a staff member working with students will be valuable in her new role."



"I am excited to engage with staff across the system on issues that matter to them, Coyne said. "I will strive to represent well the concerns, views, and hopes of my colleagues, and work to find the compromises that will help to move us forward."

She added that she has a personal interest in professional development, which she perceives as a retention issue. "Our young hires have very different expectations for their careers than those who have been here for 20 or 30 years," she noted. "They expect to have three or four careers, so we have to help them see how they can build a career within UC or they will move on."



Coyne brings to her position extensive experience working with staff organizations and systemwide and university committees. She formerly served as chair of the Chancellor's Staff Advisory Council and as a member of the UCSB Staff Assembly Executive Board.



As associate director of admissions, Coyne oversees several units that support the evaluation and selection of undergraduate applicants as well as services to current undergraduates. She joined UCSB in 1997 as an admission counselor, and served as comprehensive review coordinator and as business officer prior to her current position. She holds a B.A. in history, an M.A. in educational leadership and organizations, and a Ph.D. in education, all from UCSB.



As staff advisor-designate, Coyne 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 several Regents' committees.