Senator Nominees for FY25

My name is Kathryn Nault, also known as "Kaytee". I graduated with my Masters in Counseling Psychology in 2022 from Abilene Christian University. I have worked for TTUHSC for 2 years as a Mental Health Clinician for the TCHATT Program. My job entails helping and advocating for children & adolescents, as well as their families, through therapeutic care and collaborations. I believe that Staff Senate is a way for me to continue to advocate for others, collaborate with people amongst different campuses, and to live out the mission and values of TTUHSC.

Amarillo Campus

Tiffany Ostrom - NON-EXEMPT

My name is Tiffany Ostrom, and I work in the Surgery department and schedule surgeries for all of our surgeons for the Amarillo Campus. I have worked at Texas Tech for almost 2 years and loved every minute. I really enjoy working with each of our doctors and every one of the patients that we see. 

I have 3 children 13, 21 and 24. I have been married to my husband for 15 years. I love spending time with my family. When I have spare time I love to read and we have a huge garden at home that I love to work in. 

 I would love to serve on the Staff Senate to have an opportunity to meet people from the other campus’s and raise any issues or concerns that there may be in our campus. I would love to be able to try and make a difference and help with any growth if I can.

Cris Sheffield - NON-EXEMPT

My name is Cris Sheffield and I have beenan employee with TTUHSC Internal Medicine since 2006 as the Medical Administrative Secretary for the Chair of Internal Medicine. I have a wonderful husband and 2 beautiful daughters. 

I have witnessed many changes on our TTUHSC Amarillo Campus, including the addition of the ARB, Family Medicine, and the PAC. The best part of being at TTUHSC is the friendly staff and faculty I encounter daily and the lasting friendships I have made through the  years. I take pride in our work on this campus serving the City of Amarillo and surrounding communities. It would be a great pleasure to serve on the Staff Senate and represent the staff at TTUHSC.

I really enjoy spending time with my family, working on the family farm, and doing epic trail runs with my sisters in my spare time.

Karen Thompson - NON-EXEMPT

My name is Karen W. (because there are 7 Karen Thompson's in the TTU system) Thompson and I am the Business Coordinator for the Clinical Research Unit in the School of Medicine. 

Servant Leadership is the goal I strive for every day. I want to help others in any way I can with whatever task is needed. I see my job as making someone else's job easier. I enjoy working with people and helping to create easier work processes. When you do what you love, it is not work at all. I would be thrilled to serve as a staff senator to make a big difference for others. The sincerest form of teamwork is family. 

I am married to James and we have 3 dogs  named Sitka, Jack, and Nyla. When we are not in the garden, I love working on crafts, attending dirt track races and event planning.

Correctional Managed Health Care (CMHC)

Ginger Griffin - NON-EXEMPT (Abilene)

Howdy!  My name is Ginger Griffin and I am a Section Coordinator for TTUHSC Managed Care.  When I started working in the prison sector a few years ago I learned a lot about this underserved community.  The prisons are a whole world of their own.  They are a forgotten part of our society that has all the same needs as those of us in the free world.  It is a testament to TTUHSC that they are meeting part of that responsibility we all have, to take care of our prison population.  I am proud to work for such a company. This has also been a surprising opportunity to learn about myself.  I have been mentally, morally, and emotionally challenged to rethink my freedoms and the responsibilities that come with being a free Texan.  I hope that God's love and light shines brighter through me as a result of these realizations.    I love working at the Abilene Campus.  I share my days with many good people that are also growing in their adult lives.  I hope to share love, fairness, and forgiveness with everyone I am around.  Being on the Staff Senate would be another way I could learn to help others:  by listening and being a voice for their needs.

Malissa Campbell - EXEMPT (Abilene)

I have worked with TTUHSC Managed Care in different capacities for a total of 17 years. I began at the Middleton Unit in 2004 as a medical records clerk for Hendrick. In 2005, I began part time employment for TTUHSC MC as a Correctional Business Assistant, as I continued my full time position with Hendrick. During my time here I have obtained my bachelor’s degree in Management. My current position is Eastern Region Project Manager. 

Dallas Campus

Amanda Jenson - EXEMPT

I am Amanda Jenson from the Mansfield Distance Learning Site and would be honored to serve TTUHSC DFW as a Staff Senator. As a TTU Alumni, I care about the entire TTU System and have a passion to serve my HSC colleagues that are the backbone of this institution. 

I have served on Staff Council as a Co-Chair of the Awards & Recognition Committee as well as a member of the Philanthropy committee over the last year and have learned so much about our amazing colleagues, their successes and the trials they face. I understand and fully support our staff wanting to feel heard, appreciated and valued! 

With new leadership in the School of Nursing, I believe we are at a pivotal point to foster open and honest communication between staff and administration while collaborating on initiatives aimed at enhancing satisfaction, growth and relationships amongst all HSC employees. 

While I feel like the staff in DFW has unique concerns and needs, I’d like to see that every staff member feels supported and empowered to contribute to the future success of the organization. Given the opportunity to serve, I will actively advocate for positive changes on behalf of my colleagues across TTUHSC. 

Sue Pell - EXEMPT

My name is Sue Pell and I am the Regional Coordinator, Assistant to the Dallas Regional Dean, on the Dallas campus. It is a true honor to be asked to serve on Staff Senate at TTUHSC. As a staff senator, I will have the opportunity to advocate for positive changes and to represent the interest and concerns of staff to ensure all voice are heard. Whether it is proposing new policies, advocating for improved benefits, or addressing workplace issues, this platform allows me to be a part of making a meaningful impact to the organizational culture.

Professionally, I began working at TTUHSC School of Pharmacy in 2022, then I transferred to the School of Nursing in 2023, where I am challenged every day to use my organizational strengths by providing administrative support to the Dallas Regional Dean, and representing the department to administrators, outside agencies, staff, and students.

My experience in the legal and higher education arena equips me with the ability to enhance leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, that are valuable competencies for collaboration and learning from others. 

In my leisure time, I enjoy volunteering at a cat rescue and helping all animals I come in contact with. I am a crazy cat lady who is blessed with four cats (Oreo, Miss Kitty, Leo and JoJo) and two dogs (Maddie and Bailey). I also love hiking, horseback riding, outdoor sports, playing card games, and spending time with my family. 

Lubbock Campus

Dustin Barnett - NON-EXEMPT

Hello all! It is an honor to be nominated for staff senate and I would enjoy finding new ways to engage with other staff members throughout the institution. I became about the of the HSC in December of 2022 starting a new job and moving from East Texas to West Texas. The HSC has been a wonderful institution to be apart of and I am excited to see where this career will take me! 

Last August I became the All-Star Committee chair for Family Medicine, I lead a small committee where we create and sustain a positive work environment by planning and implementing evens and activities that inspire joy and fun. Recently we volunteered at Lubbock Impact and help serve the community meal to the people of Lubbock. During the holiday season we did a toy and clothing drive for local children. For our people that work in our clinical setting and administration, we host various pot lucks throughout the year while to help boast team moral and spirit. 

It is a great honor to serve as a member of the staff senate, I would enjoy the opportunity to work with others from the HSC and bring about positive changes for our fellow colleagues! 

Alexander Dorado - EXEMPT

As a former TTU and TTUHSC Alumni, and now an employee for TTUHSC, I am eager to help and dedicate my time to our amazing Lubbock campus! I am currently the Assistant Director of Advising and Recruitment for the School of Medicine Office of Admissions. 

Being elected as Staff Senate would allow me to be a voice for others within the TTUHSC family. By being that voice, it would support in finding ways to make TTUHSC even better and align with the pillars of our Values Based Culture. I work with an excellent team at the School of Medicine Office of Admissions. By implementing my teamwork skills as a Staff Senate, this will help deliver quality work to meet the goals of a Staff Senator and my passion for TTUHSC. If elected as Staff Senate, I would use my leadership that I have gained to work as a team along other Staff Senators to accomplish tasks and goals that will be given to us to achieve.

Tanya Easterwood - EXEMPT
 

A proud Lubbock native, I'm dedicated to TTUHSC's continued success. With nearly two years of experience at TTUHSC and currently working in the Institute of Telehealth and Digital Innovation, I've thrived collaborating with our diverse and talented team. My recent Master's degree in Psychology, coupled with over 20 years of leadership experience, fuels my passion for fostering a thriving staff environment at TTUHSC. If I am chosen to be your Staff Senator, I'm committed to advocating for all team members, ensuring our voices are heard, and upholding the values of community and hard work instilled in me by my Lubbock upbringing. These values will guide my decisions as we work together to achieve TTUHSC's goals.

Monica Galindo - EXEMPT
 

My name is Monica Galindo and I am currently the Director of Admissions for the School of Medicine. I have been in admissions and at the TTUHSC system for 8 years now. I have a passion for mentoring and guiding students to reach their goals in higher education. I initially started as an analyst since my background is in computer science but was pushed toward the educational part of the job. I will be graduating with a doctoral degree in organizational leadership this coming year and look forward to helping more students reach their goals. I am interested in being a staff senator because of the time I have spent at the HSC and wanting to give back to the institution as well as my fellow peers. Being able to learn more from other departments will allow me to look at the bigger picture and how everyone plays a role in making the HSC function. Knowing how I can help will allow me to use the voice of the staff members and promote a vibrant community. I look forward to being a part of this organization and contributing as best as I can. 

Kenzie Garza - EXEMPT
 

Hello, my name is Kenzie Garza. I am a Unit Manager in the Administrative section of the Department of Surgery. I am privileged to be a part of an exceptional leadership team in the department.  I have worked in this department for 5 years and I have witnessed our section evolve immensely, especially within this past year. I could not ask for a better team to work with. 

I recently graduated from South Plains College with an Associate of Science as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. I plan to continue my education at TTUHSC in Healthcare Management. I enjoy coaching my kids in T-ball alongside of my husband. We have four kids with one on the way.  

My job in the Department of Surgery gives me opportunities to advocate for staff as well as implement improvements for professional and individual success. It would be an honor to have these opportunities institutionally by serving on the Staff Senate. 

Debbie Martinez - NON-EXEMPT
 

My name is Debbie Martinez and am honored that I have been nominated to run for Staff Senate. I am currently employed in the GSBS office and have been with the Texas Tech System for 21 years. Previously, I served on the Staff Senate as an alternate for one year. I have seen up front and appreciate the hard work that Staff Senate does. I take pride in my job and enjoy meeting staff members from across our campuses. I want to be a part of making a difference within our University and look forward to being able to serve as a member of our Staff Senate.

Allison Pritchard - EXEMPT

I have been with the School of Nursing for 11 years and love what I do. I have served within the SON on our Shared Governance Staff Council for a prior period of six years and currently 2023-2025.

Serving on this council as well as other committees within the SON for grant writing, global health and Culture and Climate has given me an insight to staff needs and wants. I make myself available to all staff to listen and work together to find solutions and inventive possibilities to bring new and innovative ideas to fruition.

I am an advocate for staff and our possibilities for what we can bring and do for the HSC and our individual areas. Working outside of our daily areas with each other can only make our possibilities and presence stronger. I am currently serving as a Values Culture Ambassador for the HSC Peoples Department working to better what, and why we do what we do.

I hope you will allow me to serve as a Staff Senator and help be a voice for YOU.

Neena Vega - ???

I have worked with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center for six years and it has been a great experience. I was the very first hire for a brand-new idea that the Patient Service Department came up with: an Overflow Call Center. I started out as the only agent answering for one clinic and within 4 years it became a group of six agents answering for over a dozen clinics. I became supervisor over the call center and learned how to listen and implement change to better our work life and experience. 

I was granted a learning opportunity and transferred to work with the TTUHSC Financial Aid Department and it has been a growing experience for me. I feel that I have gained more knowledge and skills that can be useful for the Staff Senate’s goals. I feel that together we can work towards bettering the environment for all staff and help be the voice if needed for their concerns. From my experience, Staff Senate is a matter of everyone being One Team and it’d be an honor to join a group that embodies that sentiment.