May 3, 2002

Longtime staff member chairs Administrative Senate

by Caitlin Rull, A'03, Intern Offices of Public Affairs and Publications

Twenty six years ago Dave Huffman, new in town and just putting down roots, came to Loyola to work as part of the grounds crew. His role on campus has since developed in many directions.

When he married a New Orleans native Huffman realized he was also marrying the city and was here to stay. He graduated from Loyola in 1979 with a liberal arts degree and a concentration in English. "My Loyola career has been a series of evolutions," Huffman says. Before his current position as assistant director for administration in physical plant, Huffman also served as a physical plant coordinator. "Receiving my education here as well as being employed here has given me a full view of Loyola," says Huffman.

Huffman's duties in physical plant include invoicing, personnel-related work, and facilitating the flow and routing of job requests. He is motivated by his daily challenges and the overall team effort within the department. "There is always something different that comes along," says Huffman of his diverse responsibilities, "but it is nice to know that we are helping other members of the Loyola community."

Another direction for Huffman at Loyola is his involvement with the Administrative Staff Senate. As a founding member of the senate in 1993, Huffman has played an active role in establishing a voice for the administrative staff which did not previously exist. The Administrative Senate was created by a group of dedicated staff who recognized that while faculty were strongly represented by the (then) Faculty Senate, and the university staff had an active Staff Council, there was no organized voice for administrative staff. They, therefore, sought equal representation in university affairs and discussions by forming the senate.

For the past two years Huffman has served as chair of the 16-member group. Four representatives are elected from each of the four divisions: academic affairs (including the President's office), business and finance, student affairs, and institutional advancement. Senators are elected for two-year terms. Huffman's responsibilities as chair of the group, which serves as an advisory body to University President Bernard Knoth, S.J., include representing staff concerns to the administration, "refereeing" discussions amongst the senators at the monthly meetings, and serving as a representative of the staff to others in the university community.

The senate has recently participated in discussions concerning the revision of the staff handbook and played a role in the bookstore's reenactment of the faculty/staff discount on textbooks. The group also frequently brings in speakers from different areas of the university to their meetings. "Father Knoth has been particularly inclusive of us in all matters and always maintains an open door to our organization," says Huffman. He adds that "all of the vice presidents have shown great support of the senate as well."

Huffman strongly values his role in such an important organization on campus. But he jokes that it has not always been easy. For example, it is the Administrative Senate chair's duty to carry the university banner in commencement exercises. While noting that the senate considers it a serious honor to do so, he also observes that formal ceremonies are not always without humor. He remembers last spring's exercises with a laugh. "Graduation was a windy day," he explains, "and the banner is like a sail. Going up the stairs holding the banner was a real adventure. One good gust at the wrong time and I might have made aviation history. Fortunately, the banner and I both made it." Huffman's strong roots at Loyola may be the thing that saved him.