Ashley Arya serves as Chair of the NC State Staff Senate, providing leadership and representation for staff across the university during the first two-year term of the Chair position.  In this role, she is committed to strengthening collaboration, building trust, and creating meaningful connections across the NC State community.

Since being elected to the Staff Senate in 2023, Ashley has served on the External Affairs Committee and chaired the Employee Experience and Relations Committee, working to elevate staff perspectives and strengthen engagement across campus.   She is a co-creator of the Staff Senate Cornerstone Award, recognizing staff members whose contributions help build a stronger NC State.  She has also guided the development of standard operating procedures for Staff Senate districts and committees to support continuity, transparency, and long-term effectiveness.

Ashley joined NC State University in 2020 and serves in the College of Sciences, where she provides operational leadership for IT, including budgeting and forecasting, procurement, and organizational strategy. Through her work supporting university operations, she brings a practical perspective focused on sustainable solutions, process improvement, collaboration, and connecting the work of staff with NC State’s broader mission.

As Staff Senate Chair, Ashley is focused on building trust, service, and community brick by brick.   She believes meaningful progress is built through relationships, collaboration, and a shared commitment to serving one another and advancing NC State’s mission.  Through intentional connection, open communication, and collective action, Ashley is committed to strengthening the foundation of Staff Senate and creating lasting impact for the university community.

Tenille Naumann works in the Business Office of External Affairs, Partnerships, and Economic Development (EAPED). She rejoined the Staff Senate in 2025 for a third term after a brief hiatus, drawn back by her passion for outreach, community service, and representing her colleagues. Tenille has served as Vice Chair, Parliamentary, and Chair of several committees throughout her tenure as a NC State Staff Senator. Tenille hopes her constituents know her as a reliable resource when staff-related concerns arise.

She is a proud recipient of the Wolfpack Award and a three-time NC State Award for Excellence nominee in different campus roles—recognition she values deeply as a reflection of her hard work and dedication.

Outside of work, Tenille coached cheerleading with Cleveland Pop Warner for over 24 years, where she enjoyed teaching the fundamentals and watching young athletes grow. She’s especially proud of a former cheerleader who now cheers at NC State—seeing his dream come true has been a highlight of her coaching journey. She now leads our region for Pop Warner and supports all the Pop Warner Leagues in our area. She also cherishes time with her three grown children and enjoys spending her time off with her three beautiful grandbabies; Carter, Jasper, and Vanessa. Go Pack!

Donise Brown joined the Wolfpack family in 2001 as a temporary employee before transitioning to a permanent role in February 2002. As an alumna, she is a proud university employee who brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to everything she does. Donise currently serves as the Undergraduate Service Coordinator in the Department of Communication within the College of Humanities & Social Sciences (CHASS), where she also supervises temporary employees and work-study students.

A dedicated member of the Staff Senate since 2008, Donise has held various leadership capacities over the years, including Co-Chair of both the Hand & Feet and Diversity committees, and Chair of the Election Committee. In July 2025, she completed the SEANC Parliamentarian Training Workshop, equipping her with the precise institutional expertise and procedural knowledge needed to effectively serve as your next Parliamentarian for the 2026–2027 term.

Dr. Jameco McKenzie is a seasoned higher education leader with expertise in student affairs, student success, and fostering a sense of belonging. As Director of Multicultural Student Affairs at NC State University, he leads a student success center dedicated to leadership development, academic enrichment, education, mentorship, and holistic student support for all students. He is also an affiliated faculty member in the NC State College of Education, where he supports graduate education through teaching, mentoring, and service. In addition, Dr. McKenzie is a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, leveraging strengths-based approaches to develop students, faculty, staff, and emerging leaders.

Since joining the NC State Staff Senate in 2020, Dr. McKenzie has served in several key leadership roles, including senator for the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, Chair of the Access & Belonging Committee, 2023-24 Parliamentarian, Chair-Elect, and Chair of the NC State Staff Senate during the 2025-2026 academic year. During his tenure as Chair, he represented more than 7,100 staff members and worked to elevate staff perspectives and priorities across the university. His leadership focused on strengthening collaboration across campus, advancing professional development opportunities, and enhancing the workplace experience for NC State staff.

Dr. McKenzie also currently serves as Parliamentarian for the UNC System Staff Assembly, where he supports the governance and operations of the Assembly and contributes to initiatives representing staff across the 17 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina System.

In recognition of his leadership and service, Dr. McKenzie received the 2023 Award of Excellence from the Division of Academic and Student Affairs.