The Council of University System Staff (or CUSS) is the shared governance group responsible for representing staff from all 12 campuses that are part of the University System of Maryland (USM). Each campus elects a number of representatives (and alternates) to serve on the Council each year and these members serve as the staff voice at the system level.
CUSS has four standing committees that meet every month: Awards & Outreach, Legislative Affairs & Policy, Staff Resources & Special Projects, and the Executive Committee. CUSS members serve as liaisons between the leadership of the USM and the campuses and are responsible for disseminating information to staff across the USM.
CUSS Representatives
Roy Prouty
Time in CUSS: 4 years
About Me: I am currently an exempt staff member in DoIT and work as a System Administrator for UMBC’s High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF). I work closely with faculty, students, and staff to ensure our HPCF and other research computing resources remain accessible and available to all campus community members.
I am also a contingent staff member through the Center for Space Science Technology — a research center UMBC formed with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. In this role, I serve as the Director of the UMBC Observatory. I began this work in 2013 to fulfill our mission of providing research support, designing and executing outreach events, and developing partnerships with on and off-campus Astronomy Clubs.
I came to UMBC in 2013 pursuing a graduate degree in Atmospheric Physics, I completed my M.S. with a thesis on radiative transfer of above-cloud aerosols in January 2016, and then went on to work full-time in DoIT. Early in the pandemic, I began working with Dr. Don Engel in CSEE as a part-time PhD Student. I achieved candidacy in June 2022, and I hope to defend my final thesis by December 2024.
I first joined shared governance at UMBC in 2014 as a senator in the Graduate Student Association (GSA). I then served as president of the GSA, chair of the University Steering Committee, and President of the University System of Maryland Student Council.
After two years as staff, I began engaging with the Exempt Staff Senate (ESS) as a Council of University System Staff (CUSS) representative for UMBC. I am now a full-fledged PSS senator and continue to work with CUSS as the chair of the Legislative Affairs and Policy Committee.
Fun Fact(s): The UMBC Observatory hosts public Open Houses on the first Thursday of every month! Come check us out! I live in Pigtown, Baltimore with my husband (Derek) and doggo (Dyson). Talk to me about biking infrastructure and/or the most dangerous bike paths from Baltimore to UMBC. I’ve got stories …
Michael Walsh
Time in ESS/CUSS/Shared Governance: This will be my seventh year in CUSS (previously served from 2017-2023) and I have served one other term as a Senator on ESS as well (2017-2018).
About Me: I am currently the Director and Training Coordinator in the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). I have worked in OSP since October 2008, but began my time at UMBC in 2000 as a Graduate student, and served as a Teaching Assistant/Graduate Assistant for both the History and Political Science Departments, earning my Masters in 2002 (Historical Studies) and my PhD (Public Policy) in 2012.
Favorite Place on Campus: The AOK Library and its surroundings (pond). I’ve spent so many hours doing research in that building and also enjoy sitting by the pond when the weather cooperates.
Fun Fact (anything at all): I play music (bass, vocals, harmonica) professionally in several regional rock ‘n roll bands (Whisky Train, The Rockin’ Ryes, and The Agitators to name a few) and have also published a book (The History Press) entitled Baltimore Prohibition: Wet and Dry in the Free State which chronicles Baltimore’s and Maryland’s history with the 18thand 21stAmendments during the 1920s/1930s.
| CUSS Alternates: Lazlo Korossy, Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, and Deanna Cerquetti, Academic & Pre-Professional Advising |
We are the four representatives/alternates for Exempt Staff, but we also have one representative and one alternative on behalf of the Non-Exempt Staff at UMBC.
2024-2025 Non-Exempt CUSS Representatives:
Terisa White, Executive Administrative Assistant II, Office of the Provost
Catherine Myers, Program Administrative Specialist, Student Conduct and Community Standards