UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Paul Smith, education program coordinator in the College of Education, began his new role as chair of the University Staff Advisory Council (USAC) for the 2026-27 year this past July, leading the body that represents the voices of Penn State's non-union staff across the University. As he settles into the position, Smith said the job comes with real responsibility — and a real team behind him.
"It's a lot like being pulled in different directions. Everyone has their own opinion about different things," Smith said. "So it's kind of like being a receptacle of all that and then trying to figure out how do we take that and use it to further a mission of advancing the staff voice."
Smith was quick to credit the people around him — USAC's officers, committee chairs and his own colleagues in his day job — for making the role manageable.
"It really has been great to have that team of officers," Smith said. "Even outside of USAC, my manager and department head see the value in this work and have been willing to help take on some of my normal day-to-day duties. I couldn't do it without them."
The call to advocate
When he began working for Penn State, it struck Smith as odd that unit discussions were called faculty meetings, even though staff were invited to attend and contribute.
"Our department head wanted us there because we were part of the department and she valued our participation, but the name alone made it feel like we didn't have a place to speak," Smith recalled. At his suggestion, the unit renamed these sessions ‘department meetings.’"
"It's a small change, but it taught me something I've carried with me: that people often don't speak up because the forum doesn't seem built for them," Smith added. "Staff are part of this University, and I believe decisions are better when staff voice is included in the process."
This desire to foster staff inclusion is what led him to serve on his local staff council and then to seek greater influence through USAC.
Looking ahead
Smith said he's most eager to see results from the work already underway, including an ad hoc committee reviewing USAC's internal structure and a renewed focus on staff recognition. Under his tenure as chair-elect, USAC saw a 218% increase in nominations for its annual staff awards. Smith hopes to further promote USAC’s impact by helping to publish stories on staff and their contributions to the University.
One of his central goals for the year is continuing to have USAC proactively involved in University-wide discussions and decision-making that impact staff.
Currently, USAC has representation on more than 25 external committees, and council officers continue to meet monthly with senior University leadership. Most recently, the University Faculty Senate officially approved the inclusion of the USAC chair as a voting member of University Faculty Senate, effective July 1.
To continue this momentum, Smith has taken what he calls a "thoughtful" approach of looking inward, evaluating how USAC's expanded membership model is working and what the member experience is like for representatives serving their terms.
"We've done a good job getting seats at the table," Smith said, crediting past chairs for USAC's growth.
"Now we need to look internally and make sure we're set up the way we need to be, by keeping our members engaged and their talents maximized."
A voice for staff during change
Much of this year's focus will center on supporting staff through continued University change. Smith said USAC's mission remains the same regardless of the challenge: to make sure staff have a voice in conversations that affect them.
"We're in a period of profound change, and that change is not stopping," Smith said. "But the staff voice isn't any less valuable in that change. We can only be the advocates we can be when we're engaged with our staff."
A Penn State story
Smith's connection to the University began almost by accident. Originally from Virginia, he came to Penn State as a student in part because he loved the snow and took a Human Resources talent acquisition role — thinking it would be a short-term position.
"I remember selecting my benefits and thinking, 'This is just temporary. I'm not going to be here 10 years,'" Smith said. "And here I am."
He now works in the College of Education, supporting curriculum development and student affairs initiatives. For Smith, it's the sense of community and mission at Penn State — one he says is different from what he hears from friends at other institutions — that has kept him here.
As he leads USAC through a year of continued change across the University, Smith said his message to staff is simple: stay engaged.
"We can only advocate for what we know," Smith said. "We're all from different realms — we don't know everything. So reach out, use those communication channels. That's how we can keep being the advocates staff need us to be."
Get involved with USAC:
- Join or start a local staff advisory council.
- Email USAC at AskUSAC@psu.edu.
- Follow USAC on Facebook and LinkedIn.
- Connect through the Microsoft Teams Community Engagement Group.