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APSCUF WCU On-line Elections |
Introduction
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The nominees for Faculty Senate At-large Representatives are:
Nominations close Apr 7, 2026. All Regular Faculty may be nominated. |
Rules for the Election
- The election is decided by a plurality of those casting votes.
- Faculty may be nominated as both a school, college, or non-classroom faculty representative and as an at-large representative; however, candidates elected as a school, college, or non-classroom faculty representative will be removed from the list of nominees for the election of at-large representatives.
- Each candidate selected counts as a cast vote.
Md Amiruzzaman
Department: Computer Science
I am seeking election as Faculty Senate At-Large Representative because I strongly believe in shared governance as a foundation for a transparent, accountable, and thriving academic environment. Having served in department-level administrative positions, as well as on college- and university-level committees, I have firsthand experience with the practical realities of teaching, research, and faculty workload. I bring a diverse perspective and a multidisciplinary educational background, which will help promote and foster more inclusive educational goals. If elected, I will prioritize open communication, collaborative problem-solving, and data-driven insight to ensure faculty concerns are clearly and constructively represented in Senate deliberations.
Kristopher Benedict
Department: Art + Design
I’m Kris Benedict, Associate Professor of Painting and Drawing from the Dept. of Art + Design. I came to WCU in Fall of 2014 and have served on the Faculty Senate for all but three years during that time. Senate plays a vital role in giving WCU’s faculty a collaborative voice in university policy and decision-making. Senate is also incredibly valuable as a forum for increasing awareness of what is happening at WCU both in the big picture and on a smaller scale. As a Senator, I have participated in administrative searches and candidate interviews, and, in Senate sub-committees, focused on advocating for the university’s support of faculty research. If given the opportunity to continue with the Faculty Senate, I would look to find ways to support and enrich the great community and culture we have here at WCU by focusing my efforts on the Faculty Senate’s mission to promote a positive campus climate for faculty and students.
Clayton Garthwait
Department: University Libraries
Hello friends and colleagues. I wish to continue to serve on Faculty Senate as an at-large member. During my time at West Chester, I have served four terms on this body. I have witnessed very positive progression in Senate through the years. The group has grown into a true force in shared governance. It is a great way to keep informed about changes at our institution. All of this makes me want to continue serving. I bring experience, enthusiasm and institutional knowledge. Won't you please consider voting for me? Thank you for your consideration.
Erin Hipple
Department: Graduate Social Work
It is with great pleasure that I seek election as Faculty Senate At-Large Representative. I am a tenured professor in Graduate Social Work, a discipline grounded in autonomy and justice across interpersonal, community, and policy contexts. My teaching and scholarship focus on equity, relational pedagogy, and justice-based collective action, with research exploring how institutions can better support workers and students. My professional background has equipped me to build trust, facilitate open dialogue, and foster meaningful, justice-centered collaboration.
Since 2021, I have proudly served as an APSCUF Department Faculty Representative. I have trained as an APSCUF Member Support and Contract Enforcement Liaison. I am also a member of the APSCUF Ad Hoc Bylaws Revision Committee and the APSCUF Representative on the Philadelphia Center Lease Working Group. Since 2025, I have been an APSCUF Legislative Assembly Delegate Alternate. These roles have given me clear insight into faculty concerns at WCU. In addition, I have collaborated across disciplines through campus-wide conferences, staff searches, and interdisciplinary research. As a proud WCU alum, I am deeply committed to the well-being of faculty at the institution that shaped my academic path.
If elected, I hope to serve as a meaningful connector between APSCUF and Faculty Senate, strengthening communication and alignment in service of faculty well-being and labor rights. I will work to protect academic freedom, promote fair and sustainable workloads, and address systemic pressures that ask faculty to do more with less. I will prioritize transparency, collaboration across difference, and action that strengthens our collective voice. Thank you for your consideration.
Premalatha Junius
Department: Mathematics
As a member of Faculty Senate (2018- present), I work with others to ensure faculty involvement in the shared governance of the institution. I have been part of a subgroup of Senate that seeks avenues to help faculty research and creative activity. I would like to continue to offer my services. I have held several leadership positions in the past; now I see myself having a quiet and gentle influence with my math students, the mathematical community and people I work with and learn from.
Tim Jussaume
Department: Honors
I am writing to express my interest in serving as a representative in the Faculty Senate. I care deeply about shared governance, transparent decision-making, and fostering a strong academic community that supports both faculty and students.
My work at West Chester and at prior institutions has centered on interdisciplinary learning, faculty collaboration, and student-centered teaching. In my current role as Honors College Director, I work closely with faculty across departments and colleges on curriculum design, experiential learning, and program development. This has given me a broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing faculty, as well as an appreciation for the importance of clear communication and inclusive governance.
At my previous institution, I served as Secretary of the University Senate, where I gained firsthand experience with faculty governance, agenda setting, and committee coordination. As someone still relatively new to West Chester, I am eager to become more involved in campus governance and to contribute in a meaningful way to the broader WCU community.
If elected, I would approach this role thoughtfully and collaboratively, with a commitment to listening carefully, representing faculty concerns, and contributing constructively to Senate deliberations.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kurt Kolasinski
Department: Chemistry
I am a professor in the Department of Chemistry. I’ve served on Faculty Senate since 2011 and it has been an honor to serve as Faculty Senate President for the past year. Faculty Senate is not just concerned with campus climate, we’re an essential element of shared governance. I ask for your vote to help me continue to advocate for helping WCU faculty succeed at what they do best.
Tom Kwiatkowski
Department: Chemistry
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and have been at WCU since Fall 2022. There are many challenges facing WCU and higher education, including AI use, budget constraints at the state level, student housing and parking, the role of online courses, and course offerings and section consolidation, among others. My role on the Faculty Senate is not simply to be a passive listener to these challenges, but to serve as an active and vocal advocate for strategies that support faculty and staff in addressing these issues, and by extension, our students.
Currently, I serve as Assistant Director of the Center for STEM Inclusion, am a co-PI on an NIH research grant, and previously co-led an NSF LSAMP grant focused on increasing STEM graduation rates for underrepresented students. I have also served on multiple faculty and administrative search committees, as well as CAPC, the New Faculty Orientation Committee (NFOC), the Pre-Medical Committee (PMC), and the Teaching and Learning Committee (TLC). Thank you for your consideration.
Sarah Lightner
Department: Literacy
I have served as an At-large Representative on Faculty Senate since 2019 and as part of this service I have been a Faculty Senate Representative on the President's Committee on the Status of Women, on the Search Committee for an Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, on the Antiracism Syllabus Statement Committee, on the SIS Advisory Council, and on the Institutional Effectiveness Committee. I have also served on Faculty Senate's Subcommittee on Research and Creative Activity, and this year I am co-chairing that committee. I have found that participating on Faculty Senate has helped me to stay informed about the University, and been an incredibly rewarding experience. I'd be honored to continue to serve on Faculty Senate as an At-large Representative.
Vipanchi Mishra
Department: Psychology
Please support me to continue serving on the Faculty Senate as a “member at large”. During my two terms on faculty senate I have served on the executive committee, the search committee for Associate Provost for Learning & Teaching as well as participated in the development of peer review guidelines for faculty evaluation. Currently, I serve on the subcommittee for research and creative activity. Additionally, I have served on the Faculty Mentoring Committee and CELT, where I have participated in efforts directed towards supporting both temporary and permanent faculty in meeting their professional expectations. I aim to ensure that our diverse professional needs remain central to the university’s shared governance and decision-making processes. I would be honored to continue collaborating with colleagues across campus to strengthen our academic environment.
Metello Mugnai
Department: Languages and Cultures
I am seeking election as Faculty Senate At-Large Representative because I deeply value the collaboration and accountability that shared governance helps to foster. Collective decision-making and open communication matter, especially when policies directly affect our teaching and workload.
I am a tenured professor in Languages and Cultures, teaching Italian, Spanish and Italian culture cluster courses. My work is centered on strong, rigorous teaching and on helping students think critically about language, culture, and power. That perspective carries over into how I view institutional questions: decisions should be thoughtful, practical, and grounded in the realities of the classroom.
I have contributed to the university through curriculum development and sustained student mentorship, focusing on steady, concrete work rather than symbolic gestures.
If elected, I would approach this role thoughtfully and collaboratively, with a commitment to listening carefully, representing faculty concerns, and contributing constructively to Senate deliberations.
Thank you for your consideration.
Heather Schugar
Department: Ed Leadership & Higher Ed Admin
As a former President of the Faculty Senate, I remain deeply committed to advancing the Senate’s work in promoting a positive campus climate and fostering diversity and inclusion on our campus. Over the course of my 15 years of service on Senate, I have worked to enhance transparency in decision-making across university units, amplify the Senate’s voice in research and creative activities, and support open communication and collaborative problem-solving around faculty and student welfare. With your vote, I would welcome the opportunity to continue contributing to WCU’s shared governance model.
David Thomas
Department: Educational Accessibility
As a non-classroom faculty member whose work touches every facet of the university, spanning recruitment and admissions through the curriculum and co-curriculum to commencement, I have an understanding of the university as a whole -- its programs, facilities, and policies. I consult with colleagues in every academic and WCU-affiliated program at all WCU locations on providing access to any aspect of their programs. In addition to Academic Affairs, I interact frequently with Student Affairs (including dining, housing, student activities, etc.); IS&T, University Affairs (commencement, public safety, parking, etc.); Access, Compliance, and Engagement (Title IX and ADA); Financial Aid, the Registrar; Athletics; and Human Resources among others to ensure access to everything WCU has to offer. I have a unique perspective and breadth of knowledge about the university, its programs, and policies that I can bring to the Faculty Senate, particularly as an at-large member. Thank you for your consideration.
Zachary Wooten
Department: Honors College
I, Zach Wooten, am pleased to submit my candidacy for Faculty Senate At-Large Representative. As a tenured associate professor in the Honors College, I teach courses focused on leadership and civic engagement, areas that have deeply shaped my understanding of shared governance, collaborative decision-making, and institutional responsibility. My work in the classroom centers on preparing students to think critically, engage ethically, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. I bring that same commitment to faculty leadership.
My previous service on the Council of Undergraduate Research and the Council for Diversity, Inclusion, and Academic Excellence has provided valuable experience in cross-campus collaboration and informed dialogue. Through this work, I have engaged in initiatives that support student scholarship and inclusive academic environments.
I am eager to learn more about the broader priorities and challenges facing our university and to contribute constructively to Faculty Senate discussions. As an At-Large Representative, I would approach this role with openness, careful listening, and a commitment to representing the diverse perspectives of our faculty. I would be honored to serve and contribute to the continued strength and integrity of our faculty leadership.
Created and copyrighted by Clifford Johnston, 2000-12