PRESIDENT

JEFFREY O. G. OGBAR: PROFESSOR

HISTORY

UConn-AAUP:  Executive Committee Member (2015-17; Executive Vice President (2020-22); President, (2022-present)

University:  Founding Director, Center for the Study of Popular Music (2014-); Member, Dean Kersaint Review Committee (2020); Member, UConn Coalition on Intercollegiate Athletics (2019-); Member, Graduate Faculty Council (2019-20); Member, President’s Athletic Advisory Committee (2015-18); Vice Provost for Diversity (2012-14); Associate Dean for the Humanities, CLAS (2009-12); Director, Institute for African American Studies (2003-09); University Senate (2009-12); chair, Senate Committee on Growth and Development (2009-12); member, search committee for University President, (2010); member, Provost Commission on Public Engagement (2009-11); member, search Committee for Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police (2011); member, Global Citizenship Curriculum Committee (2009-11); member, Provost Task Force on Teaching Learning Assessment (2006-09); chair, Search Committee for Director of Institute for Puerto Rican and Latino Studies (2005-06); member, Provost Task Force on Teaching Learning Assessment (2006-09)

Statement: “Serving as President of the UConn-AAUP has been a privilege and honor. Working as Executive Vice President for two years prior provided me with a sense of the duties, but not all of the rewards. Meeting members and working on their behalf is quite fulfilling. Coming out of the pandemic, I’ve advocated for greater social interaction and fellowship with our members, while pushing for a budget that does not leave us with more belt-tightening as the state enjoys historic surpluses.  UConn-AAUP has continued to campaign for our members’ welfare on different fronts, from salary, shared governance policies, office space, and arbitration cases. We continue to update our membership during this process with virtual town hall meetings and newsletters. I look forward to more opportunities to realize the mission of our Union and work for its membership.”

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

JEAN MCCARTHY: CLINICAL PROFESSOR

SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND HEARING SCIENCES

UConn-AAUP:  Executive Vice President (2022-present), Executive Committee (2017-present), Grievance Committee (2022-present), Finance Committee (2022-present), Representatives Assembly (2016-18), Constitution Committee (2018–19), Contract Committee (2019), Contract Negotiating Team (2020–present), Executive Committee Nominating Committee (2021-present)

University: Member, Selection Committee, Vice Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs & Development, (2020), Member, Committee for revision of Non-tenure Track Promotion and Reappointment procedures (2019-20), Member, Committee for Interprofessional Excellence in Healthcare (CIPEH) (2016-present)

Statement: “The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is our cornerstone to working effectively so we exceed student expectations, research requirements and service to our state, national and international communities.  The CBA supports our endeavors. Shared Governance celebrates the expertise of departmental faculty members as they create and abide by their departmental governance documents. I will continue to support the autonomy of faculty to determine the content of these protected departmental governance documents. As a clinical faculty member, I support the development of a professional leave policy for non-tenure track faculty.  I stand in solidarity with all bargaining unit members no matter their job title.  As Executive Vice President I will continue to prioritize AAUP national and chapter membership. Touting the strength and stability of the UConn Chapter of AAUP will be the hallmark of my service.”

VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT/ORGANIZING

SAM SOMMERS: ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN RESIDENCE (WATERBURY)

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN STUDIES          

UConn-AAUP: Executive Committee (appointed 2022); Representatives Assembly (2021-22)

University: CLAS Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee

Statement: “I am eager to serve UConn-AAUP as the Vice President for Membership and Organizing to communicate the value of our union to recent hires, who have not yet have signed cards with our union. I hope that through outreach and renewed attention to activism and camaraderie we can, at minimum, return to pre-pandemic membership levels, and ideally exceed those levels, since our union’s members are its most important asset. I am thrilled to be part of a unionized faculty, and I look forward to meeting current members and recruiting new folks in this role for the executive committee. Organizing in non-bargaining years is absolutely crucial. We need to engage members at every rank and role, to hear about their needs and their successes so that we’re in a strong position to advocate and win at the negotiating table. I look forward to serving!”

SECRETARY/TREASURER

OSKAR HARMON:  ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (STAMFORD & STORRS)
ECONOMICS
UConn-AAUP:  Executive Committee Member (2020-23; 2012-19), Treasurer (2020-23,2016-19), Grievance Committee Member (2020-23), On-Line Education Bargaining Team Member (2012-14), Nominating Committee Member (2021-23, 2017-19, 2013-15), Membership Recruitment Committee Member (2015-23)
University: University Senator (2022-23), Faculty Salary Equity Steering Sub-Committee Co-Chair  (2020-22), CETL Teaching Fellow (2021-22), Career Development Champion (2018-present), Service Learning Fellow (2014–present), University Software Licensing Group Member (2008-17); University Mobile Device Steering Committee Member (2011-14); University eCampus Steering Committee Member (2012-13), University Senate Online Instruction Subcommittee Member (2011-12).

Statement: “The UConn-AAUP must continue its strong support of faculty involvement as the administration and state legislators address the important issues of expenditures on faculty compensation, class size, course delivery, diversity, and governance.  Factors attributed to our US News World Reports ranking falling from #18 in 2018 to #26 include an increase in class size and decrease in faculty compensation relative to our peers.  A top priority is growing our membership and strengthening existing protections in our CBA.   A second priority is maintaining and increasing the share of expenditures on academics, which is essential to supporting excellence in instruction and research.  A third priority is addressing inequalities related to gender and ethnic diversity.  A fourth priority is promoting faculty inclusion in regional campus governance.  The UConn-AAUP needs to be a strong advocate for advancing the faculty role in university governance, and protecting and expanding the job security, benefits, and due process rights of our members.”

REGIONAL CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVE

INGRID SEMAAN:  ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN RESIDENCE (STAMFORD)

SOCIOLOGY

UConn AAUP:  Executive Committee (2021‐present), Representatives Assembly (2018‐21), Equity subcommittee (2019‐20), Committee on Gender and Sexuality (2019‐present), Non‐Tenure Track P&R sub‐committee of UConn‐AAUP contract committee (2019‐21)

University:  UConn‐Stamford Coordinators Committee (2006‐present), UConn‐Stamford Director Search Committee (2021-22), Stamford Faculty Council (2020), UConn‐Stamford Director’s Advisory Committee (2011‐15, 2017‐19) Steering Committee for the UConn‐ Stamford Human Rights Conference and Lecture Series (2014–17), UConn‐Stamford Quality of Student Life Subcommittee Co‐Convener (2014‐15), University Interdisciplinary Courses Committee (2009‐11), Provost’s Commission on the Status of Women (2006‐10), UConn Metanoia Planning Committee (2010)

Statement: “The UConn‐AAUP should work to build an inclusive and just academic environment. To those ends, it should prioritize race and gender equity in hiring, salary, and advancement; shared governance among all stakeholders; investment in faculty and underfunded academic departments and programs; and stronger paid family leave policies (as well as their consistent and equitable implementation across schools and for all bargaining unit members). It should also focus on job security, higher salaries, improved working conditions, and sabbaticals for non‐tenure‐track faculty. Many of these goals have been undermined by increasing workloads, a lack of work/life balance, increasing top‐down decision‐making by the university’s upper administration, and the financial burden of an ever-expanding upper administration. Together, we can build a model of what a public university should represent and how it should treat those on whom it depends.”

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

 DAFHNE AGUIRRE: ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN RESIDENCE

CHEMISTRY

UConn-AAUP: Executive Committee Member (2020-present), EHS Committee Member (2020-present)

University: University Interdisciplinary Courses Committee (2018-21); Academic Integrity Hearing Board (2018-present); Scholarship Application Review Committee, Hartford, (2016-20); Dismissal Committee, (2016-20); STEM faculty mentor (2019-20)

Statement: “As an Assistant Professor in Residence, improved job security and recognition for non-tenure track faculty is one of my main concerns.  Non-tenure track faculty provide vital multifaceted contributions to the university that commonly go unrecognized.  UConn-AAUP can support their work by advocating that departmental bylaws include reasonable workload and compensation formulas for all members of the professoriate. Second, attaining and maintaining a diverse faculty is an important goal for UConn. UConn-AAUP’s monitoring of gender and racial/ethnic disparity in our hiring, retention, promotion, and merit processes is essential to the University’s mission. Achieving that diversity is a long-term commitment, and one that requires ongoing efforts in all areas of the university, including UConn-AAUP”

MONICA BOCK: PROFESSOR

ART & ART HISTORY

UConn-AAUP: Executive Committee (Spring 2020; 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23); AAUP/AFT Union Logo Design Committee Chair (2022-23), Committee W (1998-2001)

University: School of Fine Arts Strategic Planning, Institutional Values Subcommittee & Nomenclature Committee (2021-22); Provost Library Advisory Committee (2013-2017); Graduate Faculty Council Executive Committee (2010-13); Graduate Faculty Council (2007-12); Service-Learning Committee (2001-02)

Statement: “Representing visual and performing arts faculty, I offer insight and perspective on the unique contributions and extreme challenges of creative arts teaching, research, and service at UConn. As part of the union’s larger membership organizing drive, I am facilitating the creation of the new AAUP/AFT logo identity in partnership with the Art & Art History Department Graphic Design Center professor and student design team. Stressing that UConn works because we do, I encourage my colleagues to embrace our identity as workers running complex and active creative arts facilities, venues, and programs with insufficient administrative and technical support and continual operating budget rescissions. Respect for labor is fundamental to institutional values. Valuing arts scholarship and creative practice uplifts teaching and research across all disciplines.”

MOLIKA CHEA: LECTURER

NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES

UConn-AAUP:  Executive Committee (2022-Present)

University Service:  SET+ Committee (2022-Present), Board Member, Academic Integrity Hearing Board, Office of Community Standards (2018–present); UConn First Generation (2020-Present)

College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR) Service:  CAHNR Diversity Committee (2022—Present); CAHNR Health Implementation Committee (2021-Present); CAHNR Sustainability Implementation Committee (2021); Volunteer, Undergraduate Commencement (2019).

Department of Nutritional Sciences: SET+ Evaluator for Tenure-Track Faculty Dossiers (2023); Public Health and Community Nutrition Strategic Planning Group (2021–Present); Clinical, Integrative, and Functional Nutrition Strategic Planning Group (2021–Present); Merit Advisory Committee (2021); Undergraduate Committee (2018–Present); Dietetics Advisory Committee (2019–Present)

Statement: “UConn-AAUP should continue prioritizing the decreased state funding ($159.8 million FY 24 and $197.3 million) to UConn proposed by Governor Lamont.  This proposed budget would negatively impact the entire UConn community, especially the quality of education provided to students and research productivity if there are potential cuts to departments.  Another priority is opportunities for professional development funds, resources, and opportunities for all faculty at UConn’s main and regional campuses.  These are opportunities that can contribute to the growth of faculty in their given field and to stay current with trends in higher education related to student diversity, student learning, and strategies for student retention.”

MANISHA DESAI:  PROFESSOR
SOCIOLOGY AND ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
UConn AAUP: Executive Committee (elected 2019‐20, appointed Sp. 2022) Member, AAUP
W Committee (2015‐present)
University: Senate (2009‐16); Chair, Senate Diversity Committee (2015‐16)

Statement: “Given the recent cuts announced by the Governor, even as the CT economy is growing, underscores the importance of a collective voice to ensure the health of the academic mission at UConn. The COVID Crisis underscored the importance of focusing on faculty wellbeing, that includes salary raises, support for research and teaching, including maintaining reasonable class sizes, and addressing the ongoing issues of equity and justice. The most recent round of negotiations revealed the disconnect between the faculty and administration’s priorities and visions and we need to consistently hold the administration and the state accountable to its commitments to UConn.”

JEFFREY DUDAS:  PROFESSOR

POLITICAL SCIENCE

UConn-AAUP: Member, Representatives Assembly (2017-present)

University: Executive Committee, American Studies (2019-present); Co-Founding Director, Master of Arts in Politics and Popular Culture (MPPC) (2018-present); CLAS Center and Institute Review Committee, Asian and Asian American Studies Institute (2021-22); Graduate Faculty Council (2019-20); Social Science Review Panel, Large Grant Program (2012-13); Provost’s Library Advisory Committee (2009-2013); Phi Beta Kappa Graduate Selection Committee (2008-10); CLAS Courses and Curriculum Committee (2006-08)

Statement: “I have been heartened and inspired by the excellent work of our union leadership over the last several years. In particular, our leaders have been faced with threats to faculty and union governance from multiple directions: from an occasionally uncooperative, overreaching, and even hostile UConn administration, on one hand; and from a bevy of state officials, including the current Governor, who seems intent on reducing public investment in higher education no matter the consequences to Connecticut residents, on the other hand. These pressures have fundamentally altered faculty life at UConn over the last two decades; they have made our collective work more difficult and less rewarding. In addition to increasing faculty frustration and driving lower morale, these pressures have exacerbated already existing inequities – inequities that appear in many places, but perhaps nowhere more obviously than in the mostly unaddressed trends of salary compression and inversion. In spite of these difficulties, our leaders were able to secure for us an excellent contract during the most recent round of negotiations. But much remains to be done; and if the current dispute with the Governor regarding the annual state appropriation is prologue, we will need the strength of our union more than ever in the coming years. I have served on the UConn-AAUP’s Representatives Assembly for the last 6 years and have had a front-seat view of the many and continuing challenges that confront us. I would be honored to serve our chapter as a member of the 2023-2024 Executive Committee.”

NICOLE W. GALLAGHER: ASSOCIATE CLINICAL PROFESSOR/SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST             

SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND HEARING SCIENCES

UConn-AAUP:  Representative Assembly-SLHS Department Representative (2017-present), Speaker for the Rep Assembly reporting to the Executive Committee (January 2021-June 2021)

University: CIPEH Acting Secretary (May 2022-present), Member of CIPEH/ IPE- WE (previously named Dean’s Day) (2018-present)

Statement: “The UConn-AAUP must continue to support its faculty through positive engagement at the university and state levels. I stand behind the members of the Executive Board and the superb negotiating team who arduously fought for our current contract protecting all faculty types- tenure track, clinical, and in-residence. Now it is time for UConn’s Administration and UConn-AAUP to join forces and fight in solidarity to protect UConn’s state budget to preserve and protect UConn’s faculty and the goals and missions of the University while ultimately protecting the education of current and future students for today and the future. The time is now, and I want to join this movement.”

MARY GALLUCCI:  ADJUNCT FACULTY

ENGLISH

UConn-AAUP:  Executive Committee (2014-18, 2019-20; 2022-23); Committee W (2016-17); Nominating Committee (2015-17); Subcommittee on Academic Freedom (2015)

University:  Committee on Adjunct Faculty, English Department (2017-20, 2021-22); Task Force on Adjunct Faculty, English Department (2015-17)

State:  Connecticut State Conference Council, AAUP—member-at-large (2022-present)

Statement: “The UConn–AAUP continues to face the challenges of declining state budgets; privatization; rising tuition; threats to tenure; and increased reliance on non-tenured/non-tenure-track teaching staff.  These challenges are best faced by strong and diverse faculty governance. The UConn-AAUP will need to confront employment issues related to precarity and the gig economy in a pro-active manner to ensure an optimal teaching and research climate.  Ongoing efforts to foster a more diverse faculty must remain a focus of the UConn-AAUP’s advocacy.”

MILAGROS MARRERO-JOHNSON: ADJUNCT PROFESSOR

SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIOLOGY

University: Member, School of Social Work Dean’s Search Committee (2022–present); Chair, School of Social Work Director of Student and Academic Services Search Committee (2022); Member, School of Social Work Humphreys Institute Internal Advisory Committee (2022–present); Member, School of Social Work Field Education Coordinators Search Committee (2022); Member, Public Policy Director of Engagement Search Committee (2021); Chair, School of Social Work Communications & Marketing Specialist Search Committee (2021); Member, Committee for Hartford Campus Director 5-year Performance (2021); Member, Hartford Campus Student Activities Coordinator Search Committee (2021); Co-chair, School of Social Work Strategic Planning Committee: Emerging Areas of Need and Focus (2021); Co-chair, Future of Work Employee Development and Support (2021); Reviewer, Office of Institutional Equity (2020–present); Member, UCPEA Social Justice Committee (2020–22); Member, Hartford Campus Director Search Committee (2017); Co-Chair, School of Social Work and Greater Hartford Campus Relocation to Hartford Committee (2015-16); Member, Vice Provost’s Office for Diversity Committee (2013– 14); Advisory Member, School of Social Work Puerto Rican and Latinos Studies Project (2011–19)

Statement: “Since joining UConn in 2004 as a professional staff member and in 2009 as an adjunct faculty member, I understand the contributions of both professional staff and faculty to the success of UConn. As a member of UConn-AAUP and UCPEA, I bring a unique perspective and value the many talents, skills, and expertise that staff and faculty bring to fulfilling the University’s mission. UConn-AAUP should continue to serve as a catalyst to the administration and the state in representing the many diverse needs of the faculty. UConn-AAUP should focus on the following areas during the 2023-2024: 1) reexamine workload concerns as faculty are still navigating the impact of COVID-19 ensuring they have the resources to best support student learning, engagement, and research; 2) address workplace civility and promoting a culture of inclusivity and equity; and 3) addressing university budgetary concerns to ensure that full-time and part-time faculty needs are well represented amid financial uncertainty.”

JENNIFER SANFORD: HEAD COACH

ATHLETICS – WOMEN’S ROWING

UConn-AAUP: Negotiating Team Member (2022–23)

University: Teach FYE (began Fall 2022)

Statement: “I have been an employee of the University since 1997 as the Head Coach for the Women’s Rowing team. Many members of UConn-AAUP in Athletics are unaware of the value that coincides with being a member of this Union. It is important that we continue to work with the University to make improvements to, and maintain protections in, the collective bargaining agreement. One of the results of the recent negotiations was to allow for negotiations of Article 37 Athletics to continue past the signing of the general contract. I joined the team to continue the negotiations in the Summer of 2022, and to this date, we still have not reached agreement. I am running for an Executive Committee Member-at-Large position for two reasons: 1) Representation on the decision-making body of the Chapter needs to be broad, and members in Athletics could have a voice within this Committee; 2) I would like to build on my experience to continue to fight for the benefits and protections of all bargaining unit members. I ask for your vote for the Member-at-Large position.”

FATMA SELAMPINAR: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN RESIDENCE

CHEMISTRY

UConn-AAUP: Executive Committee (elected 2020-22), Relief Fund Committee (2020)

University: CLAS Courses & Curriculum Committee (2017 – present), GEOC Q- Committee Co-Chair (2013-17), ECE Chemistry Coordinator (2007-present), Q Center Advisory Board member (2012- present), Delta GenEd member (2019-21), Something’s Happening (2021-present)

Statement: “As a non-tenured faculty member who has been teaching more than 17 years, I believe there has been a big improvement in the condition of teaching faculty. However, I believe UConn-AAUP can leverage better conditions that will be conducive to a beneficial and cooperative learning environment. As the number of students matriculated increases, more must be done in order to provide a better education for students, the main function of a university. It should also be a priority to create an environment that minimizes the difficulties experienced by underrepresented faculty members. One of our main objectives should be to foster an inclusive and diverse environment by taking action against inequities that result from conscious and unconscious biases. Certain factors in the faculty review process predispose them to prejudice that reduces the quality of teaching while supporting the growth of grade inflation. While monitoring the quality of teaching provided by faculty, we should be able to maintain proper job security as well as recognize achievements adequately. As an educator I believe our top goal should be to increase the quality of the education while also improving critical thinking skills that have applications beyond the classroom.”

ERIC SCHULTZ: PROFESSOR

ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

UConn-AAUP: Member since 1995; recipient of AAUP Service Excellence Award 2018

University: University Senate department for at-large representative (2005-22); University Senate Executive (2019-21); University Senate Curricula and Courses Committee Member (2005-present), Chair (2009-15, 2019-21); Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Charging Graduate Tuition to Grants Chair (2008-09); GenEd Task Force Chair (2019-21); General Education Oversight Committee, Member (2009-16), Chair (2016-19)

Statement: “UConn-AAUP’s dedication to maintaining high-quality working conditions will continue to be challenged by increasing pressures on the faculty arising from financial pressures on the university and national changes in academic culture. The union plays a crucial role in ensuring that all faculty receive a wage commensurate with their training and dedication, a robust array of benefits, and protections from the ongoing drive to extract more from less. In the next year contract negotiations will recommence, and the union will continue to communicate the message that the best way to sustain the University’s place as a premier institution of higher education, research and jobs creation is to nurture its faculty. The union is also well equipped to contend with broader changes in academic culture and society, such as replacement of tenured faculty with in-residence faculty, to guarantee that the University will remain a place for freedom of inquiry and speech.”

CHRIS VIALS: PROFESSOR

ENGLISH

UConn-AAUP:  Chair of the Contract Committee (2019-20); Executive Committee (2012-15, 2018-20, 2022-23); Contract Bargaining Team (2015-16); English Department Rep (2016-17); Search Committee for Associate Director and Executive Director of the AAUP (2014)

University: Director of American Studies (2015-22); Working Group for the Non-Departmentalized Units (NDOU) (2021-22); Co-Chair, CLAS Native American and Indigenous Studies Cluster Hiring Committee (2019-20); Co-Chair, Metanoia Planning Committee (2019)

Statement: “Next academic year, UConn-AAUP will be entering a very challenging terrain, as we have done many times in the past.   Governor Ned Lamont has proposed two years of budget cuts to UConn, despite record budget surpluses, and we have been part of a campaign to fight these cuts.  We should continue these efforts.  In addition, because of the Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME, we have had to put extra efforts into ensuring that faculty actively sign up for membership in the UConn-AAUP, and we will need to continue the “All-In” Campaign to ensure that we have the resources to continue to advocate for faculty.  Finally, we need to begin steps for the next round of contract negotiations (already!) and canvas faculty (all faculty – not just tenure-line faculty) about their needs and concerns so that our bargaining team adequately represents all constituencies of our union.

We will need experienced union leadership to meet these challenges, and one capable of imagining a university outside of bankrupt, neoliberal frames.  I know the UConn-AAUP contract and its history quite well from my previous service as Chair of the Contract Committee and as a former member of the Negotiating Team.  I was heavily engaged in the ongoing round of negotiations as Chair of the Contract Committee; in this role, I coordinated seven subcommittees that crafted proposals for our negotiating team based on the feedback they received from the membership through the bargaining survey and other channels.  I would be honored to continue serving as a member of the Executive Committee as well, and would work to ensure seamless communication between that body, the Representative Assembly, and the membership at large.  Over the next year, I would like to devote more time to improving the feedback loop between the membership and leadership, trying to ensure that members’ concerns are adequately reflected in the union’s evolving negotiations and to activate our membership in UConn-AAUP-related campaigns.”