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Administrative and Professional Faculty Senate

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Purpose

The Administrative and Professional (A/P) Faculty Senate shall represent all A/P faculty members and have the authority and responsibility to act on their behalf through the university governance process. Working with the Commission on Administrative and Professional Faculty Affairs, the A/P Faculty Senate will support legislative recommendations concerning policies and procedures affecting the employment and working conditions of administrative and professional (A/P) faculty. Areas for consideration include morale of administrative and professional faculty; procedures for appointing, evaluating, disciplining, recognizing, and promoting administrative and professional faculty; benefits, educational and personal leave, and extra-university professional activity; and matters of equity and diversity that affect the university's professional environment.

 

To assist faculty and staff in understanding Virginia Tech’s shared governance structure and how it serves stakeholders across the university, the Office of Policy and Governance has created a series of self-paced online tutorials that outline the history of and guiding principles for effective governance, and the role that faculty, staff and student representative bodies play in the process. In addition to the online tutorial modules, Policy and Governance offers a Governance 101 resource with information on structures and procedures.

Get Involved

Attend a Meeting

The A/P Faculty Senate meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to noon. 

Elections & Committees

The 2024 senate election will be held in March using an electronic ballot, with the results reported the first week of May.


Complete this interest form if you would like to learn more about the A/P Faculty Senate and opportunities to serve as a senator or committee member.

 

Join the Listserv

Join the A/P Faculty Senate Meetings Google group to receive updates including upcoming meeting agendas.

(Senators are listed alphabetically and alternates are listed in the order they would be called to serve as determined by votes cast.)

Academic Support

3-year Term

Shelton Norwood
Nicole Connors, Secretary/Treasurer

2-year Term

Marlena Lester, President
Judy Alford

1-year Term

Jennifer Jones, Vice President
Keri Swaby

Alternates

Ginny Wagg
Molly Wilson
Caitlin Fanning
Holli Gardner Drewry
Alexis Snyder
Amy Rasor

Athletics

3-year Term

JC Whidden

2-year Term

Alix Guynn

1-year Term

Sarah Armstrong

Alternate

Vacant

Extension

3-year Term

Eric Bowen

2-year Term

Ruth Wallace

1-year Term

Chad Proudfoot, Parliamentarian 

Alternates

B. Carol Haynes
Wendy Stout

General Administrative

3-year Term

Erica Cooper

2-year Term

Janice Austin, Past President

1-year Term

Mariam “Juliet” Dadras

Alternate

Jenny Vincent

General Professional

3-year Term

Shelley Seckers
Elissa Waybright
Lynn Byrd 

2-year Term

Julie Carlson
Brent Kremer
Nick Woods

1-year Term

Brock Burroughs
Terri Pecora
Erin Poff

Alternates

Susan Gill
Nicole Akers
Ashley Carter
Amanda Covey
Monica Crouse
Enrique Noyola

Research

3-year Term

Kirsti Moose-McConkey

2-year Term

Julie McClafferty

1-year Term

Jessica Crawford

Alternates

Ehren Hill
Clara Elpi

Student Affairs

3-year Term

Jess Davis

2-year Term

Robert Emmett

1-year Term

Ariana DiFillippo

Alternates

Marianne Sheets

President
Marlena Lester

Vice President
Jennifer Jones

Secretary/Treasurer
Nicole Connors

Parliamentarian
Chad Proudfoot

Past President
Janice Austin

Communications Committee Chair
Julie Carlson

Elections and Nominations Committee Chair
Scott Weimer

Policies and Issues Committee Chair
Nicole Connors

Professional Development Committee Chair
Sarah Armstrong

The A/P Faculty Senate will consist of 30 voting senators elected from among the following constituent areas as defined in the Constitution and Bylaws (PDF):

  • Extension (3 Senators) - Professionals serving as agents, specialists, and 4-H program directors
  • Research (3 Senators) - Professionals supporting research not appointed as Teaching and Research Faculty
  • Academic Support (6 Senators) - Advisors and other professionals working to support colleges
  • Student Affairs (3 Senators) - Professionals working in student affairs
  • Athletics (3 Senators) - Professionals working in athletics
  • General Professional (9 Senators) - Professionals not working in academic support, extension, or student affairs
  • General Administrative (3 Senators) - Senior executive roles such as vice president, assistant, or associate vice president

For more information on the definitions of these constituent groups, see the Faculty Handbook sections 2.5 Search and Appointment of Administrative and Academic Leaders7.1 Categories and Definition of Administrative and Professional Faculty, and 14.0 Policies and Procedures for Extension Faculty.

The A/P Faculty Senate meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon via Zoom.  See the VT Governance calendar for meeting details or connect with a member of the Executive Committee.  Special Note: the August 20th A/P Faculty Senate meeting will be held on August 27th.