index
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 2026 senate election will be held in March using an electronic ballot, with the results reported the first week of May.
Share your input to help us priortize topics, address challenges, and plan programming that best serves the A/P Faculty Community.
(Senators are listed by term expiration and alternates are listed in the order they would be called to serve as determined by votes cast.)
Academic Support Senators
Jennifer Jones, Vice President, Term Expiration: June 2026
Keri Swaby, Term Expiration: June 2026
Marlena Lester, President, Term Expiration: June 2027
Judy Alford, Term Expiration: June 2027
Shelton Norwood, Term Expiration: June 2028
Nicole Connors, Secretary/Treasurer, Term Expiration: June 2028
Academic Support Alternates
Ginny Wagg
Molly Wilson
Caitlin Fanning
Holli Gardner Drewry
Alexis Snyder
Amy Rasor
Athletics Senators
Sarah Armstrong, Term Expiration: June 2026
Alix Guynn, Term Expiration: June 2027
JC Whidden, Term Expiration: June 2028
Athletics Alternate
Vacant
Extension Senators
Chad Proudfoot, Parliamentarian, Term Expiration: June 2026
Ruth Wallace, Term Expiration: June 2027
Eric Bowen, Term Expiration: June 2028
Extension Alternates
B. Carol Haynes
Wendy Stout
General Administrative Senators
Mariam “Juliet” Dadras, Term Expiration: June 2026
Janice Austin, Past President, Term Expiration: June 2027
Erica Cooper, Term Expiration: June 2028
General Administrative Alternate
Jenny Vincent
General Professional Senators
Brock Burroughs, Term Expiration: June 2026
Terri Pecora, Term Expiration: June 2026
Erin Poff, Term Expiration: June 2026
Susan Gill, Term Expiration: June 2027
Nicole Akers, Term Expiration: June 2027
Nick Woods, Term Expiration: June 2027
Shelley Seckers, Term Expiration: June 2028
Elissa Waybright, Term Expiration: June 2028
Lynn Byrd, Term Expiration: June 2028
General Professional Alternates
Ashley Carter
Amanda Covey
Monica Crouse
Enrique Noyola
Research Senators
Jessica Crawford, Term Expiration: June 2026
Julie McClafferty, Term Expiration: June 2027
Kirsti Moose-McConkey, Term Expiration: June 2028
Research Alternates
Ehren Hill
Clara Elpi
Student Affairs
Ariana DiFillippo, Term Expiration: June 2026
Robert Emmett, Term Expiration: June 2027
Jess Davis, Term Expiration: June 2028
Student Affairs Alternate
Marianne Sheets
President
Marlena Lester
Vice President
Jennifer Jones
Secretary/Treasurer
Nicole Connors
Parliamentarian
Chad Proudfoot
Past President
Janice Austin
Communications Committee Chair
Susan Gill
Elections and Nominations Committee Co-Chairs
Jes Davis
Policies and Issues Committee Co-Chairs
Kirsti Moose-McConkey
Rob Emmett
Professional Development Committee Chair
Eric Bowen
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 Leaders, 7.1 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.