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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 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
Marlena Lester, President, June 2027
Judy Alford, June 2027
Shelton Norwood, June 2028
Nicole Connors, Vice President, June 2028
Dawn Knight, June 2029
Jonathan Bradley, June 2029
Academic Support Alternates
Jennifer Jones, June 2027
James Newcomer, June 2027
Holli Gardner Drewry, June 2027
Caitlin Fanning, June 2027
Alexis Snyder, June 2027
Alexandria Pilot Chambers, June 2027
Athletics Senators
Alix Guynn, June 2027
JC Whidden, June 2028
Alison Whittaker, June 2029
Athletics Alternate
Meridith Long, June 2027
Extension Senators
Ruth Wallace, June 2027
Eric Bowen, June 2028
Chad Proudfoot, June 2029
Extension Alternates
Melissa Wright, June 2027
General Administrative Senators
Janice Austin, Past President, June 2027
Erica Cooper, June 2028
Karen Eley Sanders, June 2029
General Administrative Alternate
Terri Pecora, June 2027
Jenny Vincent, June 2027
General Professional Senators
Susan Gill, June 2027
Nicole Akers, June 2027
Nick Woods, June 2027
Shelley Seckers, June 2028
Elissa Waybright, June 2028
Lynn Byrd, June 2028
Paul Taylor, June 2029
Somiah Lattimore, June 2029
Tracy Jones, June 2029
General Professional Alternates
Ashley Carter, June 2026
Amanda Covey, June 2026
Monica Crouse, June 2026
Enrique Noyola, June 2026
Jaden Ringley, June 2027
Gonzalo Ortiz, June 2027
Research Senators
Julie McClafferty, June 2027
Kirsti Moose-McConkey, June 2028
Arianna Schuler Scott, June 2029
Research Alternates
None, June 2027
Student Affairs
Robert Emmett, Parliamentarian, June 2027
Jess Davis, June 2028
Julie Rhoads, June 2029
Student Affairs Alternate
Michael Doherty, June 2027
Zack Pfeifer, June 2027
President
Marlena Lester
Vice President
Nicole Connors
Secretary/Treasurer
Parliamentarian
Rob Emmett
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.