Steering Committee

The Steering Committee consists of Senate officers, committee chairs, and other delegates elected by the Senate, as well as one non-voting member selected by the Provost in consultation with the Senate President. Delegates need not be senators to be elected.

 

Members, 2026–27

  • Heather Lewis, Co-President, ex-officio (Full-Time Faculty, School of Art)
  • Zach Slanger, Co-President, ex-officio (Part-Time Faculty, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Office of the Provost)
  • Melissa Brown, Finance Officer, ex-officio (Full-Time Faculty, Library)
  • Sebastian Kaupert, Information Officer, ex-officio (Part-Time Faculty, School of Design)
  • Gina Gregorio, Outreach Officer, ex-officio (Full-Time Faculty, School of Design)
  • Matthew Garklavs, Parliamentarian, ex-officio (Electronic Resources Librarian, Library)
  • Christopher Collette, Academic Policy Committee Chair, ex-officio (Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Information)
  • Deb Caponera, Institute Curriculum Committee Chair, ex-officio (Assistant Professor, Associate Degree Program)
  • Rosetta Elkin, Institute Assessment Committee Chair, ex-officio (Professor, Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design)
  • Mark Rosin, Senate Research Liaison (Full-Time Faculty, Math and Science, School of Liberal Arts)
  • Jeffrey Hogrefe, Indigenous Knowledge Liaison (Full-Time Faculty, Humanities and Media Studies, School of Liberal Arts)
  • Damon Chaky, At-Large Delegate (Full-Time Faculty, Math and Science, School of Liberal Arts)
  • Aileen Wilson, At-Large Delegate (Chair, Art and Design Education, School of Art)
  • Ann Holder, At-Large Delegate (Full-Time Faculty, Social Science and Cultural Studies, School of Liberal Arts)
  • Russell Abell, Executive Director of Libraries (non-voting)
  • Liz Knauer, Distinguished Teacher Award Committee Chair (Adjunct Assistant Professor, Social Science and Cultural Studies)
  • Swati Piparsania, Research Recognition Award Committee Chair (Assistant Professor, Industrial Design)
  • Karolina Koczynska, Academic Service Award Committee Chair (Assistant Professor, History of Art and Design)
  • Irene Lopatovska, Faculty Development Fund Committee Chair (Professor, School of Information)

Officers serve three-year terms, and other committee members serve one-year terms, renewable without limit.

Duties

The Steering Committee

  • a. makes interim decisions for the Senate, such actions being consistent with previous Senate actions and being subject to review and, if so desired, approval at subsequent Senate meetings;
  • b. hears the reports of all Senate committees and take actions in accordance with the purposes of the Senate;
  • c. reviews the structure and operation of the Senate and making recommendations to the Senate regarding these issues;
  • d. convenes and prepares agenda for Senate meetings;
  • e. recommends an annual budget to the Senate in consultation with the appropriate committees and based on the budget proposal submitted by the Financial Officer;
  • f. conducts nominations, elections, and other votes with constituents; and
  • g. establishes whatever special committees are deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities.

Officers and committee chairs, as well as part-time faculty serving as Steering Committee delegates, receive compensation according to the Senate Compensation Policy.

Meetings

The Steering Committee meets monthly during the fall and spring semesters.

No meetings scheduled.

For the full Senate schedule, see Meetings.

Nominations & Elections

Elections for committee chairs and delegates are held each spring semester. Officers are elected every three years. See Nominations for details on deadlines and procedures.