EIUWho's Running

John Allison

If elected EIU-UPI Chapter President, I would seek to preserve and build on the substantial accomplishments of my predecessors. Like Sue Kaufman, David Radavich, and Charles Delman, I want to increase the Chapter’s and the Local’s responsiveness to the membership in determining policies and goals. I would draw on my many years of experience with shared governance, UPI leadership, and direct contract negotiations to help translate the values and interests of faculty and academic professionals into Eastern’s institutional priorities. With your help, UPI has advanced and must continue to advance Eastern’s mission by securing competitive salaries, supportive working conditions, and significant resources and incentives for professional development.

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EIU / UPI CHAPTER TREASURER

Hank Davis

Qualifications

EIU Treasurer for past 5 years

Professor of Accounting

Teach planning & control, budgeting, Accounting Information Systems, and uses of QuickBooks

Primary budgeting responsibility for $1 million community-entity for past 5 years

EIU Treasurer Accomplishments

Advocate for chapter-level strategic plan

Team member that developed EIU strategic plan that has led to:

Regular social and membership building activities

Active labor promotion activities

Consistent policies to guide support of campus activities

Coherent set of activities that promote short and long-term growth of chapter

Goals as Secretary-Treasurer

Continue Ellie Sullivan’s efforts to computerize chapter financial records.

Visit each campus once a year to attend chapter executive board meeting answer questions and solicit input on the upcoming budget.

Meet at least once a year with each campus treasurer to provide training with QuickBooks, identify problem areas, and coordinate financial reporting.

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EIU / UPI CHAPTER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Ann Fritz

I am an associate professor of biology. I have pursued the complementary relationship between my teaching and research through a research program that is international in scope, by taking our students overseas, and by incorporating my research into the “classroom” (e.g., funded student research projects, class exercises). My service to EIU has included co-initiation of the Women in Science program, co-development and funding for our Biotechnology Center, co-organizer for the annual Darwin Day program, and officer in many campus organizations. I have served as a UPI house of delegates member and interim Executive Assistant to our chapter’s executive board. As the national and international “landscape” changes, our academic institutions face new challenges. As members of UPI, we have the opportunity to actively involve ourselves, as invested voices, in making the mission of quality education a reality. UPI is a conduit for our voices.

EIU / UPI VICE-PRESIDENT

Jon Blitz

The EIU-UPI Chapter Union has made great strides in the past 10 years. Our organization is currently a viable and effective advocate for faculty and staff interests, in the context of maintaining a healthy university environment. During this time our organization has benefited from strong and competent leadership from a series of dedicated and capable individuals. It is a challenging task in many respects, and one as candidate for Chapter vice-president that I do not take lightly.

In the past 6 years I have been on the Chapter executive board, first as Unit A representative and most recently as Chapter executive assistant. I was at the table for the last round of contract negotiations, and played a leading role in negotiating equity based compensation increases as well as the newly revised CU guidelines. While I admit to a certain amount of hopefully healthy ambivalence, I do believe that I can make a positive contribution as Chapter vice-president.

EIU / UPI AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE

Jon Coit

The main challenges facing our union are declining state support for higher education and increasing state pressure to keep tuition low. I am running to help the union continue to confront these challenges on several fronts. The union’s primary role is to organize the chapter to prepare us for the next bargaining session and contract. But it also advances our issues by working with our affiliated unions, organized labor generally, and by directly engaging the legislature. I look forward to serving the union as well as it has already served me.

Audrey Edwards

No statement submitted.

Henry R. Owen

Henry R. Owen, Professor of Biological Sciences. Joined EIU in 1994 (14 years as a member of the bargaining unit). B.S. Biology 1982 (College of William & Mary), M.S. Horticulture 1984 and Ph.D. Genetics 1987 (Virginia Tech). National President of Phi Sigma academic Honor Society since 2002. Previous UPI Delegate (drafted Resolution supporting the teaching of evolution in science curricula); early supporter for review of existing special credit units (CUs) and recommended revisions; current member of the Negotiations Agenda Committee. I would like to serve as an At-Large Member of the EIU Executive Board in order to continue my support for, and service to, UPI and all that it provides the EIU community (i.e. its faculty, staff, and students). Issues I would like to have addressed are special CUs, equal CUs for equal classroom contact hours, the tuition recovery model, courses managed by Continuing Education, and availability of faculty/staff parking.

Kathy Rhodes

No statement submitted.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Gustavo David Albear

I am an assistant professor in the department of Secondary Education and Foundations I have been at Eastern for five years as a member of Bargain Unit (B). I have been a high school and elementary school teacher, and a junior high school administrator. I have been a business trainer, product support engineer, and logistics manager. I have experience in negotiations at the high school district level and I am a paralegal. I have done analysis of international support contracts in technology and translated from Spanish to English contracts for major corporations. I hold a B.A. from Western Illinois University, an M.A. in Educational Administration from St. Xavier University, an Ed.S. from Eastern Illinois University and I am (3) classes from defending my dissertation at Indiana State University in Curriculum and Instruction focusing on Higher Educational Pedagogy. I would like to represent our union as a delegate.

John Allison

If elected EIU-UPI Chapter President, I would seek to preserve and build on the substantial accomplishments of my predecessors. Like Sue Kaufman, David Radavich, and Charles Delman, I want to increase the Chapter’s and the Local’s responsiveness to the membership in determining policies and goals. I would draw on my many years of experience with shared governance, UPI leadership, and direct contract negotiations to help translate the values and interests of faculty and academic professionals into Eastern’s institutional priorities. With your help, UPI has advanced and must continue to advance Eastern’s mission by securing competitive salaries, supportive working conditions, and significant resources and incentives for professional development.

Gary Aylesworth

I have taught in the philosophy department since 1989, and I have held the rank of Professor since 1998. I served as chair of the department from 1994-2004, and was on the administrative negotiating team when the contract was negotiated in 1999-2000. At various times I have served on the Faculty Senate, the Enrollment Management Advisory Committee, and the Council on University Planning and Budget. Currently, I am enjoying my role as a full-time faculty member, and I have been devoting myself to my real passions: teaching and research.

The time ahead is going to be very challenging. My main concern as a delegate will be to ensure that the teaching loads of the Unit A faculty do not become “maxed-out” and that Unit B faculty are able to retain their positions as the university copes with reduced funding from the State of Illinois.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

David S. Bell

I’ve worked as an academic librarian at EIU for nearly ten years. Among many other things, I provide professional research assistance at the library’s reference desk, teach students how to use the library’s resources, and manage the library’s collections in several subject areas. In my time at Eastern, I have witnessed the usefulness of union representation on a college campus. During contract negotiations, the work done by Eastern’s chapter of UPI has been invaluable in conveying the needs and expectations of EIU’s faculty and professional staff to the administration. I believe that a strong union is a vital force in defending academic freedom and helping to create an atmosphere conducive to the free exchange of ideas. I hope to contribute to UPI by sharing the insights gained through working directly with students, faculty and administrators on a daily basis.

Jonathan Blitz

The EIU-UPI Chapter Union has made great strides in the past 10 years. Our organization is currently a viable and effective advocate for faculty and staff interests, in the context of maintaining a healthy university environment. During this time our organization has benefited from strong and competent leadership from a series of dedicated and capable individuals. It is a challenging task in many respects, and one as candidate for Chapter vice-president that I do not take lightly.

In the past 6 years I have been on the Chapter executive board, first as Unit A representative and most recently as Chapter executive assistant. I was at the table for the last round of contract negotiations, and played a leading role in negotiating equity based compensation increases as well as the newly revised CU guidelines. While I admit to a certain amount of hopefully healthy ambivalence, I do believe that I can make a positive contribution as Chapter vice-president.

David Carpenter

A former Fulbright Fellow at University of Bonn, West Germany, I have been employed at Eastern Illinois University (English Department) for twenty-three years, as a professor since 1993. I've been the recipient at EIU of three Faculty Excellence Awards, two Achievement and Contribution Awards, a Distinguished Faculty Award and the Luis Clay Mendez Distinguished Service Award. Having served as elected Faculty Senate Chair at EIU for four terms, as UPI/EIU Chapter Grievance Officer from 2002 to 2008, as well as UPI Local Associate Grievance Chair from 2005 to 2007, I've served as UPI Local Grievance Chair since 2007. An elected delegate of UPI's House of Delegates since 1999, I am currently also an elected IFT/AFT Representative.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Janet Carpenter

No statement submitted.

David Carwell

No statement submitted.

Jon Coit

The main challenges facing our union are declining state support for higher education and increasing state pressure to keep tuition low. I am running to help the union continue to confront these challenges on several fronts. The union’s primary role is to organize the chapter to prepare us for the next bargaining session and contract. But it also advances our issues by working with our affiliated unions, organized labor generally, and by directly engaging the legislature. I look forward to serving the union as well as it has already served me.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Nancy Coutant

I received an M.S. degree in Botany from Eastern in 1975. Before becoming a faculty member at Eastern I was a lab assistant in the Microbiology Department at the University of Illinois UC campus, and I was an instructor at Parkland College in the Biology Department. I have been an ACF in the Biological Sciences Department at Eastern for 17 years. I teach a variety of courses including General Biology, General Botany, Practical Botany, Honors Practical Botany, Environmental Biology, Local Flora and Economic Botany. My research involves native plants and currently I am working on two research grants, one funded by the Missouri Department of Conservation and one funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. I am one of the faculty advisors for Botany Club.

Steven L. Daniel

No statement submitted.

Hank Davis

Click to see statement as a candidate for EIU / UPI Treasurer

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Charles Delman

President, EIU Chapter of UPI, 2003-2009. Vice-president, EIU Chapter, 2000-2003. Served on three negotiating teams, twice as chief negotiator.

Professor of Mathematics. Born and raised in New York City. Educated at Harvard (A.B.) and Cornell (Ph.D., 1992). On faculty at Claremont and Ohio State before coming to EIU.

I believe in a democratic union in which all members have the power to participate in decisions. I believe in a bold, assertive, and politically engaged union that stands up for its members. The goal of a union should be, not only to obtain and protect fair compensation and the best possible working conditions, but to take ownership of our work from those who seek to manage us. I believe in true democracy and social justice, and I will continue working to make the labor movement a force on behalf of those principles.

Carol Jean Dudley

No statement submitted.

Audrey Edwards

No statement submitted.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Sace Elder

It has been my pleasure to serve in the House of Delegates for three years. HOD is our opportunity to shape the political direction of our union and to share concerns with members of other chapters within the local. This work will be of increasing importance as the economic crisis deepens and the fiscal pressures on our institutions of higher learning mount. I have found the past three years on HOD rewarding ask for the membership's support so that I can continue to serve our
chapter.

Marie Fero

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education. I hold degrees in Music, Elementary Education, and Educational Leadership. I have served as a music, classroom, and gifted education teacher. I have also served as an elementary principal, and chair of an education department. I have taught at 7 colleges and universities.

As a member of the House of Delegates, it would be my hope that I learn a great deal about how the organization is run, along with its mission for members. I will embrace the opportunity to make my voice heard, in an effort to offer insightful questions, and to make suggestions for the establishment of policies and procedures. I will bring concerns of my colleagues to our various meetings.

Terri Fredrick

I am an assistant professor of English (hoping be promoted to associate by fall!). My area of specialization is professional writing, which gives me the opportunity to teach students from all four colleges. I also coordinate internships for students in the English Department, which has allowed me to work with amazing community organizers in Charleston and Mattoon.

I am currently the editor of the EIU-UPI newsletter and a current House of Delegates representative. During my first four years at EIU, I have enjoyed being active in the Union for a variety of reasons, but what I most enjoy is the opportunity to make connections across departments and colleges. As you can tell, “connection” is a theme of this statement, and that, too, is what I love about HoD: the opportunity to come together with colleagues from other institutions to learn how we can be a better union.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Ann Fritz

I am an associate professor of biology. I have pursued the complementary relationship between my teaching and research through a research program that is international in scope, by taking our students overseas, and by incorporating my research into the “classroom” (e.g., funded student research projects, class exercises). My service to EIU has included co-initiation of the Women in Science program, co-development and funding for our Biotechnology Center, co-organizer for the annual Darwin Day program, and officer in many campus organizations. I have served as a UPI house of delegates member and interim Executive Assistant to our chapter’s executive board. As the national and international “landscape” changes, our academic institutions face new challenges. As members of UPI, we have the opportunity to actively involve ourselves, as invested voices, in making the mission of quality education a reality. UPI is a conduit for our voices.

Gary Fritz

I am a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and have been at EIU for 14 years. During this time, I took our students to Bolivia to work on malaria mosquitoes, was a Fulbright Scholar, co-developed an international course, co-funded and developed our Biotechnology Center, taught courses at different curricular levels, and co-organized the annual Darwin Day Program. I have been my department’s UPI representative for two years, a member of the House of Delegates, and served on the contract negotiations agenda committee. Getting involved in UPI is an opportunity for service to our institution, our students and our community. Through the collective ideas, concerns and efforts of many, UPI has been, and continues to be a path for positive change. Through UPI we have a voice, a means for action, and the impetus to move forward to achieve an environment in which our institution flourishes.

Evgeny Gordon

Born and raised in Nizhnii Novgorod (former Gorkii), Russia, Educated in Nizhnii Novgorod State University (Master Degree, 1971), Moscow State Pedagogical Institute (Ph. D. 1982), Novosibirsk Institute of Mathematics (Doctor Science degree, 1993)
On faculty at Nizhnii Novgorod State University (1971 – 1978, 1981 -1999), UIUC (1999-2001). Associate professor of Mathematics at EIU from 2001.

I believe in the crucial role of higher education and enlightenment for the future of humanity. It is not a secret that the level of education is now in decline. I see the main goal of our union as resistance to this process. The union should not only continue to stand firm for its members in protecting fair compensation, working conditions and academic freedom, but also organize wide discussions about the state of education, its goals, and ways for its improvement.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Kai (Billy) Hung

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in genetics at the University of Georgia, Athens, and then finished my Ph.D. in genetics plus 3 years of post-doc training at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, before joining Eastern Illinois University in Fall of 2008 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. The presence of UPI to represent the faculty members of this campus was one of the many factors that attracted me to EIU. Now that I am part of EIU, I want to be involved in UPI and support it so that it can continue to be an asset to our campus. As a House of Delegate member, I hope to bring the perspective of someone early in their career as a tenure-track professor and to represent our campus and our faculty at the UPI. Thank you.

Eunseong Kim

No statement submitted.

Stacey Knight-Davis

Stacey Knight-Davis is a reference librarian at Booth Library. She joined the EIU faculty in 2002 and currently holds the rank of assistant professor.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Barbara Lawrence

I have been department rep in the EIU chemistry department for several years, have worked on the contract committee in past negotiations at EIU. I have been a member of the House of Delegates and have represented UPI at previous AFT and IFT conventions.

I am a professor in the chemistry department at Eastern. I am a physical chemist who received my B.S. and PhD degrees from University of California at Irvine.

I believe that the house of delegates is an important link in creating a union that is both democratic and responsible to its members. Representatives to the AFT and IFT from our local union are important in ensuring that the interests of higher education are respresented in both these large bodies In addition, I believe that unions should play a role in social justice and other broad political issues.

Gloria A. Leitschuh

Gloria A. Leitschuh Ph.D. has served as a Union Delegate and Department representative for approximately 10 years. She is a professor at Eastern Illinois University in the Department of Counseling and Student Development. She teaches Clinical Counseling Courses and is a licensed Psychologist in Illinois.

I deem the work of our Union to be critical for the positive functioning of University life. Many people rely on the Union to protect salaries. This is of course an important function, however, so many other causes are equally important. Protection is also provided for a healthy work environment, gender equity, diversity, discrimination, and health insurance, to name just a few. I am passionate about assisting people to live and work to their fullest potential. Being involved with the union provides a fabulous way of accomplishing that personal and professional goal.

Jeannie Ludlow

I am the new Coordinator of Women’s Studies and the Women’s Resource Center and an Assistant Professor of English at Eastern. My degree is in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University, and my research interest is in discourses of reproductive health and politics in the United States. In August, I moved to Eastern from a non-union campus and am thrilled to be part of UPI. The differences I see between a non-union campus and a union campus include: more transparency in administrative processes, more faculty voice in changes to campus policies, and less fear of retribution for speaking one’s mind. I would be honored to be able to serve on the UPI House of Delegates for Eastern.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Chris Mitchell

I have taught theatre history and literature at Eastern in the Theatre Arts Department since 2001- for the first three years as a Unit B member, then beginning in 2004 as a Unit A, tenure-track faculty member. I achieved tenure and promotion at the end of last academic year. I have been an active union member since the beginning of my time at Eastern, and, now that I have achieved tenure, I would like to "give back" something, particularly in support of my non-tenured colleagues, by serving in the Union leadership structure, getting my feet wet as a House of Delegates member In my years here, it's been a privilege to serve in several diverse areas of EIU life, serving as chair of many committees from department on up to university-level. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to serve the union membership.

James Ochwa-Echel

I am currently the Director, Interdisciplinary Center for Global Diversity; Coordinator, African American Studies Program; and an Assistant Professor of Secondary Educations and Foundations. My research interests are in the areas of multicultural education, inequity in education, international development and gender issues. I hold a BA in International Relations, MA in International Development, MA in International Relations and PhD in Education. My introduction to collective bargaining and the work of unions was in my native Uganda, where during my high school days I volunteered for a cooperative union which help farmers bargain for higher commodity prices. I believe collective bargaining empowers workers and that is why I support the work of UPI and want to contribute to that effort

Dannie Otto

I am part of Bargaining Unit B have been teaching at EIU since 1993, initially half-time. Since 2002 I have been teaching fulltime. My first experience with an educational union was during my graduate studies at the University of Toronto where I was a member of the Canadian Union of Educational Workers. I continue to be a strong supporter of educational unions. In recent years I have served on the UPI Legislative Committee. If elected to the House of Delegates I will be interested in pushing the UPI to build stronger coalitions with other unions and interest groups to reform state government so that we get a government which can pass honest state budgets and administer the state bureaucracies effectively for the benefit or our members and all citizens of Illinois. I will also push the union to use its political endorsements and monetary contributions to better effect.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Kiran Padmaraju

No statement submitted.

Lynanne Page

No statement submitted.

Don Pakey

My name is Don Pakey and I am running for the UPI House of Delegates. I am an Associate Professor in the Physics Department and the UPI Representative to the Physics Department. I live with my wife and two children in Urbana, where I am also active in WEFT-FM community radio and various local political issues.

My main union activity over the years has been talking, whenever given the chance, about how much I love being represented by a strong union. I like to point out that, because of our union, the faculty writes the DAC, an important part of our contract, and that this requires that we be evaluated on the basis of agreed-upon criteria, and not capriciously. I also like to say that the relatively collegial relations at EIU is due in no small part to the union atmosphere. The union makes us strong - and happy!

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Amy Schneidhorst

No statement submitted.

Michael Shirley

No statement submitted.

Sheila Simons

No statement submitted.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Nora Pat Small

I have been on the history faculty of Eastern Illinois University since 1995. Over the years I have served as department union representative, as UPI College rep for the College of Arts and Humanities, as a member in the UPI House of Delegates, as chapter executive assistant, and have attended various UPI lobby days at the capital. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve an organization that supports the faculty and the university in so many ways. I would be pleased to serve once again as a member of the UPI House of Delegates.

Edmund F. Wehrle

Edmund F. Wehrle is an associate professor of history. He’s been at Eastern since 2000—and has served as History’s UPI departmental representative since his arrival at Eastern. He is also a UPI delegate to the Mid-Illinois Labor Council.

Peter Wiles

I am in my second year at EIU in the department of Mathematics and Computer Science. I trained at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and was a faculty member at the University of Arizona. My area of concentration is in mathematics education, particularly research related to pre-service teachers’ knowledge of mathematics and pedagogy.

My highest commitment is in creating an environment for my students to become reflective practitioners. Having been at a university where the faculty are not unionized, I see what an important role the union plays. I have been incredibly impressed by the way that the Union is able to bring faculty together and not only make this a better place to work, but also foster a better learning environment for our students. I would like to do my part on the House of Delegates to make sure that the union continues to be a strong force.

EIU / UPI House of DELEGATES

Zhiqing Yan

Member of UPI's EIU chapter 2007~2009.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry. I was born and grew up in the city of Shanghai, China. I got my B.S degree at Fudan University, Shanghai (1995), and Ph. D. in Chemistry (Organic Chemistry) at Miami University, Oxford OH (2004). I worked as Post-doctoral researcher at the Ohio State University (2004~2007) before I became a faculty at EIU.

I trust and appreciate the efforts that UPI-EIU has put to protect the faculty so that we all have the chance to participate in decisions, and I am willing to serve in the House of Delegates in EIU chapter.

Bailey Young

I am a professor of history, at EIU since 1994, my first tenure-track position since obtaining a doctorate in 1975. I am a graduate of Williams College and the University of Pennsylvania. Previously I held adjunct positions in a number of American and French institutions, besides working for five years as a research associate in Merovingian Archaeology for the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Our university system is a heritage handed down from the Middle Ages; at its core is the intellectual and ethical integrity of an empowered professorate, peers responsible to teach learning and to make available to the next generation what they have received. Now, as during the Middle Ages and every time since, our ability to carry out this mission needs to be understood and supported by the wider public if it is not to be threatened by those with other interests. I admire how our . . .