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President’s Council

Office of the President

President’s Advisory Council

Western Connecticut State University’s principal representative forum for shared governance, inclusive planning, budget consultation, policy review, and cross-divisional dialogue.

Membership

Broad representation from administration, faculty, staff, unions, shared governance, and students.

Schedule

At least every other month; monthly as needed.

Purpose

Serve as the university’s principal representative forum for shared governance, inclusive planning, budget consultation, policy review, and cross-divisional dialogue.

Charge

  • Advise the president and senior leadership on major strategic priorities, institutional policies, and resource-allocation questions.
  • Provide early consultation on consequential university-wide proposals.
  • Increase transparency concerning the rationale and processes behind major decisions.
  • Bring faculty, staff, student, administrative, and union perspectives into institutional planning.
  • Strengthen communication and feedback between leadership and campus constituencies.
  • Document advisory input and how it influenced final decisions.
  • This council is advisory. It does not replace established collective-bargaining, faculty-governance, administrative, or presidential authorities.

Council Membership

The council brings together administrative, faculty, staff, union, shared-governance, and student perspectives from across the university.

Administration

  • Jesse M. BernalPresident
  • Bob BerryChief of Police / Director of Public Safety
  • Michelle BrownDean, Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences
  • Dan CasinelliDirector of Planning & Engineering
  • Fred CrattyChief Human Resources Officer
  • Marcia FirsickChief Communications & Marketing Officer
  • Stephen HegedusVice President for Academic Affairs / Provost
  • Jennifer LabateChief DEI Officer
  • Lori MazzaDirector of Athletics
  • Jeanine MingeAssociate Vice President for Academic Affairs
  • Michael MoriartyVice President for Operations / Chief Operating Officer
  • Joan PalladinoDean, School of Professional Studies
  • Siamack ShojaiDean, Ancell School of Business
  • Melissa StephensAssociate Vice President for Enrollment & Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives
  • Ron ThomasCFO (Interim)
  • Erica ThompsonAssociate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students (Interim)
  • Brian VernonDean, School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts
  • Rebecca WoodwardIT Lead (Interim)

Faculty

  • Wynn Gadkar-WilcoxProfessor of History / AAUP Vice President
  • Yaseen HayajnehProfessor of Management / Associate Provost for Analytics and Strategy
  • Stephanie KuhnAssociate Professor of Educational Psychology / University Senate Parliamentarian
  • Wenguang (Aaron) LinAssociate Professor of Finance / AAUP Treasurer / Secretary
  • Manoj MisraProfessor of Sociology / AAUP President
  • Jennifer O’BrienLibrarian / University Senate Archivist
  • Julie PerrelliAssistant Professor of Health Promotion & Exercise Sciences / Presidential Fellow for Student Transformation
  • Joshua RosenthalProfessor of History / University Senate Vice President
  • Jeffrey SchlichtProfessor of Health Promotion & Exercise Sciences / University Senate President
  • Tricia StewartProfessor of Education / AAUP Contract Officer
  • Robert WhittemoreProfessor of Anthropology / AAUP Grievance Officer

Students

  • Aaqil AjwanSGA Chief Justice
  • Vanesa DominguezSGA Director of Student Relations
  • Owen IbeySGA President
  • Madelynn PhulSGA Secretary
  • Gianna Ruby-DaSilvaSGA Vice President
  • Abe SariSGA Director of Finance
  • To be determinedPresidential Student Fellow(s)

Staff

  • Charles AlexanderDirector of Judicial Affairs
  • Renford BrevettDirector of Institutional Research and Assessment
  • Nick CanzanoAssistant Dean of Students
  • Jessica CoronelDirector of Office of Graduate Studies
  • Jason EspositoIT&I User Services Manager
  • Amanda FavaleDirector of Financial Aid Operations
  • Christian GagnierIT&I Creative Director, Media Services
  • Julianne JohnsonIT&I Information Systems Manager
  • Tim KeithContract, Compliance & Procurement Specialist
  • Christine LaedkeInterim Director of Events Conference Management
  • Dennis LeszkoDirector, Center for Student Involvement
  • David LucenteMaintenance & Service Unit President
  • Debra MallickDirector of Career Success Center
  • Ron MasonDirector of Housing & Residence Life
  • Elisabeth MorelDirector for AccessAbility Services
  • Ray O’BrienIT&I Customer Support Center Manager
  • Patty O’NeillIT&I Infrastructure Services Manager
  • Leticia OrozcoCoordinator of Substance Misuse Prevention and Wellness Education
  • Rich ParmaleeIT&I Information Security Officer
  • Robert PoteDirector, Pre-Collegiate & Access Programs
  • AnnMarie PuleoSUOAF Vice President / Director of University Advisement Center
  • Jacquelyn RayDirector of Library Services
  • Gisela RiveraAdministrative Clerical Union Steward
  • Peter RosaDirector of Fiscal Affairs / Controller
  • Luis SantiagoDirector of Admissions
  • Teresa SaundersAdministrative & Residual (A&R) Union Representative
  • Deanna SchaabDirector of Access Control & One Card Services
  • Dave SeayIT&I Data Network & Telecom Manager
  • Amy ShanksDirector of Recreation
  • Jeff ShpuntIT&I Manager, Digital Strategy & Communications
  • Joshua SumrellDirector of Inclusion and Belonging
  • Erica ThompsonSUOAF Treasurer / Bursar
  • Maria VeilleuxSUOAF Secretary / Executive Director of Institutional Advancement
  • Kelly VisokayVeteran Affairs Coordinator
  • Donna WarnerInternational Services Coordinator
  • Rebecca WoodwardSUOAF President / University Senate Secretary
  • Debra ZavatkayRegistrar
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