{"id":3949,"date":"2026-03-19T18:15:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T18:15:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/?page_id=3949"},"modified":"2026-03-20T14:31:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T14:31:49","slug":"council","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/president\/council\/","title":{"rendered":"President’s Council"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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President's Council<\/h1>\n

Western Connecticut State University's primary forum for shared governance, inclusive planning, budget consultation, and cross-divisional dialogue \u2014 bringing every voice to the table.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

\"The President's Council exists because the people closest to the work are closest to the answers. WestConn is at an inflection point \u2014 one that calls for shared leadership, honest conversation, and collective will. This council brings together every corner of our community \u2014 students, faculty, staff, and administration \u2014 because that's who WestConn is. This is how we work.\"<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jesse M. Bernal, President<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

\n

What Is the President's Council?<\/h2>\n

The President's Council was re-established and expanded under President Bernal to reflect WestConn's commitment to transparency, inclusion, and shared decision-making. Meeting at least every other month, the Council advises the president and senior leadership on strategic priorities, institutional policies, and resource allocation.<\/p>\n

This is a working forum where faculty, staff, students, and administrators sit at the same table \u2014 and where diverse perspectives actively shape the decisions that affect every member of our community.<\/p>\n

\n This structure is aligned with NECHE Standards 3.2, 3.7, and 3.17, which emphasize effective governance, broad participation, and alignment with institutional mission and responsibilities.\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n

Our Goals<\/h2>\n
\n
Serve as the principal university-wide forum for collaborative planning, budgeting, and policy review.<\/div>\n
Strengthen alignment of institutional decisions with WCSU's mission, strategic priorities, and financial sustainability.<\/div>\n
Increase transparency in the rationale and process behind major decisions.<\/div>\n
Provide space for cross-functional dialogue, shared accountability, and coordination across divisions.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n

What We're Working Toward<\/h2>\n
\n
Greater visibility and trust in institutional decisions through structured, recurring dialogue.<\/div>\n
Documented advisory input reflected in strategic planning updates, budget submissions, and policy proposals.<\/div>\n
Regular tracking of progress against strategic priorities and key institutional metrics.<\/div>\n
Enhanced communication and feedback loops between leadership and campus constituencies.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n

Council Membership<\/h2>\n

The Council draws from every corner of the institution \u2014 academic leadership, operations, student affairs, enrollment, advancement, faculty governance, union leadership, and student representatives. This structure ensures both administrative accountability and genuine shared governance.<\/p>\n\n

\n\n \n
\n
Administration<\/div>\n
    \n
  • Jesse M. Bernal \u2605<\/span><\/span>President<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Stephen Hegedus \u2605<\/span><\/span>VP for Academic Affairs \/ Provost<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Ron Thomas \u2605<\/span><\/span>VP for Finance & Administration \/ CFO (Interim)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Gregg Crerar \u2605<\/span><\/span>VP for Institutional Advancement (Interim)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Fred Cratty \u2605<\/span><\/span>Chief Human Resources Officer<\/span><\/li>\n
  • John DeRosa \u2605<\/span><\/span>Chief Information Officer<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Jennifer Labate \u2605<\/span><\/span>Chief DEI Officer<\/span><\/li>\n \n
  • Marcia Firsick\u2605<\/span><\/span>\n \n Director of Communications & Marketing<\/span><\/li>\n \n \n
  • Mary O'Connor \u2605<\/span><\/span>Executive Assistant to the President<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Julie Perrelli \u2605<\/span><\/span>Dean of Student Affairs (Interim)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Melissa Stephens \u2605<\/span><\/span>Associate Vice President of Enrollment<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Brian Vernon<\/span>Dean, School of Visual, Performing & Communication Arts<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Joan Palladino<\/span>Dean, School of Professional Studies<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Michelle Brown<\/span>Dean, Macricostats School of Arts and Sciences<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Siamack Shojai<\/span>Dean, Ancell School of Business<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Yaseen Hayajneh<\/span>Dean, School of Graduate, International & Career Studies (Interim)<\/span><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
    \n
    Faculty<\/div>\n
      \n \n
    • Manoj Misra<\/span>Professor, Social Science (AAUP)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Robert Whittemore<\/span>Professor, Social Science (AAUP)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Tricia Stewart<\/span>Professor, Education & Educational Psychology (AAUP)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Wenguang (Aaron) Lin<\/span>Associate Professor, Finance (AAUP)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox<\/span>Professor, History (AAUP)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Danielle McDonnell<\/span>Women's Lacrosse Coach (AAUP)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Jeffrey Schlicht<\/span>Professor, Health Promotion & Exercise Sciences (University Senate President)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Jacqueline Guzda<\/span>Associate Professor, Communication and Media Arts (University Senate)<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Jennifer O'Brien<\/span>Librarian (University Senate)<\/span><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
      \n
      Students<\/div>\n
        \n \n
      • Owen Ibey<\/span>SGA President<\/span><\/li>\n \n
      • Gianna Ruby-DaSilva<\/span>SGA Vice President<\/span><\/li>\n \n
      • Abe Sari<\/span>SGA Director of Finance<\/span><\/li>\n \n
      • Gaby Torres<\/span>SGA Director of Student Relations<\/span><\/li>\n \n
      • Dylan Caldwell<\/span>SGA Chief Justice<\/span><\/li>\n \n
      • Madelynn Phul<\/span>SGA Secretary<\/span><\/li>\n \n \n
      • Gideon Olawale<\/span>Student Representative<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Luis Asanza<\/span>Student Representative<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Razi Naouali<\/span>Student Representative<\/span><\/li>\n \n \n \n \n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n\n \n
        \n
        Staff<\/div>\n
          \n
        • Merisa Williams<\/span>Union \u2013 Administrative Clerical, President<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Michael Ercoli<\/span>Union \u2013 Maintenance & Service Unit, Vice President<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Rebecca Woodward<\/span>Union \u2013 SUOAF President<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Teresa Saunders<\/span>Union \u2013 Administrative & Residual (A&R), Representative<\/span><\/li>\n
        • AnnMarie Puleo<\/span>Director, University Advisement Center<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Bob Berry<\/span>Chief of Police \/ Director of Public Safety<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Debra Manante<\/span>Director, Career Success Center<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Debra Zavatkay<\/span>Registrar<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Erica Thompson<\/span>Bursar<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Jacquelyn Ray<\/span>Director of Library Services<\/span><\/li>\n
        • John Murphy<\/span>Director of Auxiliary Services<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Julianne Johnson<\/span>Information Systems Manager<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Lori Mazza<\/span>Director of Athletics<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Luis Santiago<\/span>Director of Admissions<\/span><\/li>\n \n \n
        • Maria Veilleux<\/span>Director of University Advancement & Business Operations<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Paul Steinmetz<\/span>Director of Sponsored Research<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Peter Rosa<\/span>Director of Fiscal Affairs \/ Controller<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Robert Pote<\/span>Director, Pre-Collegiate & Access Programs<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Ron Mason<\/span>Director of Housing & Residence Life<\/span><\/li>\n
        • Seth Koos<\/span>Director of Procurement Services & Contract Compliance<\/span><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

          \u2605<\/span> Denotes Senior Leadership Team (SLT) member<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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