Eleven people are running for three seats on the University of Michigan faculty’s Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, the body that advises and consults with the university’s executive officers on matters that affect faculty.
The election will take place at the March 20 Senate Assembly meeting.
SACUA is the nine-member executive arm of the university’s central faculty governance system, which includes the Senate Assembly and Faculty Senate.
The Senate Assembly consists of 74 elected faculty members from the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses. The Faculty Senate is composed of all professorial faculty, librarians, full-time research faculty, executive officers and deans.
The top vote-getters in the election will replace Allen Liu, Kentaro Toyama and Sergio Villalobos-Ruminott, who are term-limited. SACUA members serve three-year terms.
Here is a look at profile information submitted by the candidates:
Zora Djuric
Research professor of family medicine, Medical School; research professor of nutritional sciences, School of Public Health
Education: Postdoctoral fellowship in chemical carcinogenesis at the National Center for Toxicological Research, US – FDA (1986); Ph.D. in toxicology, U-M (1983); Bachelor of Science in biochemistry, cum laude, Texas A&M University (1978).
Faculty leadership: Recent service includes member, General Counsel Advisory Committee, U-M, 2017-20; member, Senate Assembly, elected Medical School representative, 2016-19; MHealthy Advisory Committee, Michigan Medicine, 2017-present; Dean’s Advisory Committee on Primary Research Appointments, Promotions, and Titles, Medical School, member, 2011-14, and chair, 2013-14; Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Admissions Committee, 2010-13.
Candidate statement: The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs provides a voice for the faculty viewpoint on issues that the university faces. My experience through membership in several advisory committees has allowed me to appreciate the importance of faculty input for the formulation of policies and strategic decisions that affect us at the university. I would be honored to serve on SACUA and to bring forward the faculty perspective in these processes.
N. Reed Dunnick
Professor of radiology, Medical School
Education: Weill Cornell University Medical School, M.D.; Stanford University, radiology residency; National Institutes of Health, staff associate; Duke University, faculty, School of Medicine.
Faculty leadership: Chair, Department of Radiology; chair, Standardization & Product Evaluation Committee; Culture Diversity Assessment Steering Committee; Medical School Executive Board; Health System Venture Investment Fund Review Committee; past president, Michigan Radiological Society; past president, Radiological Society of North America; past president, Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments.
Candidate statement: Wise use of university resources is essential. We must balance revenues and expenses, choosing to invest in those activities that will most benefit our university and the public. Climate change is an enormous challenge, and we must take a leadership role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a way that does not create other problems. Success will require the participation of a diverse cadre of individuals, sharing ideas and building consensus for effective action. Safety has become an important concern on college campuses, and we should consider steps we can reasonably take to be proactive in preventing violence on campus.
James W. Gulvas
Senior associate librarian; acquisition librarian and order unit manager, U-M Library
Education: Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians, Harvard University Graduate School of Education, professional education, 2022; Master of Library and Information Science, Wayne State University, 2012; Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary communication, Aquinas College, 2011.
Faculty leadership: Member, Faculty Budget Engagement Committee, Office of the Provost, 2023-present; chair, Senate Assembly Financial Affairs Advisory Committee, 2022-present; member, Senate Assembly Financial Affairs Advisory Committee, 2021-present; member, Promotion Review Committee University of Michigan Library, 2022-present; chair, Big Ten Academic Alliance Libraries Acquisitions Heads, 2021-22; member, Big Ten Academic Alliance Acquisitions Heads, 2020-present; co-chair, Promotion & Appointment of Librarians Implementation Working Group, U-M Library: Librarian’s Forum, 2018-19.
Candidate statement: As a SACUA member working collectively with faculty from across the university and administration, I will embrace our ability to collaborate through a collegial process while acknowledging our diverse expertise and backgrounds. SACUA builds on the responsibility of faculty to foster a culture of growth and inquiry, and I believe the university has further work to do regarding transparency, which will only enrich our academic and research excellence. I look forward to serving as a representative of faculty voices on administrative level decisions and strive to ensure all members of our community feel valued, heard and respected.
Niko Kaciroti
Research scientist, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School; research scientist, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health
Education: Ph.D. in biostatistics, U-M, 2002.
Faculty leadership: Member, Senate Assembly; chair, Information Technology Council, 2020-21; member, Information Technology Council, 2019-22; Steering Committee, Center for Human Growth and Development, 2015-17; Executive Committee, Center for Human Growth and Development, 2018-19; Research Faculty Advisory Council, Medical School, 2019-present.
Candidate statement: At the University of Michigan the faculty members play an active role in the governance and shared vision and responsibilities. As a research faculty member involved in interdisciplinary research, I believe in the strength and the necessity of team- science and cross-disciplinary research, where collaboration creates synergy. I will work with my colleagues across campus and the administration to share the voices of the faculty into the university’s decision-making process. It will be my honor to serve as a member of SACUA and share the faculty vision with the university leadership.
Shanna Kattari
Associate professor of social work, School of Social Work; and associate professor of women’s and gender studies, LSA
Education: Transitional Postdoctoral Fellow, U-M, 2017-18; Ph.D. in social work, University of Denver, 2017; Master of Education in human sexuality education, Widener University, 2008; Bachelor of Arts in sociology, Colorado College, 2006.
Faculty leadership: Senate Assembly, 2018-21; chair, School of Social Work Accessibility and Inclusion Committee, 2021-present; co-facilitator, U-M Inclusion Diversity Equity Accessibility Board, 2019-20; member, School of Social Work Praxis Committee, 2018-19; member, ADVANCE Disability Workgroup, 2019-21.
Candidate statement: Some faculty feel supported in their innovative research and teaching, connected to our community, and proud to work here; others feel disenfranchised, isolated, unheard and even discriminated against, often based on their marginalized identities. Using my background as a community organizer and scholar, I will bring an anti-racist, anti-oppression lens to SACUA, work to elevate the voices of the most marginalized, advocate for policy shifts that support all faculty members, and use transformative justice strategies that work to create a university climate where all faculty can flourish, professionally and personally.
Donald S. Likosky
Richard and Norma Sarns Research Professor of Cardiac Surgery, Michigan Medicine
Education: Ph.D., evaluative clinical sciences, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 2002; M.S., evaluative clinical sciences, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, 1999; B.A., philosophy (major), African American studies (minor), Emory University, 1994.
Faculty leadership: Head, Section of Health Services Research and Quality, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Michigan Medicine, 2012-present; member, Senate Assembly, 2016-19; member, Honorary Degree Committee, 2019-present; member, Tenure, Promotions, and Professional Development Committee, 2019-20; member, Faculty Grievance Panel, 2019-22; member, Senate Assembly Committee on Oversight of Administrative Action, 2020-22; chair, Senate Assembly Committee on Oversight of Administrative Action, 2022-present; member, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation Leadership Team, 2023-present.
Candidate statement: I am a professor of cardiac surgery at Michigan Medicine. In partnership with colleagues across U-M schools, I evaluate and address: disparities in health care access and variability in treatment/outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease. Within my existing U-M faculty work, I have enjoyed partnering with colleagues to understand and positively advance policies and practices impacting our faculty. I seek to further enhance faculty interests by joining SACUA. In this role, I commit to partnering with my fellow SACUA members to create positive changes for faculty in collaboration with the provost, president and other university executive officers.
Vilma Mesa
Professor of education, Marsal Family School of Education; professor of mathematics, LSA; and faculty associate, Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education
Education: Postdoctoral fellow, School of Education, 2000-02; Ph.D. and Master of Arts in mathematics education, University of Georgia, 2000; Bachelor of Science, mathematics, 1987, and Bachelor of Science, computer science, 1986, University of Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
Faculty leadership: Member, Senate Assembly; member, Advisory Board, Foundational Course Initiative; CEW+ Scholarship Reviewer, 2020; chair, Promotion and Tenure Committee, School of Education, 2017-18; Fulbright U-M Reviewer 2016-17; Women of Color in the Academy Project Steering Committee, 2012-16; Executive Committee, School of Education. 2012-15.
Candidate statement: The Senate Assembly and SACUA are the main bodies through which faculty at the University of Michigan can give input into how the university is governed. Over the last few years, these bodies have worked very hard to ensure that faculty’s opinions are truly considered in decision-making. I believe that a strong partnership between faculty and administration is built upon trust, but that such trust can’t happen without transparency. As a member of SACUA, I will work with my colleagues and the administration toward building a culture of transparency about decision-making that will support an environment of mutual trust.
Heather O’Malley
Assistant research scientist in pharmacology, Medical School
Education: Postdoctoral fellow in pharmacology, U-M, 2014; Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology, U-M, 2009; Bachelor of Science in molecular biology and biotechnology (honors), McMaster University, Canada, 1997.
Faculty leadership: Member, Advisory Committee on Primary Research Appointments, Promotions and Titles, 2021-present; Faculty Senate Information Technology Committee, member, 2021-present, and chair, 2022-present.
Candidate statement: The connection between SACUA, the Faculty Senate and university executive leadership is a fundamental component of ensuring that faculty needs are heard and integrated into the future of all three Michigan campuses. These bidirectional conversations can, at their best, foster trust and exchange critical information to advance the excellence of the University of Michigan. In my role as a SACUA member, I will also amplify the voices of our non-tenured, research track faculty, who have both unique and shared perspectives on faculty matters and yet are frequently underrepresented in faculty governance.
Merle Rosenzweig
Informationist, Taubman Health Sciences Library
Education: Master of Arts in liberal studies, School of Information, U-M; Bachelor of Arts, Wayne State University.
Faculty leadership: Member, Secretary of the University Advisory Committee, 2017-current.
Candidate statement: As a proud alum of the University of Michigan it would be an honor to be considered as a candidate for the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs and to support the mission of the University of Michigan “… in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.” I believe the university faces new challenges such as climate change; diversity, equity, inclusion in student enrollment and faculty recruitment; gender equality, among other things. As a member of SACUA, I would have the opportunity to see those challenges accomplished.
Quentin Stout
Professor of computer science and engineering, and of climate and space science and engineering (courtesy), College of Engineering
Education: Ph.D. in mathematics, Indiana University, 1977; Bachelor of Arts in mathematics, Centre College, 1970.
Faculty leadership: Prior to U-M (at SUNY Binghamton): member, Senate Assembly; member, advisory committee to select dean of engineering. At U-M: chair, Rackham Review of Graduate Computer Science at UM-Dearborn; member, advisory panel to select chair of CLaSP; director, Center for Parallel Computing; co-founder, Ph.D. in Scientific Computing, Software Systems Research Laboratory, Advanced Computer Architecture Laboratory, and Laboratory for Scientific Computing; member, Executive Committee, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; member, Senate Assembly
Candidate statement: University evolution and governance is a complex interactive process. The faculty have a critical role and SACUA is an important mechanism for connecting faculty and the administration. The university has always needed to address long-standing issues such as DEI, and we are in an evolving post-COVID period where goals and procedures established now will have long-term impact on how we teach and function in the future. I hope to help improve communication so that faculty and administration understand what is needed and cooperate in achieving it, and that SACUA and Senate Assembly communicate better with the overall faculty.
Alex Y. Yi
Professor of electrical and computer engineering, UM-Dearborn; Fellow of the Optical Society of America, UM-Dearborn
Education: Postdoctoral fellow in Microphotonics Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005; Ph.D. in optoelectronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004.
Faculty leadership: Member, Senate Assembly; Financial Affairs Advisory Committee member, 2021-present; member, Lurie Nanofabrication Faculty Council, 2022-present; alternate member, CECS Executive Committee, UM-Dearborn, 2021-present; ex-officio member, Faculty Senate, 2021-present; Ph.D. program director, UM-Dearborn Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2016-22.
Candidate statement: Faculty governance is a shared responsibility of all faculty, I strongly believe that the Faculty Senate should uphold its fundamental objectives: a) advocating for faculty viewpoints on all issues in which faculty perceive themselves as stakeholders, the shared governance and academic freedom are keys for a more diversity, equity and inclusive environment; b) promoting communication between faculty and other groups on campus; c) making recommendations on university policy and governance issues of concern to faculty; d) soliciting faculty perceptions, suggestions and recommendations; e) facilitating budgetary education and assuring the opportunity for faculty participation in fiscal planning and decision making.
