The University of Michigan faculty’s Senate Assembly will start the new year with a vote to fill two vacancies on the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs after two of its members stepped down.
Nominations are being accepted through noon Jan. 6, 2023, for candidates to fill the remainder of three-year terms held by SACUA Vice Chair Kanakadurga Singer and member Michael Atzmon.
Singer, the Valerie Castle Opipari M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, and associate professor of pediatrics and of molecular and integrative physiology, stepped down Dec. 1 to avoid any potential conflicts of interest that might arise by serving in SACUA leadership and in her new role as assistant dean of tenure-track in the Medical School.
SACUA members will conduct an electronic vote to elect a new vice chair this week.
Atzmon, professor emeritus of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences, and of materials science and engineering, is stepping down due to his retirement from the university, effective Jan. 1. As an emeritus professor, he can serve on Senate Assembly committees but may no longer serve on SACUA.
In a memo sent to Senate Assembly members detailing the vacancies, Faculty Senate Office Director Luke McCarthy said, “The Faculty Senate has benefited greatly from the generous service provided by both SACUA members.”
Given the current composition of SACUA:
- Neither vacancy can be replaced by faculty from UM-Flint, the School of Public Health, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, School of Information, or the U-M Library.
- Members from LSA and the School of Engineering may only fill one of the vacancies.
- SACUA members must be voting members of the Faculty Senate, which is limited to active tenured and tenure-track faculty, full-time research scientists and full-time librarians.
The nominations will be for members to complete SACUA terms that end April 30, 2024.
The Faculty Senate Office will receive nominations — including self-nominations — by email at [email protected] until noon Jan. 6. Nominees and those submitting nominations must be current members of the Senate Assembly.
Nominees will be asked to provide a written statement indicating their interest to serve on SACUA by 8 a.m. Jan. 10. Senate Assembly members will then vote via electronic ballot from noon Jan. 10 through noon Jan. 13.
