QUFA Leadership, Staff, and Representatives (2026-2027)

Please find a list of committees and representatives below. Use the links in the Contents to navigate to each section of the page.

Contents

Executive Committee (starting July 1, 2026)

PresidentKaren Rudie
Vice PresidentMelissa Houghtaling
Past PresidentMary (Cella) Olmstead
TreasurerValerie Bartlett
SecretaryChantal Brunette
Council ChairMargaret Pappano
Grievance ChairSailaja Krishnamurti
JCAA Co-ChairJames Stotz
PACC ChairVanessa Thompson
Librarian and Archivist RepresentativeGillian Akenson
Term Adjunct RepresentativeDebra Haak
Continuing Adjunct RepresentativeJim Hamilton
Equity RepresentativeDiane Beauchemin
Health & Safety RepresentativeLorena Jessop
Member-at-LargeMichael White
Member-at-LargeMichael Greenspan

Special Appointments

Communications Support PersonRobert May
UPP SponsorRobert Hickey
UPP TrusteeSue Wurtele

Office Staff

Executive DirectorLeslie Jermyn
Associate Executive DirectorJohn Rose
Office AdministratorElizabeth Polnicky
Grievance OfficerKaren Sisson
Labour Relations OfficerMicheline Waring
Member Services OfficerDoug Nesbitt

Council of Representatives

Chairs
Council ChairMargaret Pappano
Alternate Council ChairAlan Ableson
Arts & Science
Art History & Art ConservationNorman Vorono (Fall Term), Ron Spronk (Winter Term)
Biology & Environmental StudiesDavid McLagan
ChemistryPaul Duchesne
Gender StudiesBurcu Baba
Cultural Studies, Global Development StudiesAyca Tomac
Dan School of Music & DramaVacant
EconomicsWeili Ding
EnglishMargaret Pappano
Film & Media StudiesKarine Bertrand
Geography & School of Urban PlanningCarolyn Prouse
Geological Sciences & EngineeringDavid McLagan
History, Classics, Jewish StudiesEmily Hill
Industrial RelationsBradley Weinberg
Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and French StudiesCatherine Dhavernas (Fall Term), Donald Sackey (Winter Term)
Mathematics & StatisticsGlen Takahara
PhilosophyChristine Sypnowich
PhysicsJames Stotz
Political StudiesQuinn Albaugh
Policy StudiesJamshed Merchant
PsychologyMary (Cella) Olmstead
School of ComputingCarolyn Lamb
School of Kinesiology and Health StudiesPouya Amiri
School of ReligionDanielle LaGrone
SociologyNorma Möllers

Education
EducationAlana Butler
EducationClaire Ahn
Engineering & Applied Science
Chemical EngineeringEhssan Koupaie
Civil EngineeringRyan Mulligan
Electrical and Computer EngineeringThomas Dean
Mechanical and Materials EngineeringAlan Ableson
RMB School of MiningVlad Kecojevic
Health Sciences
Biomedical & Molecular ScienceVacant
Pathology & Molecular ScienceVacant
Public Health SciencesSahar Saeed
School of MedicineVacant
School of NursingAlyson Mahar
School of Rehabilitation TherapyVacant
Law
LawAshwini Vasanthakumar
Library & Archives
Library & ArchivesJesse Baker
Smith School of Business
BusinessWulin Suo
Special Representatives
Equity Representative Ayca Tomac
Continuing Adjunct RepresentativeLisa Carver
Term Adjunct RepresentativesTerry Soleas, Na’ama Haklai

Standing Committees

  • Finance Committee: Valerie Bartlett (Chair), Mary (Cella) Olmstead (ex officio), Karen Rudie, Chantal Brunette, Jordan Morelli, Leslie Jermyn (staff).
  • Grievance Committee: Lynne Hanson (Chair), Mary (Cella) Olmstead (ex officio), Sharry Aiken, Louis Gagnon, Sailaja Krishnamurti, Karen Sisson (staff), Micheline Waring (staff).
  • Political Action and Communications Committee (PACC): Vanessa Thompson (Chair), Karen Rudie (ex officio), Mary (Cella) Olmstead, Melissa Houghtaling, Ayca Tomac, Norma Möllers, Pinar Tuzcu, Nasser Saleh, Elizabeth Polnicky (staff), John Rose (staff), Robert My (Observer).
  • Nominations and Elections Committee: Mary Olmsterad (Chair), Amy Kaufman, Sarah Shulist, Lynne Hanson, Claire Ahn, Leslie Jermyn (staff).
  • Staff Relations Committee: Mary (Cella) Olmstead (Chair), Melissa Houghtaling, Valerie Bartlett, Chantal Brunette, Karen Rudie, Leslie Jermyn

Ad Hoc Committees

  • Adjunct Advocacy Committee: Nancy Butler (Chair), Melissa Houghtaling, Valerie Bartlett, Ayça Tomaç, Megan Edgelow, Debra Haak, Alaska B. Eleftheria Laios, Rizma Butt, Graeme Leverette, Doug Nesbitt (staff).
  • Finance-Budget Review Committee (FBRC): Dan Cohen (Chair), Scott Yam, Evan Jo, Selim Topaloglu, Christine Grossutti, John Holmes, John Rose (staff).
  • Council Representation Committee: Mary (Cella) Olmstead (Chair), Alyson Mahar, Amy Kaufman, Wulin Suo, Debra Haak, Ayca Tomac, Nicolas Hudon.
  • QUFA Artificial Intelligence Task Force (QAITF): Carolyn Lamb (Co-Chair), Norma Möllers (Co-Chair), Karen Rudie (ex officio), Catherine Stinson, Erica Friesen, Christian Muise, Mél Hogan, Doug Nesbitt (staff).

Joint Committee to Administer the Agreement (JCAA) and Joint Sub-Committees

  • JCAA: James Stotz (Co-Chair), Karen Rudie, Lynne Hanson, Melissa Houghtaling, Ryan Martin, Francine Berish, Micheline Waring (staff).
  • Workload Standard: Lynne Hanson, James Stotz, Micheline Waring (staff).
  • QSSET: Melissa Houghtaling, Alan Ableson, Claire Ahn.
  • Adjunct Fund: Christiana Zaccagnino, Yaël Schlick, Doug Nesbitt (staff).
  • Anomalies Side Table: James Mingo, Micheline Waring (staff).
  • Promotion Advisory: Marta Straznicky, Gema Olivo.
  • Compensation Working Group: Valerie Bartlett (Chair), Bradley Weinberg, Jordan Morelli, Leslie Jermyn (staff).

Representatives on University Bodies

  • Senate: Karen Rudie (QUFA Senator and SCAD Observer).
  • FSRRS-UCARE: Ayca Tomac, Grace Adeniyi-Ogunyankin (July-December, 2025).
  • Board of Trustee Observers: Mary (Cella) Olmstead, Karen Rudie, Melissa Houghtaling.
  • Council on Employment Equity: Rosemary Lysaght.
  • Unity Council: Jordan Morelli, Ayca Tomac
  • University Promotions Advisory Committee: Diane Beauchemin, Vacant Position.
  • Timetabling: Gema Olivo, Paul Leslie.

QUFA Representatives on Joint Health and Safety Committees

Please see the Health & Safety page for updated information on JHSC representatives.

Representatives on External Bodies

  • Kingston & District Labour Council (KDLC): Jordan Morelli, Ayca Tomac, Vanessa Thompson, Melissa Houghtaling, Norma Möllers, Nasser Saleh, John Holmes (Retiree Delegate).
  • OCUFA Board: Mary (Cella) Olmstead, Leslie Jermyn (Observer).
  • OCUFA Grievance Committee: Sailaja Krishnamurti, Karen Sisson.
  • OCUFA Bargaining Committee: Micheline Waring.
  • OCUFA Contract Academic Staff Working Group: Megan Edgelow and Debra Haak.
  • OCUFA Equity and Social Justice Committee: Diane Beauchemin.
  • CAUT Council: Karen Rudie, Leslie Jermyn (Alternate).