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
Chief NegotiatorJordan Morelli
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
ClassicsDrew Griffith
Gender StudiesBurcu Baba
Cultural Studies, Global Development StudiesAyca Tomac
Dan School of Music & DramaDean Burry
EconomicsWeili Ding
EnglishMargaret Pappano
Film & Media StudiesKarine Bertrand
Geography & School of Urban PlanningCarolyn Prouse
Geological Sciences & EngineeringDavid McLagan
HistoryAriel Salzmann (Fall Term), Emily Hill (Winter Term)
Industrial RelationsBradley Weinberg
Jewish StudiesDustin Atlas
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 ReligionShobhana Xavier
SociologyNorma Möllers
Education
EducationAlana Butler
EducationClaire Ahn
Engineering & Applied Science
Chemical EngineeringEhssan Koupaie
Civil EngineeringRyan Mulligan
Electrical and Computer EngineeringThomas Dean, (Sean Whitehall, Alt Council Rep for Fall Term)
Mechanical and Materials EngineeringAlan Ableson
RMB School of MiningVlad Kecojevic
Health Sciences
Biomedical & Molecular ScienceMichael Kawaja
Public Health SciencesSahar Saeed
School of MedicineVacant
School of NursingAlyson Mahar
School of Rehabilitation TherapySetareh Ghahari
Law
LawAshwini Vasanthakumar
Library & Archives
Library & ArchivesJesse Baker
Smith School of Business
BusinessWulin Suo
Special Representatives
Equity Representative Diane Beauchemin
Continuing Adjunct RepresentativeLisa Carver
Term Adjunct RepresentativesTerry Soleas, Na’ama Haklai

Standing Committees

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

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)
  • Council Representation Committee: Mary (Cella) Olmstead (Chair), Alyson Mahar, Amy Kaufman, Wulin Suo, Debra Haak, Ayca Tomac, Nicolas Hudon, Leslie Jermyn (staff)
  • Finance-Budget Review Committee (FBRC): Dan Cohen (Chair), Scott Yam, Evan Jo, Selim Topaloglu, Christine Grossutti, John Holmes, John Rose (staff)
  • QUFA Constitution Review Committee (QCRC): Mary (Cella) Olmstead (Chair), Karen Rudie (ex officio), Margaret Pappano (ex officio), Chantal Brunette, Alastair Ferguson, Louis Gagnon, Nicolas Hudon, Ashwini Visanthakumar, Michael White, John Rose (staff), Leslie Jermyn (staff)
  • QUFA UPP Advocacy Committee: TBD.

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

  • JCAA: James Stotz (Co-Chair), Karen Rudie, Lynne Hanson, Mary Olmstead, 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)

Representatives on University Bodies

  • Senate: Karen Rudie (QUFA Senator and SCADP Observer), Melissa Houghtaling (Observer)
  • Senate Agenda and Summer Action Cttee (SASAC): Karen Rudie
  • FSRRS-UCARE: Burcu Baba and Fauzia Husain
  • Board of Trustee Observers: Karen Rudie, Melissa Houghtaling, Mary (Cella) Olmstead.
  • Unity Council: Karen Rudie, Lorena Jessop
  • University Promotions Advisory Committee 2026: Petra Fachinger, Paul Grogan
  • Timetabling: Lorena Jessop

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)
  • CAUT Defense Fund: Valerie Bartlett.