Alvernia Faculty Council

Alvernia Faculty Council

The Alvernia University Faculty Council is the formal body representing the faculty of Alvernia University. It serves as a forum for the faculty for addressing concerns and for discussing issues of importance to the faculty, the faculty’s responsibilities, and the university. It supports the mission of Alvernia University and further the goals of Alvernia University by its dedication to the ideals of higher education.

In addition, the Faculty Council develops and articulates policies for approval by administration and the Board of Trustees and establishes procedures for the operation of committees and other organizations under its purview. There are three types of committees with faculty representation: Board, Institutional and Faculty Council. Faculty may also serve on ad-hoc committees and task forces.

Minutes and agendas can be viewed on Faculty Council's SharePoint page. 

Faculty Committees: Academic Year 2026-2027

Absent extenuating circumstances, full committees must be in place by May 1, including all appointments and selections. Following the completion of membership, a Chair must be selected or appointed by May 15. The outgoing committee will be the committee to conduct any business required until August 15.
 

Officers

  • President Meg Zuber 2026-2027
  • Vice President Nick Nicoletti 2026-2027
  • Secretary Pam Unger 2026-2027
  • Treasurer Jamie Becker 2026-2027


Executive Committee

  • CHS Marcia Thompson 2026-2027
  • CHESS Corey Harris 2026-2027
  • CIDE Teri Price 2026-2027
  • Bernardine Sisters Sister Paula Nowak 2026-2027

Membership: (I.J.3) The Executive Committee consists of the following members: the four officers of the Faculty Council, one representative elected from each College, the chair of each of the standing Faculty Council committees and one member of the Alvernia community selected by the Bernardine Sisters. This representative, if non-faculty, serves ex officio. No voting Executive Committee member shall serve in a specific position for more than four consecutive years, and Faculty Council presidents may not serve more than two consecutive years in that role.


Academic Standards (Faculty Standing)

  • CHS Jennifer Haraschak 2026-2027
  • CHESS Erin Way 2026-2027
  • CIDE Brad Bauer 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Molly Brobst 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Jess Hamlet 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Joe Mahoney 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Angela Salio 2026-2027
  • Registrar/representative (ex-officio) Brittani Keaton (Allie Novak as proxy if Keaton unavailable for a meeting) 2026-2027
  • Navigator or rep for ASC, (ex-officio) Coleen Beddick 2026-2027

Membership: (I.J.5) The membership of the Academic Standards Committee consists of the following: one faculty member elected from each College; and four faculty members elected-at-large. At least two voting members of the committee must come from the Faculty that teach in graduate programs. The committee will elect its chair from among the faculty members. The Registrar or a designated representative of the Registrar, as well as a Navigator or a representative of the Academic Success Center serve ex officio. 


Curriculum (Faculty Standing)

  • CHS Karen Sponagle 2026-2027
  • CHESS Di You 2026-2027
  • CIDE Sam Weiner 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Shawn Rutt 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Jamie Miller 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Joe Mahoney 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Michael Hassler 2026-2027
  • Undergraduate student representative 2026-2027
  • Graduate student representative 2026-2027
  • GECCCo representative Janae Sholtz 2026-2027
  • Registrar/representative (ex-officio) Brittani Keaton (Allie Novak as proxy if Keaton unavailable for a meeting) 2026-2027
  • Director of Library Services (ex-officio) Kaitlyn Boyle 2026-2027
  • College Deans (ex-officio) David Shoup, Patricia Reger, Elizabeth Matteo 2026-2027

Membership: (I.J.4) The membership of the Curriculum Committee consists of the following: one representative elected from each College, four members elected at-large, a designated representative from GECCCo, one student recommended by the Student Government Association and one student recommended by Graduate Student Association. Two voting faculty members must be faculty that teach in graduate programs. The Registrar, a representative from the Library, the Dean of Institutional Research and Assessment, and College Deans are ex officio, non-voting members. The Chair of the committee is elected from among the faculty members. The Chair of the Curriculum Committee is granted release time to compensate for the time the Chair spends executing his/her duties. 


Development & Research (Faculty Standing)

  • CHS Stephen Vandenberg 2026-2027
  • CHESS Kris Lowrey 2026-2027
  • CIDE Farah Mneimneh 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Josh Hayes 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Teri Price 2026-2027

Membership: (I.J.8) The membership of the Faculty Development and Research Committee consists of the following: one faculty member elected from each College, and two faculty representatives elected at-large. The chair will be one of the committee members, elected by the committee. 


Educational Technology (Faculty Standing)

  • CHS Heather Keperling 2026-2028
  • CHESS Bongrae Seok 2025-2027
  • CIDE Eric Robuck 2025-2027
  • Member at Large Ryan Lange 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Kushal Adhikari 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Jamie Miller 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Shawn Rutt 2026-2027
  • Library Director (ex-officio): Kaitlyn Boyle 2026-2027
  • Manager of EdTech (ex-officio):Jonathan King 2026-2027

Membership: (I.J.12) The faculty Educational Technology Committee consists of seven (7) members with staggered two-year terms. Each College will elect one member to serve on this committee, these elections will happen in years ending in an even year. Four members will be elected at large in years ending in an odd number. One member must teach in a graduate program. To be eligible to serve on the Educational Technology Committee, faculty members must have a minimum of two-years teaching experience, at least one of which is at Alvernia. The Alvernia Manager of Educational Technology and the Library Director will each serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee. The Chair is elected by the Faculty Educational Technology Committee for a two- year term, but not to exceed two terms and with an anniversary date of May 15. The Chair will be a member of the university IT Governance Committee. The committee will meet as necessary to fulfill the committee’s purpose, typically once a month. Records of those meetings will be recorded and made available to faculty and administration.


Graduate Academic Council (Faculty Standing)

  • CHS Ashley Gray-Reed 2026-2028
  • CHESS Nick Nicoletti 2026-2028
  • CIDE Michael Durant 2026-2028
  • Member at Large Marcia Thompson 2025-2027
  • Member at Large Alicia Sprow 2025-2027
  • Member at Large Robin Zappin 2025-2027
  • Member at Large Soo Sun 2026-2027

Membership: (I.J.10) Graduate Academic Council consists of the following members: one representative from each college (3) – 2-year term, three at-large members – 1-year term(s), all must be faculty members who teach in graduate programs or chair/director of graduate programs. The Chair is elected by GAC membership for a two-year term.


Handbook (Faculty Standing)

The Alvernia Faculty Handbook can be accessed here. 

  • CHS Cynthia Bickings 2026-2027
  • CHESS Victoria Williams 2026-2027
  • CIDE Sam Weiner 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Jim O’Donohue 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Ondra Kielbasa 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Tim Blessing 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Paul Heffner 2026-2027

Membership: (I.J.12) The membership of the Faculty Handbook Committee consists of the following: one representative elected from each College and four members elected at-large. At least one member must be tenured. The Chair (or co-chairs) of the committee must be tenured.


Honors & Awards (Faculty Standing)

  • CHS Julie Axelrod 2026-2027
  • CHESS Alicia Sprow 2026-2027
  • CIDE Josh Smith 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Molly Brobst 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Kushal Adhikari 2026-2027

Membership: (I.J.7) The Honors and Awards Committee consists of the following members: One representative will be elected from each College and two representatives will be elected at-large.


Rank & Tenure (Faculty Standing)

  • CHS Tom Franek 2026-2028
  • CHESS Nick Nicoletti 2025-2027
  • CIDE Eric Recktenwald 2026-2028
  • Member at Large (Rotating List: CIDE) Salem Elsaiah 2026-2027
  • Member at Large (Rotating List: CHESS) Corey Harris 2026-2027

The membership of the Rank and Tenure Committee consists of the following: Four tenured faculty members elected by the full faculty council for two- year terms, each College must have at least one. The following additional criteria govern the composition of the committee: i. Members must be full-time, tenured faculty with the rank of Associate Professor or Professor; and ii. No member may be a member of the Review Committee or the Faculty Grievance Committee. 1 from each college (2year terms) + 2 at large, rotating, with 1-year terms.

  • CHS 2 year term 2026-28
  • CHESS 2 year term 2025-27
  • CIDE: 2 year term 2026-28
  • One Year term #1 rotating: CIDE 2026-27, CHESS 2027-28, CHS 2028-29
  • One Year term #2 rotating: CHESS 2026-27. CHS 2027-28, CIDE 2028-29

Elections for the committee occur by March 31. The committee will elect its chair from among the members of the committee. The Chair of the Rank and Tenure Committee is granted release time to compensate for the time the Chair spends executing his/her duties. The Chair will be granted release time equivalent to one, three-credit course, to be taken in the Fall semester. 


Salary & Benefits (Faculty Standing)

  • CHS Pam Unger 2026-2028
  • CHESS Janae Sholtz 2025-2027
  • CIDE Matt Prudente 2026-2028
  • Member at Large Michelle Serapiglia 2025-2027
  • Member at Large Tim Blessing 2026-2028

Membership: (I.J.9) The membership of the Salary and Benefits Committee consists of five faculty members: one member elected from each College, and two faculty members elected at-large. At least three members of the committee shall be tenured. Fall Semester. Commented. Propose: CHS and IDE elected in even years. CHESS elected in odd years. 1 member at large elected in odd year, 1 member at large elected in even year. No more than 2 members from any College at a given time. The committee will elect the chair (or-chairs) from the tenured members of the Committee.

 

Institutional Committees

Social Justice & Advocacy Committee (Faculty Standing)

  • CHS Alison L. Babula 2025-2027
  • CHESS Paul Heffner 2025-2027
  • CIDE Farah Mneimneh 2025-2027
  • Member at Large Arielle Phillips 2026-2028
  • Member at Large Leticia Egea Hinton 2026-2028
  • Member at Large Kris Lowrey 2026-2028
  • Member at Large Judith Schrepfer 2026-2028
  • Vice President of Mission, Diversity and Inclusion (*ex officio): Position no longer exists – handbook change proposal forthcoming
     

Membership: (I.H.9) The membership of the Social Justice and Advocacy Committee shall consist of seven (7) faculty members, with at least one representative from each of the Colleges, serving staggered two-year terms. Each College will elect one member to serve on this committee, these elections will happen in years ending in an odd number. Four members will be elected at large in years ending in an even number. The Vice President of Mission, Diversity and Inclusion serves as an ex officio member.

Extended Leadership (formerly APAC)

  • CHS Alan Howard 2026-2027
  • CHESS Elena Lawrick 2026-2027
  • CIDE Kushal Adhikari 2026-2027
  • Chair of Salary & Benefits Comm. Matt Prudente/Michelle Serapiglia 2026-2027
  • Faculty Council President Meg Zuber 2026-2027
     

Section I.H.8: Each College will elect one representative each year to attend extended leadership meetings called by administration of Alvernia University. Representatives to Extended Leadership cannot concurrently serve as an officer for Faculty Council. 

Faculty Grievance Committee (Institutional)

  • Presidential Appointment Jamie Becker 2026-2028
  • Faculty Council Elected Pam Unger 2026-2028
  • Committee Appointment Di You 2026-2028

Section I.H.3: Composed of three tenured faculty members, none of whom may be a member of the Rank and Tenure Committee or the Review Committee. Faculty Grievance Committee members serve two-year terms, staggered among its members. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms. Vacancies to complete the balance of a term will be made by the individual or group who made the original appointment. 

The Faculty Grievance Committee is established in the following manner: one faculty member will be elected by the Faculty Council at the April meeting each year, one will be appointed by the President of the University who shall communicate such appointment to the President of Faculty Council no later than May 1st of each year, and the third member will be chosen by the first two members by May 10th of each year. The committee members will elect a Chair by May 15th of each year. 

Intellectual Property Policy and Rights (Institutional)

  • Member at Large Caroline Fitzpatrick 2025-2028
  • Member at Large Elena Lawrick 2026-2029
  • Member at Large Jamie Becker 2024-2027

Additional members consist of the Provost, the Chief Operating Officer of the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, the Director of Business and Corporate Development, and the Director of the Library. 7 members: 3 tenured faculty members, each of whom serve staggered 3-year terms and are elected by the Faculty Council, the Provost, the Chief Operating Officer of the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, the Director of Business and Corporate Development, and the Director of the Library.

IRB Committee (Institutional)

  • CHS Alan Howard 2026-2027
  • CHESS Nicholas Nicoletti 2026-2027
  • CIDE Eric Recktenwald 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Elena Lawrick 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Soo Sun 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Joe Mahoney 2026-2027
  • Institutional Research Community member(s) Magdalena Moyer & Sr. Patrice Klausing

Membership (I.H.4) The Institutional Review Board (IRB) membership is appointed by the Provost and is informed by requirements of the Office of Human Research Protections within the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Membership consists of six faculty representatives, at least two from each College and no more than two from any one College. At least two members must teach regularly in the Graduate Program, one must teach regularly in a Doctoral Program, and all must hold a terminal degree. Additional members include a representative of the Office of Institutional Research and two Community members, one representing the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters and one from the Greater Reading area. One of the faculty representatives will be appointed Chair by the Provost.

Review Committee (Institutional)

  • Member at Large Joe Kremer 2026-2028
  • Member at Large Joe Mahoney 2025-2027
  • Presidential Appointment Victoria Williams 2025-2027
  • Presidential Appointment Jayme Ober 2026-2028
  • Committee Appointment Matt Prudente 2026-2027

Membership: (I.H.2) The Review Committee is composed of five tenured faculty members, none of whom may be a member of the Rank and Tenure Committee or of the Faculty Grievance Committee. All Review Committee members will serve two-year terms, staggered from among its members. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms. Appointments to fill vacancies to complete the balance of a term will be made by the individual or group responsible for making the original appointment.

The Review Committee is established in the following manner: one faculty member will be elected by the Faculty Council at the April meeting each year, one member will be appointed by the President of the University who shall communicate such appointment to the President of Faculty Council no later than May 1st of each year, and the fifth member will be chosen by the first four prior to May 15 of each year. The committee members will elect a chair prior to May 15 of each year. All meetings of the Review Committee involving issues of tenure, promotion, or dismissal require attendance by all Review Committee members.

Student Grievance (Institutional)

  • CHS Colleen Rhoads 2026-2027
  • CHESS Chris Shipley 2026-2027
  • CIDE Salem Elsaiah 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Molly Brobst 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Jennifer Miller 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Alison Babula 2026-2027
  • Member at Large Erin Way 2026-2027
  • Two Undergraduate Student Representatives 2026-2027
  • Two Graduate Student Representatives 2026-2027

Membership: (I.H.1) The Student Grievance Committee is composed of seven faculty members and two undergraduate students and two graduate students; each College elects one member to the committee and the faculty elects four members-at-large. Two faculty must be Faculty that teach in graduate programs. The Student Government Association selects the undergraduate students and Graduate Student Association selects the graduate students.

 

Board Committees

Resource Stewardship & Audit

  • Chair of Salary & Benefits Matt Prudente/Michelle Serapiglia 2026-2027
  • Resource Stewardship & Audit Marcia Thompson 2026-2027
  • Student Experience Victoria Williams 2026-2027
  • Student Experience Alicia Sprow 2026-2027
  • Community & Philanthropy Jodi Radosh 2026-2027
  • Community & Philanthropy Travis Berger 2026-2027

Terms: Elected to one year terms. Specific Board Committee names and faculty representation on such committees are maintained by the administration and communicated to the faculty on an annual basis.

Academic Assessment Committee

Alvernia University Academic Assessment Committee as of June 2026.

  • SVP/Provost: Mary Ellen Wells
  • Associate Provost:
  • Institutional Assessment, Accreditation, and Compliance:
    • Institutional Research:
    • Chair: Kelsey Swope
  • College of Health Sciences: Patricia Reger
    • Athletic Training and Exercise Science:
    • DPT:
    • Healthcare Science:
    • Nursing:
    • OT:
    • PA:
  • College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences: Elizabeth Matteo
    • Humanities:
    • Social Work:
    • PSY/MACC/AMH:
    • Criminal Justice:
    • Education:
    • Leadership:
  • College of Innovation, Discovery, and Enterprise: David Shoup
    • Engineering:
    • Science:
    • F&PA:
    • Math & Tech:
    • Header School of Business:

The Academic Assessment Committee (AAC) members include full-time faculty who represent their respective departments. Each year, College Deans shall nominate at least one member representing each of their respective departments to the Provost. In May of each year, the Provost shall appoint members to the AAC for the following academic year and, upon recommendation of the new committee, shall appoint the chair. All members of the AAC and the Chair shall serve one-year terms that may be renewed without limit each year. The AAC Chair serves as a member of the Institutional Assessment Committee (IAC).