College Committees

Additional information regarding the committees is found in the College Constitution

• Faculty Council

  The Phil and Martha Bachman College of Arts and Sciences shall have a Faculty Council to represent the faculty and to assist the Dean in the orderly management of the College. The Faculty Council shall serve as the Screening and Steering Committee of the Faculty for the consideration of all matters of academic policy. It shall have the responsibility to advise the Dean on all academic and budgetary matters. The Council shall maintain communication with all standing committees and ad hoc committees appointed by the Council.

  Members of the Faculty Council for the 2026-2027 academic year are:

  Nate Olson
  Appalachian Studies

  Ingrid Luffman
  Geosciences

  Jane MacMorran
  Appalachian Studies

  Mark Baumgartner
  Literature & Language

  Kelly Foster
  Sociology & Anthropology

  Christopher Eddy
  Political Science

  Andy Slap
  History

  Ryan Stephens
  Biological Sciences

  Bill Hemphill
  EETS

  Bria Cusanno
  Communication Studies & Storytelling
  
  

  Dane Scott
  Chemistry

  Rebecca Fletcher
  Appalachian Studies

  Logan Ledford
  Criminal Justice & Criminology

   

• Council of Chairs

  The Council of Chairs shall consist of the chair of every department and directors of Centers of Excellence of the Phil and Martha Bachman  College of Arts & Sciences or their designated representative. It shall also include a member from the Faculty Council.

• Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee

  The Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee shall maintain oversight of all policies concerning new courses, academic programs, curricular changes, and other educational affairs within the College and make recommendations to the Dean. Committee members are elected by the college for two-year terms; when a member cannot fulfill their term of service, the Dean appoints a replacement for that member.

  
  
  Elected members of the committee and their terms of service are:

  Abbas Shilabin
  Chemsitry
  (2025-2027)

  Jonathan Taylor
  Theatre & Dance
  (2025-2027)

  Nicole Prior
  Criminal Justice
  (2025-2027)

  Liv Detweiler
  Literature & Language
  (2025-2027)

  Jonathan Strube
  Art & Design
  (2025-2027)

  Michele Crumley
  Political Science
  (2026-2028)

  Isabel Gomez Sobrino
  Literature & Language
  (2026-2028)

  Richard Prince
  EETS
  (2026-2028)

  Ante Ursic
  Theatre & Dance
  (2026-2028)

• Tenure and Promotion Committee

  The Tenure and Promotion Committee reviews applications and serves to provide college recommendations in matters pertaining to faculty promotion and tenure. The committee makes recommendations directly to the Dean.
  
  Members of the Tenure and Promotion Committee for the 2026-2027 academic year are: 

  Eileen Ernenwein
  Geosciences

  Matthew Potterton
  Music

  Jennifer Peeler
  Criminal Justice

  Frank Hagelberg
  Physics & Astronomy

  Sandy Eagle
  Chemistry

  John Rankin
  History

  Jeff Knisley
  Mathematics & Statistics

  Matthew Fehskens
  Literature & Language

  Dean Isham
  EETS

  Christian Zembower
  Music

• Evaluation Committee for Non-instructional Assignments

  The Evaluation Committee for NIAs reviews applications and makes recommendations for Non-instructional Assignments directly to the Dean.
  
  
  
  

• Advisory Committee on Faculty Awards

  The Faculty Awards Advisory Committee reviews nominations and makes recommendations for the annual Faculty Awards.

  Members of this committee for the 2026-2027 academic year are:
  

  Frank Hagelberg
  Physics & Astronomy

  Rachel Mazzara
  Literature & Language

  Daniel Johnson
  Geosciences

  Chelsea Wessels
  Literature & Language

  Felipe Fiuza
  Literature & Language

  Joe Baker
  Sociology & Anthropology

• Staff Excellence Committee

  The Staff Excellence Committee is dedicated to advertising the existence of the Staff Excellence Awards, evaluating nominations, and, ultimately, selecting two candidates each year for this prestigious award. One awardee represents professional staff. The other awardee represents clerical staff.

  Members of the Staff Excellence Committee for the 2026-2027 academic year are:

  Daryl A. Carter
  History

  Mark Proffitt
  Dean's Office

  Paula Sarut
  Advisement

  Tyla Melkonyan
  History

  Jeremy Smith
  Appalachian Studies

  Whitney Dibb
  Dean's Office

  Amber Farley
  Art & Design

   

• Basler Chair Selection Committee 

  The Basler Chair Selection Committee reviews nominations and makes a recommendation for the annual Basler Chair.
  
  Members of the Basler Chair Selection Committee for the 2026-2027 academic year are:
  

  Isabel Sobrino
  Literature & Language

  Julia Dodd
  Psychology

  Ingrid Luffman
  Geosciences

  Blaine Schubert
  Geosciences

  Diana Morelen
  Psychology

  Joe Moore
  Music

• Academic Dishonesty and Grade Appeal Committee

  This committee reviews charges of Academic Dishonesty and Student Grade Appeals as described in university policy. The committee is formed on an as-needed basis.

• Research and Creative Activity Council

  The Research and Creative Activity Council (RCAC) serves as a collaborative body dedicated to enhancing research initiatives and creative endeavors within the college. The Council is tasked with advising the Associate Dean for Research and Creative Activity on strategic directions, policy development, and initiatives that support faculty research and creative activities across disciplines. In consultation with the School Directors, the Dean and Assoc. Dean for RCA select three members, and the remaining four members are elected in the spring semester.

  Josh Samuels
  Geosciences
  (2026-2027)

  Lisa Perry
  Music
  (2026-2027)

  Ben Lee
  Biological Sciences
  (2026-2028)

  Joseph Shrestha
  EETS
  (2026-2028)

  Christine Anzur
  Communication Studies & Storytelling
  (2026-2028)

  Amy Wright
  Literature & Language
  (2026-2029)

  Kelly Foster
  Sociology & Anthropology
  (2026-2029)