Committees

STARK CAMPUS FACULTY COMMITTEES 

Membership on most committees for the academic year are determined in early fall. Faculty indicate their committee preferences using an online form at the end of August. 

Faculty Council Cabinet, with advice from the deans, nominate individuals for committee membership, which is then submitted for approval to Faculty Council at the September and January meeting. Except for the Technology Committee, all chairs of Committees of Council are required to be members of Faculty Council. 

Membership on all committees is open to all faculty.

COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL

Term: September 2026 - August 2027

• Committee I: Professional Activities Advisory Committee (PAAC)
  Advises the dean on matters such as faculty travel approval requests, sabbaticals, load lifts and grants. This committee is chaired by the Vice-Chair and includes five faculty members.
  Members: Matt Lehnert (chair), Jim Seelye, Katrina Bloch, Gro Hovhannisyan, Stephen Neaderhiser, Deepraj Mukherjee
• Committee II
  Serves Council for the numerous general tasks requiring short-term attention.
  Members: Patrick Dillon (chair), Mark Nowakowski, Robert Hamilton, Jan Kover, Paula Sato, Victor Berardi
• Campus Curriculum and Scheduling Committee
  Members: Oliver Ruff (chair), Kyle Fix, Leslie Heaphy
• Committee for Campus Community
  Members: Bathi Kasturiarachi (chair), Robert Hamilton, Robin Shura, Eric Taylor
• Faculty Colloquium Committee
  Plans faculty colloquia and other faculty seminar series.
  Members: Brian Chopko (chair), Paul Andaloro, Peggy Shadduck
• Handbook Committee
  Proposes timely revisions to the Stark Campus Faculty Handbook in response to changes in university and campus policies and procedures.
  Members: Lucas Engelhardt (chair), Ian Anderson, Amy Damrow, Mary Rooks, Angela Guercio
• Social Committee
  Plans various social events, e.g., holiday and spring dinners. This committee is chaired by the Council Treasurer.
  Members: Leslie Heaphy (chair), Michelle Bagwell, Jessica Jones, Ann Martinez, Bei Cai, Keith Lloyd
• Technology Committee
  Evaluates and advocates for the appropriate uses of instructional technology at Kent State Stark.
  Members: Julian Hallworth (chair), Younghun Chae, Erin Hollenbaugh, Ran Li, Scott Tobias

STARK CAMPUS DEAN'S COMMITTEES

TERM: SEPTEMBER 2026 - AUGUST 2027

• Academic Programming Committee
  Plans the campus theme and advises the dean on curricular and programmatic development. This committee has a representative from each faculty constituency group.
  Members: Greg Smith (chair), Ralph Menning, Julie Cremeans-Smith, Cindy Barb, Keith Lloyd, Peggy Shadduck
• AURCO Representative
  One year appointment to represent our campus to the Association of University Regional Campuses of Ohio.
  Representative: Eric Taylor
• Distinguished Teaching Award Committee
  Seeks out and selects recipients for the Kent State Stark Distinguished Teaching Award (full-time faculty) and the Award of Recognition (part-time faculty). Please note that members of this committee are not eligible for the award.
  Members: Christine Howell (chair), Shelly Heron, Katrina Bloch, Lynn Adams, Lucas Engelhardt
• Student Complaint Committee
  Members: Joel Carbonell, Lyndy Beckley, Phillip Buntin, Chih-ling Liou
• Student Scholarship Committee
  Selects recipients for scholarships available from Kent State Stark foundation accounts.
  Members: Jami McIntryre, Andy Burns, Farid Fouad, Urmila Pal Chaudhuri, Ashley Meinke