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Committees

 

Committees are a key way members participate in shaping Union priorities and protecting our collective rights. Serving on a committee is one of the most direct ways to build Union power and ensure decisions reflect the lived experience of our membership.

The Union is organized into a few key committee groups:


UCE Constitutional Committees

The following committees were established via the UCE Constitution. 

Administrative Committee

Who serves: All Union officers

What it does: Manages the day to day operations of the Union. Supports the President, coordinates committee work, develops long range goals, initiates grievances on behalf of the Union, and negotiates contract revisions between bargaining cycles.

Current Officers:

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Executive Committee

Who serves: All officers plus elected faculty and staff representatives

What it does: Sets Union policy and direction. Interprets the contract, oversees all committees, approves the Union budget, decides whether grievances proceed to arbitration, and approves contracts before membership ratification.

Current Members:

  • All Officers
  • Daniel Baez (Staff Representative)
  • Nurhayat Bilge (Faculty Representative)
  • Pilar Blanco Ruiz (Faculty Representative)
  • Praveen Chaudhry (Faculty Representative)
  • Sean Cormier (Faculty Representative)
  • Craig Dana (Faculty Representative)
  • Erika D’Amico (Staff Representative)
  • Jaye Edelstein (Faculty Representative)
  • Roberta Elins (Faculty Representative)
  • Amanda Elliot (Staff Representative)
  • Susan Grassi (Staff Representative)
  • James Hill (Staff Representative)
  • Eileen Karp (Faculty Representative)
  • Stephan Kanlian (Faculty Representative)
  • Yasemin Celik Levine (Faculty Representative)
  • Daniel Levinson Wilk (Faculty Representative)
  • Philippa Lindenthal (Faculty Representative)
  • Chenise Marine Rice (Staff Representative)
  • Shavon Meyers (Staff Representative)
  • Benita Pratt (Faculty Representative)
  • Shanda Richardson (Staff Representative)
  • Jean Marc Rejaud (Faculty Representative)
  • Albert Romano (Faculty Representative)
  • Elena Romero (Faculty Representative)
  • Nancy Ross (Faculty Representative)
  • Lasse Savola (Faculty Representative)
  • Brian Strickland (Staff Representative)
  • Tuyet Tran (Staff Representative)
  • Loretta Volpe (Faculty Representative)

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Grievance Committee

Who serves: Vice President for Contract Management and Grievances and elected members

What it does: Reviews and processes grievances, ensures the grievance procedure is followed, evaluates how the process is working, and recommends whether cases should advance to arbitration.

Current Members:

  • Isabella Bertoletti (Vice President for Contract Management and Grievances and Chair)
  • Amanda Elliot
  • Salvatore Giardina
  • Daniel Levinson Wilk
  • Chenise Marine Rice
  • Kathleen Monich

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Budget Committee

Who serves: President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and appointed members

What it does: Develops and recommends the annual Union budget and supports long term financial planning and investment of Union funds.

Current Members:

  • Paul Clement (President)
  • Beniam Abrehe (Treasurer)
  • Patrice Goumba (Assistant Treasurer)
  • Shawn Grain Carter
  • Ellen Lynch
  • Isabella Bertoletti

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Faculty Committee

Who serves: Vice President for Faculty and faculty members of the Executive Committee

What it does: Addresses issues impacting faculty and serves as a liaison between faculty members and Union leadership.

Current Members:

  • Frank Mitchell (VP for Faculty and Chair)
  • Benita Pratt
  • Eileen Karp
  • Stephan Kanlian
  • Lasse Savola
  • Jean Marc Rejaud

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Staff Committee

Who serves: Vice President for Staff, staff Executive Committee members, and elected staff

What it does: Addresses issues impacting staff and serves as a liaison between staff members and Union leadership.

Current Members:

  • Daniel Baez (Executive Committee)
  • Erika D’Amico (Executive Committee)
  • Amanda Elliot (Executive Committee)
  • Susan Grassi (Executive Committee)
  • James Hill (Executive Committee)
  • Chenise Marine Rice (Executive Committee)
  • Shavon Meyers (Executive Committee)
  • Brian Strickland (Executive Committee)
  • Tuyet Tran (Executive Committee)
  • Anton Baptiste (Elected Staff Member)
  • Jordan Cook (Elected Staff Member)
  • Kathleen Monich (Elected Staff Member)

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Legislation and Political Action Committee

Who serves: One Union officer and Executive Committee members

What it does: Coordinates political activity, manages VOTE COPE efforts, leads lobbying work, and recommends resolutions for state and national conventions.

Current Members:

  • Daniel Levinson Wilk (Chair)
  • Stephenie Futch
  • Daniel Baez
  • Amanda Elliot
  • Shanda Richardson
  • Craig Dana

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Public Relations Committee

Who serves: Membership Director as Chair and appointed members

What it does: Oversees Union communications, including the newsletter, publicizes Union activities, and supports programs that benefit members.

Current Members:

  • James Pearce (Membership Director and Chair)
  • Loretta Volpe
  • Dong Yang
  • Frank Mitchell
  • Stephenie Futch
  • Laura Hatmaker

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Nominations and Elections Committee

Who serves: Ten elected members, chaired by the Secretary

What it does: Oversees nominations and elections to ensure they are fair, transparent, and follow the bylaws.

Current Members:

  • Mary Capozzi (Secretary and Chair)
  • Chenise Marine Rice
  • 9 Vacant Positions

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Environmental Health and Safety Committee

Who serves: Vice President for Environmental Health and Safety and appointed members

What it does: Identifies workplace health and safety concerns, recommends solutions, raises Union safety issues, and provides member education and training.

Current Members:

  • Elizabeth Killinger (VP for Environmental Health and Safety and Chair)
  • Ellen Lynch
  • Shanda Richardson
  • Chloe Martin
  • Miyo Sandlin
  • Olivia Burton

Interested in joining this committee? Email VP for Environmental Health and Safety.

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UCE Ad Hoc Committees

Constitution and Bylaws Committee: Established in Spring 2025 by members of the Executive Committee to review and strengthen the Union’s governing documents. The committee works to identify and correct inconsistencies, clarify language, and recommend updates that support transparency, accountability, and effective governance.

  • Stephenie Futch (Committee Chair)
  • Nurhayat Bilge
  • Yasemin Celik Levine
  • Benita Pratt
  • Lasse Savola
  • Elena Romero
  • Ellen Lynch
  • Paul Clement
  • Erika D’Amico

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NYSUT Committees

Civil and Human Rights Committee: NYSUT's Standing Committee on Civil and Human Rights advances the union’s efforts to promote equity and social justice.

Women's Committee: The NYSUT Women’s Committee encourages locals to develop in-house women’s committee chapters; educates female members about the work of the union; highlights women-specific issues, including inequities in pay, health care and education; and seeks to involve more union women in leadership roles.

LGBTQ Committee: NYSUT's LGBTQ Committee educates peers and advocates for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning/Queer members.

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