Faculty Senate, University Council elect new leader

by Joe King

Sue Willis is taking a breather from campus politics.

Willis, a professor in the Physics Department, recently completed her third consecutive term serving in the dual roles of president of the Faculty Senate and executive secretary of the University Council. Only one other person, retired Communication Professor Charlie Larson, has ever served three consecutive years in those positions.

Taking over both posts will be Paul Stoddard, an associate professor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences.

Looking back at her time as executive secretary of the council, Willis said she is most proud of the group’s efforts to improve and standardize grievance procedures.

“I actually inherited that project. It was four years in the making,” she says. “It will be implemented in the fall, and I think it will be a big improvement. I hope it creates a better workplace for everyone.”

Willis, who has been active in campus politics for much of her 16 years on campus, says the last three years have been busy but rewarding.

“I enjoyed being able to work on things that could benefit a lot of people, and I liked the variety of the job. There was always something new that I had to learn,” she says.

While Willis is stepping out of shared governance for now she will have no lack of opportunities to learn new things. She assumes new duties July 1 as acting associate dean of the graduate school.

Stoddard, who has taught geology at NIU since 1989, is also a veteran of shared governance at NIU. He is serving for the third time on the University Council and has served on the Faculty Senate for more than six years.

“I think serving on these bodies is important work,” Stoddard says. “NIU’s shared governance seems to be fairly rare, if not unique. It is something we can be proud of. To serve that system is rewarding.”

Looking ahead, Stoddard expects that the senate and University Council will be dealing with issues of productivity and accountability as the state tries to weather its ongoing budget crisis. For similar reasons, he expects those bodies will continue to keep a close eye on insurance issues.

6-14-04