The Point: Introducing FSU's Ex Com
11/7/2024
Like you, the Point Team is still processing Tuesday’s results. There will be time in the coming weeks and months to reflect on the election’s implications for the labor movement and suggest lessons and paths forward for FSU. For now, the spirit of the voting season has inspired us to introduce you to your FSU Executive Committee—leaders who you elected to serve you.
Introducing FSU’s 2024-2025 Executive Committee
Suha Ballout, PhD, RN, FAAN, Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Tenured Faculty Constituency: I am in my 10th year at UMB, an Associate Professor and co-Director of the UMass Boston Center for Innovative Teaching. My work focuses on bridging higher education with local and global community engagement. I have led several impactful initiatives, authored multiple peer-reviewed articles, and delivered presentations at numerous international and national forums. My leadership roles include co-leading a $20-million workforce diversity grant supporting 400 nursing students and directing the Behavioral Health Equity Fellowship, which promotes health equity and workforce diversification. As a nurse and educator, I recognize that while we have made significant progress in fostering inclusive learning and professional growth, more needs to be done, particularly in addressing systemic barriers and rising living costs. Our collective efforts, alongside students and campus unions, are essential in creating a sustainable and supportive environment for all.
Lynne Byall Benson, Women’s, Gender, and Sexualities Studies, Non-Tenure Track Faculty Constituency: I have been on the faculty at UMB since January of 2012. My time spent as a member of the FSU as well as the FSU Executive Committee has deepened my commitment to academic freedom, equality, and diversity in higher education. I realize that these things are not a given and they may disappear unless our community and especially our Union, an integral part of our community, remain vigilant.
Jorge Capetillo, Sociology, Tenured Faculty Constituency: I have been a faculty member at UMASS Boston for the past 22 years, and I always wanted to serve the FSU. But for one reason or another I never got the chance. I believe that this is a unique opportunity for me to get involved in union politics and become an agent of change.
Caroline Coscia, Senior Lecturer II, Political Science, FSU President: My private sector employment did not include unions. In that work I experienced the consequences of the lack of employee protections including treatment of women. Coming to UMB I joined the FSU with no expectations. I was wrong. When I encountered an issue, the FSU was there for me. I became an active member because I saw the value of collective action and ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all. We work hard every day to make this happen. Sometimes our wins might not be as big as you want, and I understand. What is important is that we keep pushing and pushing as one.
Andrew Elder, University Archivist and Curator of Special Collections (Librarian V): I've been a proud member of the FSU since 2012, and never more so than over the past few years when I've seen the union be a truly effective champion for the needs of its members—particularly those who are most vulnerable in the face of the rising costs of living in the Greater Boston area. I'm particularly proud of the FSU's efforts to support the work of librarians in a number of ways—from successfully bargaining for librarians to have access to FSU travel funds, to work-time protections and salary increases. I look forward to continuing to advocate for the needs of librarians and all FSU members at UMass Boston.
Monique Fuguet, Mathematics, Non-Tenure Track Faculty Constituency: Matters of equity, inclusion, shared governance and transparency are important to me, as the corporatization of our University continues to challenge our work and working conditions. To realize my ideals of transparency and democratic decision-making here in FSU, I have served for multiple years as FSU Treasurer. My efforts aim to bring clarity to the budgeting process so that members can more easily be involved in their union.
Karen Grayson, English, Non-Tenure Track Faculty Constituency: Karen uses the classroom to build solidarity with students. Through rhetorical analyses of UMB’s messaging, she helps students discover their own agency as critical thinkers and active members of the campus community. This empathetic and empowering way of relating to students is also crucial to developing FSU’s influence on campus, because it is by advancing our mission to serve students that a faculty union grows its power.
Sana Haroon, History and Asian Studies, Tenured Faculty Constituency: I have been at UMB for twelve years and have served for three years on Ex-Comm, one as Vice President. I run the international faculty caucus and serve on the salary anomaly review committee and have been working on strategies to increase membership and member participation in FSU. I attend the MTA Annual Conference believe in advocacy that influences MTA in meeting our needs as educators. Outside of my role at FSU I advise the Pakistan Students Association and the Somali Students Association, and participate in Muslim community organizing in greater Boston.
Patricia Krueger-Henney, Leadership in Education, Tenured Faculty Constituency: Patricia has been a vital member of the UMB community for some time, serving on the Center for Innovative Teaching advisory board since 2015 and leading in various FSU activities. As a scholar of urban school systems and expert in various participative action research approaches aimed at making schools more equitable and just, serving the FSU in a leadership capacity is a natural extension of her professional work.
Jared Poole, Management Department, Pre-Tenure Faculty Constituency: I am in my fifth year at UMB and I have already benefitted greatly from FSU's victories at the bargaining table, particularly our parental leave policy and the research-intensive semester. At the same time, I know that the cost of housing, childcare, and other necessities means that, to make this campus a viable long-term home for everyone, this university needs to do much more to recognize and reward our work. I believe that future victories will come more easily when we organize alongside our students and colleagues in other on-campus unions.
Alejandro Reuss, Labor Resource Center, Non-Tenure Track Faculty Constituency: I have taught in Labor Studies (Labor Resource Center) since 2015, and also teach in the Union Leadership and Activism (ULA) graduate program at UMass Amherst. I have been devoted to the cause of labor for my entire adult life. It has been at the center of my activism, writing, and teaching for nearly 40 years. Solidarity forever.
Rania Said, College of Liberal Arts, Pre-Tenure Faculty Constituency: I joined UMB in 2020 as a postdoctoral fellow, and I am now on my second year on the tenure-track. Before even coming to UMB, several faculty members I was in touch with had told me about how strong our union was. Given the mounting attacks on freedom of speech and assembly in campuses nationwide, I am confident that our union will stand strong in support of our fundamental rights, as we organize along our students and fellow workers on other campuses.
Wei Zhang, College of Management, Tenured Faculty Constituency: I am now in my 21st year at UMB. I joined FSU as soon as I joined UMB but was not very involved until recently. Wanting to know more about FSU, how it works, and whether it can truly benefit us, I decided to run for ExCom. Serving in this role has been an eye-opening experience, deepening my appreciation of the phrase United We Stand! I encourage all members, especially those who are still climbing the career ladder, to learn more about FSU, to find out what FSU can do for you, and to get involved in any capacity that suits you.