Call for Nominations
University Governance Elections 2026
Call for Faculty Nominations to Academic Council University Committee Positions
Academic Council Call for Nominations (pdf)
Candidates for university committees may be self-nominated or nominated by another eligible faculty member. To be valid, a nomination must be made in writing and include the name of the nominee and the nominator, both of whom must be faculty. The standing committee nominee must be a member of the respective college and only faculty from that college are eligible to vote for that position. Qualifications of faculty representatives to university standing committees may be found in the ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø Faculty Handbook.
Nominations must be in writing, and are accepted until March 30th via the Rules, Elections & Bylaws Committee.
Academic Council (Three-year terms)
- CHFA – two positions
- JCSET – one position
- SONHP – two positions
- HSOA – one position
- LIB – one position
Balloting—Unopposed candidates will be elected by general consensus of the Rules, Elections, & Bylaws Committee.
Resolution of Questions or Problems--The Rules, Elections, & Bylaws Committee of the Faculty Senate shall serve as the authority to resolve questions or problems with regard to the elections or the election process
Nominations must be in writing, and are accepted until March 30th , 2026 via the Rules, Elections & Bylaws Committee.
Email the Committee chair at: Hortega@murraystate.edu.
Eligible nominees include: Those members of the instructional/research staff whose regular assignment is instruction of students including those with release time for research and other professional personnel holding faculty appointment. Qualifications may be found in the ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø University Faculty Handbook.
Stephen B. White Award for Shared Governance Call for Nominations
Stephen B. White Award Call for nominations (pdf)
The Rules, Elections, and By-Laws Committee of the Faculty Senate is accepting nominations from faculty and staff for the Stephen B. White Award for Shared Governance. This award commemorates long-time Faculty Senator and Faculty Senate President, Dr. Stephen B. White, and his decades of participating in and advocating for shared governance at ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø.
Eligibility: Current faculty, administrative faculty, and staff members employed at ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø are eligible.
Award Criteria: Nominees should have contributed in the area of shared governance in a way that
either exceeds what is expected of an individual in her or his position or that significantly
reimagines,
invigorates, or expands the scope of shared governance.
Process: Nominations must be submitted by email in the form of letters and supporting material addressing award criteria to the Vice President of the Faculty Senate, Chair of the Rules, Elections and Bylaws committee at: Hortega@murraystate.edu.
The Rules, Elections, and By-Laws Committee will administer a secret ballot plurality vote among all present faculty senators at the April meeting for one nominee among all eligible candidates. The recipient will be announced at the Faculty Banquet April 16, 2026 and will have their names added to an award plaque located outside the Office of the President.
Deadline for Nominations: Monday, April 6th, 2026
Department Faculty Senator Elections
Faculty and Department Chairs - nominate yourself or a fellow faculty member who you would like to see as your department senator. This a secret ballot election, not a chair appointment. Nomination deadlines & election dates will be determined by your department.
Department Senators serve a two-year term and will serve from Fall 2026 till Spring 2028.
New & returning senators are expected to attend the Faculty Senate meeting at 3:30 on Tuesday May 5th. After elections, please forward the name of your senator to the chair of the REB committee at: Hortega@murraystate.edu
Current Senators
- Agricultural Science — Naveen Musunuru
- Animal Health Technology & Pre-Veterinary Sciences — Barbie Papajeski
- Center for Communication Disorders — Alison Brown
- Chemistry — Jonathan Lyon
- Criminal Justice & Social Work — Jenifer Hart
- Economics and Finance — Eran Guse
- English and Philosophy — Michelle Panchuk
- Earth and Environmental Sciences — Michael Busby
- Global Languages and Theatre Arts — Elana Picech
- History — David Pizzo
- Journalism and Mass Communications — Carol Terracina-Hartman
- Mathematics and Statistics — Shauna Mullins
- Nursing — Erica Brown
- Occupational Safety and Health — Susan Miller
- Organizational Communication & Leadership — Jenilee Williams
- Political Science and Sociology — Paul Foote
- Psychology — Amanda Joyce
Call for Faculty Nominations
One At-Large Instructor Senator
Nominate yourself, or a colleague who meets the eligibility requirements. Eligible nominees are members of the instructional/research staff whose regular assignment is instruction of students including those with release time for research and other professional personnel holding faculty appointment.
Candidates for at-large representative to the Faculty Senate may be self-nominated or nominated by a current member of the Faculty Senate. To be valid, a nomination must be in writing (writing includes email) and include the name of the nominee, the name of the nominator, a brief introduction, and the term of office. No nominee will become an official candidate until his/her eligibility for office and willingness to serve has been confirmed by the Rules, Elections, & Bylaws Committee of the Faculty Senate.
Nominations must be in writing, and are accepted until April 17th via the Rules, Elections & Bylaws Committee. Email the Committee chair at: Hortega@murraystate.edu.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, April 17, 2026
University Committee Positions
Nominate yourself, or a colleague who meets the eligibility requirements. To be valid, a nomination must be made in writing and include the name of the nominee and the nominator, both of whom must be faculty.The standing committee nominee must be a member of the respective college and only faculty from that college are eligible to vote for that position. Qualifications of faculty representatives to university standing committees may be found in the ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø Faculty Handbook.
Nominations must be in writing, and are accepted until April 17th via the Rules, Elections & Bylaws Committee. Email the Committee chair at: Hortega@murraystate.edu.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, April 17, 2026
Standing Committee Elections
(Three-year terms)
Faculty & Staff Insurance & Benefits Committee
- AJOCOB – one position
- LIB– one position
Promotion & Leave Committee (Rank of Full Professor)
- AJBCOB – one position
- HSOA – one position
University Judicial Board
- At Large - one position
University Tenure Committee
- COEHS – one position
- HSOA – one position
- SONHP – one position
Balloting — Unopposed candidates will be elected by general consensus of the Rules, Elections, & Bylaws Committee.
Resolution of Questions or Problems — The Rules, Elections, & Bylaws Committee of the Faculty Senate shall serve as the authority to resolve questions or problems with regard to the elections or the election process.
Eligible nominees include: Those members of the instructional/research staff whose regular assignment is instruction of students including those with release time for research and other professional personnel holding faculty appointment. Qualifications may be found in the ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø University Faculty Handbook.
Nominations must be in writing, and are accepted until April 17th via the Rules, Elections & Bylaws Committee. Email the Committee chair at: Hortega@murraystate.edu.
Deadline for nominations: Friday, April 17, 2026