Standing Committees for 2026-2027

Committee on Academic Standards

Hears academic integrity appeals for cases where the sanction is for failure of the course and reviews drop status appeals for students who are dropped from the college for academic deficiencies.

Frequency of Meetings: Whenever an appeal is requested, on average 0-6 times a year. Also involves six workdays in mid-June – a training session on a Friday followed by a week of reviews conducted remotely.

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Executive Assistant Dean Robert Steltman, 2002 Lincoln Hall, MC-446.

  • Mauro Nobili, History
  • Anustup Basu, English 
  • Daniel Nabil Maroun, French & Italian
  • Jeff Martin, Anthropology
  • Joe Cohen, Psychology
  • Xin Li, Cell & Developmental Biology
  • Colleen Schultz, Economics
  • Anna Wright, Communication
  • Morgan Smith, Senior Academic Advisor, Sociology 
  • Zeke Pierson, Graduate Student, Anthropology
  • Jimena Lopez, Undergraduate Student
  • Shamiyah Pledge, Undergraduate Student

Awards Committee

Reviews all nominations for LAS College Awards and some campus awards; and makes recommendations to the Dean. College awards include: Dean’s Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by Graduate Teaching Assistants, Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by Instructional Staff, Academic Advising Award, LAS Staff Awards, and LAS Academic Professional Awards. Campus awards include: Excellence in Guiding Undergraduate Research, Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching, Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring, and Excellence in Online and Distance Teaching.

Frequency of Meetings: Twice in late Fall for Staff and Academic Professional Awards and twice in early Spring for Teaching Awards.

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Andrea Jake and Holly Clingan, 2090 Lincoln Hall, MC-448.

  • Mukhtar Ali, Religion
  • Lucinda Cole, English 
  • Felisa Reynolds, French & Italian
  • Emily Van Duyn, Communication 
  • Dov Cohen, Psychology
  • Erik Nelson, Molecular & Integrative Physiology 
  • TBD, Electoral Group VII
  • TBD, Electoral Group VIII
  • Maria Hadjipolycarpou, Classics 
  • Jorge Lemus, Economics 
  • Serenity Desmond, Associate Director of Teaching Labs, Chemistry 
  • Monse Gonzalez-Gutierrez, Graduate Student, Spanish & Portuguese
  • Christiana Pembele, Undergraduate Student

Courses and Curricula Committee

Reviews all proposals for new courses and curricula in the college and, when warranted, major revisions to existing curricula. Ensures all proposals meet college and campus requirements. Recommends policy on matters within its jurisdiction.

Frequency of Meetings: Bi-weekly during the Fall and Spring semesters and dependent upon proposal availability.

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Associate Dean Stephen R. Downie, 2090 Lincoln Hall, MC-448.

  • Angela Diaz, History
  • Cassandra Rosado, Linguistics
  • Drew Creal, Economics 
  • Philip Anderson, Evolution, Ecology, & Behavior
  • Yue Lin, Geography & Geographic Information Science
  • Dan Cooney, Mathematics 
  • Charles Webster, German
  • Leyla Cooper, Linguistics
  • Nooreen Meghani, School of Earth, Society, & Environment
  • Kristi McDuffie, Director Of Rhetoric, English
  • Snigdha Mathure, Graduate Student, Cell & Developmental Biology     
  • Hope Mocogni, Undergraduate Student, English
  • Julie Baker, Ex-Officio, ATLAS

General Education Committee

Reviews all proposals for general education certification and re-certification and oversees the college’s general education program under the umbrella of campus-wide general education. Determines which courses are appropriate for general education in each of its respective distributional areas and establishes guidelines regarding the interpretation and administration of general education policies.

Frequency of Meetings: Bi-weekly during the Fall and Spring semesters and dependent upon proposal availability.

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Associate Dean Stephen R. Downie, 2090 Lincoln Hall, MC-448.

  • TBD, Electoral Group I
  • Aja Martinez, Latina/Latino Studies
  • Monica Garcia-Blizzard, Spanish & Portuguese
  • Avital Livny, Political Science 
  • Nu-Chu Liang, Psychology 
  • Adam Dolezal, Entomology 
  • John Leveritt, Chemistry
  • TBD, Electoral Group VIII
  • Isaac Dilanni, Economics
  • Petra Jelinek, Anthropology 
  • Billy Vermillion, Academic Advisor, Psychology
  • Madeline Jones, Undergraduate Student, Political Science 
  • Mila Rico, Undergraduate Student, Sociology
  • Jennifer Jones Barbour, Ex-Officio, Assoc. Director for Learning Outcomes and Advancement,
    Communication

Honors Council

Oversees the LAS honors programs, policies, and practices.

Frequency of Meetings: Once per semester.

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Associate Director Allison Holden, 2002 Lincoln Hall, MC-446.

  • Peter Fritzsche, History
  • Hina Nazar, English 
  • Marcus Keller, French & Italian
  • TBD, Electoral Group IV
  • Mark Borgschulte, Economics 
  • Daniel Llano, Molecular & Integrative Physiology 
  • TBD, Electoral Group VII
  • Pamela Martinez, Statistics
  • VN Vimal Rao, Statistics 
  • Brad Mehrtens, Asst. Director of Curricula & Instruction, Molecular & Cellular Biology
  • Mark Beirn, Director of LAS International Programs
  • Natanya Bath, Undergraduate Student, Political Science 
  • Armin Shirani, Undergraduate Student, Molecular & Cellular Biology

Policy and Development Committee

Reviews and revises outdated policies in the LAS Policy Manual and updates, as necessary, LAS Bylaws. Coordinates with the VPAA Office on aligning LAS policy with Provost Communications and University Statutes, and with other campus and college offices as needed in ensuring LAS policies are reflective of current campus operations, procedures, and regulations.

Frequency of Meetings: Several times per semester, or as need arises.

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Associate Dean Stephen R. Downie, 2090 Lincoln Hall, MC-448.

  • Eli Rosenblatt, Religion 
  • Ramón Soto-Crespo, English 
  • Zsuzsanna Fagyal, French & Italian
  • TBD, Electoral Group IV
  • Michael Regenwetter, Psychology 
  • Rachel Smith-Bolton, Cell & Developmental Biology
  • Brendan Harley, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
  • Tony Wong, Astronomy 
  • Mahruq Khan, Gender & Women’s Studies

LAS Elected Committees

Voting for LAS Elected Committees6

Executive Committee 2026-2027

The committee assists and advises the dean in the conduct of college business and appointments of tenured faculty, and promotions of the faculty.

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Andrea Jake, 2090 Lincoln Hall, MC-448.

  • James Brennan, History
  • Gillen Wood, English
  • Laurie Johnson, Germanic Languages
  • Gisela Sin, Political Science
  • Kim Rios, Psychology
  • Tracy Lawson, Plant Biology
  • Jeff Trapp, Climate, Meteorology, & Atmospheric Sciences   
  • Yue Shen, Astronomy

Faculty Appeals Committee 2026-2027

The committee will consider appeals of personnel decisions, especially in the following areas: rollbacks, promotion and/or tenure, sabbatical leaves, leaves of absence without pay, and terminations.

Frequency of Meetings: When an appeal is received. 

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Holly Clingan, 2090 Lincoln Hall, MC-448 or to any member listed below:

  • Marc Hertzman, History
  • Deena Rymhs, American Indian Studies
  • Leonard McKinnis, Religion/Afro American Studies
  • Brian Walters, Classics
  • D.A. Briley, Psychology
  • Julian Catchen, Evolution, Ecology & Behavior
  • Jessica Conroy, Earth Science & Environmental Change
  • Steve Culpepper, Statistics

Nominations Committee 2026-2027

Prepares slates of candidates for all elections of members of the Faculty or other eligible persons to standing committees of the College. Advise the Dean on appointments of persons to fill vacancies on standing committees. Periodically reviews the size and composition of standing committees. 

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Andrea Jake, 2090 Lincoln Hall, MC-448.

  • Carol Symes, History (Chair)
  • Mirelsie Velasquez, Latina/Latino Studies
  • James Yoon, Linguistics
  • Bob Pahre, Political Science
  • Chris Fraley, Psychology
  • Jie Chen, Cell & Developmental Biology
  • Jefferson Chan, Chemistry
  • Daniel Eck, Statistics

Hiring Excellence, Aspiration, and Diversity (HEAD) Advisory Committee 2026-2027

Address all correspondence concerning this committee to Holly Clingan, 2090 Lincoln Hall, MC-448 or to any member listed below:

  • Ariana Traill, Classics
  • Justine Murison, English
  • Eleanora Stoppino, English
  • John Caughlin, French & Italian
  • Diane Beck, Psychology
  • Satish Nair, Biochemistry
  • Chris Rao, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
  • Vera Hur, Mathematics
  • Carla Cáceres, School of Integrative Biology
  • George Deltas, Economics