ADMINISTRATION
KAVIN TSANG
First and foremost - incumbent senator, Cecil Chik, is an integral member of campus leadership and the Academic Senate.
Since 2007, I have had the privilege and opportunity to serve CSU Fullerton as an Associate Dean, Academic Senator, Department Chair, faculty/instructor, Clinical Education Coordinator for the Athletic Training Program, and through a plethora of service opportunities and programmatic committees of the Department, College, University, Department of Athletics, and Associated Students, Inc. I have a genuine appreciation of the varying perspectives of our campus communities and am sensitive to their unique challenges. With a strong voice, I remain committed to collegial governance as we confront a forever evolving landscape in academia, our communities, and society at large. I have established and maintain positive relationships across the campus - there are many difficult conversations ahead peppered with much work … I ask for your support in the coming election.
CECIL CHIK
A candidate statement was not provided.
COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
HEATHER DENYER
Hi! It’s Heather. You might remember me from my emails about the CFA strike. I am running to be one of the two Academic Senate representatives for the College of the Arts. At a time when crucial discussions and decisions are happening—from AI to affordability to cuts to censorship—I want to be involved in understanding what’s happening and helping to address these challenges. Throughout my time at CSUF, I have served diligently as a representative on a variety of committees, often as the only voice for the COTA. For example, I served on
the Faculty Research Policies Committee when we undertook a campus-wide survey, and as an Executive Board Member for the CFA. I strove to ensure that an arts perspective was considered and that you, my colleagues, understood what was happening. I will do my best in these efforts on the Academic Senate if voted in.
PENDING
Eligible ARTS voters may submit a write-in candidate.
COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS
ERIKA THOMAS
I am an Associate Professor in Human Communication Studies and co-Director of the university’s speech and debate team. I currently serve as chair of the General Education Committee and as a member of the Student Life Committee, and I am active in Researchers and Critical Educators and the Women Faculty and Staff Association. I have completed four consecutive terms as a COMM senator, contributing extensive experience in reviewing and drafting policy statements and resolutions. I have also served on and chaired numerous departmental and hiring committees. I work closely with students, faculty, and administrators on university-wide issues, with a strong commitment to curriculum, personnel standards, and high-impact practices. I am dedicated to representing the College of Communications, protecting the rights of students and faculty, and upholding academic freedom and free speech. I value shared governance, collegiality, and transparency, and I will faithfully represent the voices of our community.
KEN HAGIHARA
I am a communications professional and public relations consultant with experience translating complex ideas into clear, impactful messages. In my 26 years as an agency owner, my work has centered on building relationships, amplifying diverse voices, and helping organizations navigate fast-changing media environments. These skills align closely with the mission of the Academic Senate: transparent governance, thoughtful policy, and strong shared leadership.
I bring a solutions-oriented perspective shaped by client service, strategic planning, and crisis communication, which will help advance our shared goals.
At Cal State Fullerton, I am committed to supporting faculty, students, and staff in the College of Communications by advocating for academic excellence, equity, and real-world relevance in our programs. I will prioritize open communication, research-based and data-informed decision-making, and collaboration across departments.
If elected, I will listen carefully, represent our community with integrity, and work to strengthen the connection between scholarship, teaching, and professional practice.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
CAROLINA VALDEZ
Dr. Caro Valdez is a Professor at California State University, Fullerton and has served on the Senate for seven years, two years on senate executive committee as secretary. She has served as the department chair in Elementary & Bilingual Education, lead coordinator of the university-wide Equitable Pedagogy Module 2 (EPM2) on anti-racist teaching, and the faculty development coordinator for the ELEVAR grant supporting Latinx graduate students. As a senator, Caro has advocated for marginalized faculty, staff, and students and for transparent policies.
KIRA LEEKEENAN
Dr. Kira LeeKeenan is an Associate Professor at California State University, Fullerton and has served on the Academic Senate for two years. She has served as the Subject Area Coordinator for English in the Single Subject Credential Program for the last seven years and is one of the Co-Principal Investigators for the ICARO grant supporting the teaching of plurilingual youth through linguistically inclusive and justice pedagogy. As a senator, Kira will advocate for marginalized faculty, staff and students and humanizing and just policies.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
SHAWN WANG
The first time that I served on a university level committee was during my sabbatical leave in Fall 2007. Before that I had served as the Graduate Program Coordinator for computer science for two terms. The ECS Dean encouraged me to serve on the Graduate Education Committee. Since then, I have never stopped serving on the University Committees. I have served on the Graduate Education Committee, Faculty Research Committee, Faculty Development Center Board, Professional Leave Committee (four terms), Outstanding Professor Committee (three terms). I served as an Academic Senate member from 2015 to 2017, right after my term ended as the Chair of Computer Science Department. My goal is always to facilitate understanding of different disciplines. As a representative of the ECS College, I will try my best to advocate for our students, faculty, staff, as well as administration. My experiences help me to understand other disciplines as well.
HOPE WEISS
My name is Hope Weiss and I am an Associate Professor and undergraduate academic advisor in Mechanical Engineering. Since joining CSUF, I have taken an active role in service focused on improving how things work for students, faculty, and staff. I have served at the department, college, and university levels through leadership on curriculum and search committees, representation on the College Curriculum Committee, and participation in university committees related to advising, curriculum, and faculty governance. I regularly collaborate with faculty and staff across ECS to improve advising workflows and develop practical solutions to shared challenges.
As Academic Senator, I will represent ECS with a collaborative and practical approach. I will keep faculty informed about what is happening in Senate through clear, regular communication, and I will advocate for policies that support teaching, student success, and a strong, connected college community.
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
PENDING
Eligible HHD voters may submit a write-in candidate.
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES
ROBERT MCLAIN
I believe it is crucial to push back on both the centralization of the CSU system and the growth of campus bureaucracy, particularly at a time of unsteady enrollment. Each new layer of bureaucracy is costly and creates more work for instructors in the form of reporting and supervision. This concentration has eroded faculty and departmental autonomy. The current administration should declare a moratorium on new administrative positions and begin seeking efficiencies at the managerial level through retirement, gradual consolidation of offices, and a shift back to faculty committee governance.
Secondly, CSU Academic Senates statewide should hold the CO accountable for devaluing the mutually supporting scaffold of Humanities courses that prepare our student population to challenge the political and structural extremism that threatens many of them directly. The largest university system in the United States can and should be a model of resistance.
COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS
NICOLE BONUSO
My second term on the Academic Senate concludes in May 2026, and I am seeking the opportunity to continue representing the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics for a third term.
During my service, I have represented NSM on the IRA Committee, Faculty Affairs Committee, and Academic Advising Committee. In these roles, I have advocated for faculty and students by contributing to updates in RTP and administrative appointment policies, supporting equitable resource allocation, and working to streamline advising processes while maintaining strong student support.
I am committed to ensuring that NSM’s voice remains strong in shared governance and to continuing efforts that improve faculty working conditions and student success.
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
EILEEN WALSH
Since my first year as an Assistant Professor, I have participated as a member of Senate Committees doing the work and representing faculty—tenure track as well as lecturers. My commitment to shared governance is deep and reflected by years of service on Senate committees: Academic Standards, Auxiliary Corporation Board, Internship and Service Learning, Assessment, University Curriculum, Writing Proficiency, and eight years on Senate Executive Committee. I am running as a social science representative to assure a strong voice on behalf of the faculty role in shared governance. I ask for your support and vote.
CHRISTINE SCHER
I’m a first-generation college student and a tenure-line faculty member in the CSU for >20 years. I’ve served CSUF in numerous roles at the department, college, and university levels, including my current work as Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC) Chair, University Advancement Board Chair, member of the Patrons of the Library Board, and MS in Clinical Psychology Program Coordinator. As a six-year member of FAC, the last five as Chair, I have worked collaboratively with faculty and administrators across the university to develop policies that support inclusive and equitable work environments, including clear and transparent hiring and retention/tenure/promotion standards, and strengthen shared governance; such work ultimately translates into a stronger learning environment for our students. My service to CSUF has been among my most professionally impactful and personally meaningful work- I hope to continue it as an Academic Senator representing the Social Sciences constituency and would very much appreciate your support.
STACY MALLICOAT
A candidate statement was not provided.
L/A/C [Library/Athletics/Counseling & Psych Svcs]
SAMUEL BARBER
Dear colleague, I humbly request your support for my Academic Senate candidacy, term 2026-2028. Your vote will allow me to extend my service to our CSUF community as representative for the Library, Athletics, and Counseling/Psychiatric Services (L/A/C) constituency, a position I have been honored to hold since 2020. During these past 6 years, I have worked closely with my L/A/C colleague Senator Graewingholt and all other fellow Senators to ensure that the voice of the L/A/C constituency is heard. As a result, our extensive efforts to support the teaching mission of the university are recognized, valued, and supported.
I am proud of past achievements, including codifying the phenomenon of cultural taxation in university policy and the subsequent widespread revision of faculty evaluation standards throughout CSUF. Much further work lies ahead, and with your support I look forward to meeting present and future challenges in my continuing role as Academic Senator.
AT-LARGE
AMIR DABIRIAN
As a Titan for Life with more than 41 years of service to CSUF as faculty, administrator, and staff member, including the last three years as Provost, I bring a rare, 360-degree perspective to our Senate. Over 19 years of Senate service, including 13 on the Executive Committee, I have worked closely with faculty, staff, and students, listening, learning, and leading through change.
I have helped shape our last three strategic plans and contributed to policies that guide our university today. These experiences reinforce my belief that faculty voice must be respected, protected, and amplified. I believe in shared governance and transparency, where decisions are strongest when we work together.
I will champion collaboration over silos and results over rhetoric, for every Titan.
MICHAEL PEREZ
As a long-time CSUF Titan, first-generation college student, and diasporic Native Pacific Islander from the Island of Guam/Guahan and Long Beach, California, I am ancestrally rooted to indigenous seafarers (Chamoru/Chamorro) who navigated oceans and successive waves of colonization. From these positionalities and epistemological foundations, my bearing as a praxis-oriented educator is set on critical pedagogy and student success, social justice and democratic faculty governance, village-style communities of learning through storytelling and listening, and adaptability through balance (inafa’maolek) to navigate the currents of higher education.
In addition to my core role as a faculty member and Professor of Sociology, I have served our university-community as an academic senator, senate executive member, department chair and vice chair, faculty fellow for the HSS College Office of Justice, Equity, and Transformation (CoJET), and as the Faculty Athletics Representative. If elected I look forward to serving our colleagues (faculty, staff, admin.), students, and our communities, especially as a bridge colleague, with an eye on connection and balance, in light of my academic genealogy and educational journey to make an impact at this pivotal moment of our campus and communities.
Social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and mentorship are embedded in my creativity and action-orientation, and grounded in my historical and lived experiences as an indigenous, blue-color, first-generation student, and faculty member at all levels of the academy (adjunct, FT lecturer, tenure-track).
Thank you for your consideration.
PART-TIME FACULTY
DAVID PLOUFFE
Over the past four years I have served as your representative on the Academic Senate. I have attended every Senate meeting during that time and provided part-time faculty with a voice and vote on the policies that were presented before that body, which included the successful passing of the simplified and streamlined lecturer evaluation process. I am asking for your vote once again.
I am deeply committed to CSUF and to the success of our part-time faculty contingent. I am a graduate of CSUF and have worked in the College of the Arts since 2008. I served seven years in the Office of First-Year Experience helping to guide undeclared majors during their first year at CSUF and presented on several topics at the Pollak Library’s Noontime Talks series.
JULIA SCHNEIDERMAN
A candidate statement was not provided.
FULL-TIME STAFF
GREG WOODSON
I am honored to be a candidate for one of the full-time staff seats on the Academic Senate. I am deeply committed to supporting staff voices and strengthening the overall well-being of our university community.
Through my service as a union volunteer, I have gained hands-on experience advocating for staff, listening to concerns, and working collaboratively to improve workplace conditions. This work has reinforced the importance of shared governance, transparent communication, and collective action in creating meaningful and sustainable change.
As your representative, I will continue to advocate for professional development opportunities, inclusive decision-making, and clear communication. I am committed to supporting better work–life balance, expanded mental health resources, and stronger recognition of the vital contributions staff make to our campus.
Your vote is a vote for progress, collaboration, and unity. I would be grateful for your support. Thank you.
DANIEL MARTIN
I am running for re-election to continue advocating for staff well-being, professional growth, and fair compensation. Staff are foundational to Cal State Fullerton and must be valued as key partners in student success!
As a staff employee and former member of the Staff Development Center Advisory Board, I understand our interests and concerns. I remain committed to building bridges across our Titan community to ensure staff are respected and valued as integral to the university’s mission.
Staff must be supported to thrive in an equitable and diverse work environment, and I am eager to continue collaborating with our partners to further this goal. A staff perspective is especially needed on policies that affect workload, compensation, job security, professional development, and inclusion and belonging. I would be incredibly honored to continue providing that perspective as your Academic Senator.
Thank you for considering me as your staff representative. I truly appreciate it!
MATTHEW BADAL
Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the Academic Senate representative for staff, and I remain deeply committed to advocating for staff perspectives in University initiatives. Throughout my term, I’ve worked to ensure that staff voices are thoughtfully considered in the University’s decision-making processes.
It has been a priority and an honor to connect with colleagues across campus, listen to their concerns, and share those insights with the University’s legislative body. This commitment to engagement and representation remains at the heart of why I serve.
Looking ahead, I plan to continue collaborating with my fellow staff and Senate members to ensure that the staff voice remains central as we navigate the University’s most pressing challenges. Thank you for your continued trust and consideration. I would be honored to serve again as your staff representative in the Academic Senate.