Fred Kowal

Cobleskill

Candidate for President
Fred Kowal

I humbly ask for your vote in the upcoming election for President of United University Professions, which takes place at the Spring Delegate Assembly later this month. I do so with deepest gratitude for the confidence you have placed in me over the past 13 years, and especially for the support you have shown as we have fought through many intense challenges.

From the Janus decision through COVID, from two tough negotiations rounds to the all-out assault on higher education and public sector unions being waged by the Trump administration, we have stood strong – in solidarity with each other to emerge as a more effective, influential and respected union.

Through these struggles, my proudest moments my proudest moments have come fighting side by side with you to defend each other's work and our institutions. Standing out foremost among this work: union members and the community rising up in Brooklyn to stop Chancellor John King's terrible plan to close Downstate hospital.

I will never forget the many chapter meetings always so well attended, the loud voices at rallies and the dedication of the chapter leadership in working with me to win our fight – and achieve an outcome that will lead to a better Downstate. Similarly, the urgent efforts to defend our colleagues at Fredonia, Buffalo State, Potsdam – and now ESF – shows the necessity for our working together in the face of a radical downsizing by Chancellor King and his cohort of anti-public higher education minions.

These efforts have shown the crucial role our efforts have played to raise the profile of UUP and increase our political power. By creating our own Political Action Committee, by expanding the involvement of rank-and-file members in advocacy, and by investing in the best legislative staff of any higher education union anywhere, UUP is now able to deal directly with legislators – and especially with the Governor and her staff – like never before. They know us, they know our work and they know our issues.

And I would be remiss if I didn't also recognize the powerful work we've done to increase our membership; no union in NYSUT is growing faster than UUP. In part because of the work that has been done, but more importantly because of the work that remains to ensure that UUP is bigger, stronger and better than it was when I took office, I am seeking another term as president. My priorities are ambitious but they will set the stage for UUP to have a great second half century—even better than the first!

First, I have two immediate goals: to complete a successful round of negotiations in the next month and to work with all of you to get what we need in the next fiscal year’s state budget. That will allow us to get the contract we need and deserve before the end of the legislative session, before the expiration of the present contract and before the financial hit that is coming from Washington, D.C.—thanks to the massive tax cut for billionaires and spending cuts that will bring great harm to New York state.

We also need operating aid to struggling campuses, more funding for SUNY's three teaching hospitals and expansion of SUNY's opportunity programs in the next fiscal year’s budget. We are making progress with the contract and the budget and now is the time to bring both home.

Second, in anticipation of very difficult budgets to come in the next few years, my goal is to continue to increase UUP's presence and power. To accomplish that, we will need to create deeper and broader coalitions across New York State. This will mean continuing to expand our links to local governments—county, city and village—so the Governor and the Legislature hear directly from our neighbors about the importance of our campuses and our work. We will have to be clever, clear-eyed and innovative to avoid disastrous cuts in the budget. It will also mean pressing our affiliates in the labor community to deepen their support for progressive tax reform!

Third, to increase our power, it's time for UUP to redefine who we represent. For too long, our colleagues at the SUNY Research Foundation have, at times, undermined our work. Yet, they have also reached out to us at times to plead for union representation. The same is true for those who work in clinical practice plans or who earn the vast bulk of their income from them – but have no union protections there. It's time to take on an organizing campaign to bring them in. This will involve the commitment of resources, while also taking steps to restructure our union – including how we elect statewide officers. I look forward to working with you on these issues and on the organizing work that will make us bigger and stronger for the fights ahead.

Additionally, I’m eager to continue collaborating with the other UUP officers, Executive Board members, chapter leaders and our members to ensure a bright future for us all – and for those yet to join us. UUP is in a great position to take the lead on many issues, including artificial intelligence (AI); expanding work protection and compensation for contingent labor; defending our research; bolstering the life-saving health care we provide; and protecting our teaching work and guiding our students in a deeply divided nation. UUP can and must lead, and I hope for the opportunity to continue serving as your President to play a pivotal rule in our future.

Thank you for standing with me through all we've done over the years. I look forward to seeing you at the DA and I again humbly ask for your vote. Together, we can continue to do the vitally important work we do for each other, for our communities, and for our state and nation.

In Solidarity,
Fred

Jeri O'Bryan-Losee

Morrisville

Jeri O'Bryan-Losee

Hello Delegates, I am writing to ask for your vote for UUP Statewide Secretary-Treasurer and professional contingent representative to the Executive Board.

Many of you have attended at least one of my educational workshops and know how important it is for members to understand how the union works. You have seen me expand our educational offerings to include monthly UUP101 workshops, pre-DA delegate trainings, election workshops, process information sessions and statewide budget presentations, all designed to educate members about the union and facilitate discussions across the state. It is through education that we increase the power, presence and transparency of our union.

I believe fiscal responsibility moves beyond policies and procedures. It requires us to work with intention. It encourages us to invite new employees and non-members to join our ranks and demands that we protect those in precarious contingent positions, like myself. It involves solidarity with those on our campus, in our chapters, on our job sites and in the larger labor movement. Members do not only exist within the confines of their work environment. We are all a part of the communities we live in and this requires us to look at where we are as a society and plan for our union’s future.

Fiscal responsibility is more than maintaining and adhering to governing documents. That is why the continued evolution of training and workshops is crucial. The formalization of educational pathways provides clarity of process and updating procedures helps to gather ideas for change and brings us together to move UUP forward.

The work of the secretary-treasurer continues after the election; completing the RMGC elections, preparing for NYS Lifeguard Corps and 2027-2029 chapter elections, implementing budget actions, advancing the delegate resolutions project; fighting for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and a continued expansion of my UUP educational programming.

I humbly ask for your vote so I may continue this important work.

Kevin Ragland

Buffalo Center

Kevin Ragland

My name is Kevin Ragland, and I am honored to stand as a candidate for Secretary-Treasurer of UUP. As a first-generation EOP graduate deeply rooted in the SUNY system, alongside my wife and children who are proud SUNY graduates from the University at Buffalo, University at Albany, and Empire State University. I bring personal commitment and a wealth of hands-on experience to this critical statewide role.

For more than 25 years, my career at the University at Buffalo has evolved from overseeing budgets for the Pre-Collegiate Program Upward Bound, Liberty Partnership, and STEP, to serving as Assistant Dean for Resource Management in the Graduate School of Education, and now to my current position as Senior Staff Associate in Financial Management. This progression has given me hands-on, member-focused insight into the financial systems that support high-quality services, targeted professional development, and strong advocacy for every union member.

I am running for Secretary-Treasurer to ensure the strength and growth of our union’s financial health. Our dues—whether viewed as per capita payments or as investments in our collective future—must be managed with transparency, accountability, and a clear strategic vision. The union must remain resilient in the face of financial constraints, empowered to invest in member services, professional development, and advocacy that advances equity and educational opportunity- all while maintaining the highest standards of fiscal responsibility.

My approach is straightforward: the finances of THE Union must serve OUR Union and empower every member. This begins with sound governance and financial leadership. In addition to my four terms as treasurer of the Buffalo Center Chapter, I have actively contributed to the Statewide Finance Committee and Compliance/Audit Committee, gaining hands-on experience in budgeting, audits, and upholding ethical standards.

A member-centered focus guides everything I do. I will prioritize resources that expand access to professional development, especially for new hires, adjunct faculty, and underrepresented groups. Equitable benefits and opportunities are essential to sustaining a diverse and thriving union. My experience managing diverse funding sources at the University at Buffalo—including State, IFR, Research Foundation, and UB Foundation—provides a strong foundation for accurate forecasting and contingency planning, ensuring we can withstand economic shifts while preserving essential services.

Beyond finance, my record of service and leadership is proven. I serve on statewide committees such as the Ethics Hearing Panel, Co-Chair Black and Latino Faculty/Staff Legislative Committee, and am a NYSUT Leadership Institute graduate. I balance my professional responsibilities with community service—volunteering with food banks and pantries, supporting students, serving those experiencing hunger and homelessness, and overseeing a $1.5 million church addition as Trustee. These experiences reflect a servant-hearted approach, commitment to inclusivity and collaboration, and readiness to work across sectors for our shared goals.

I respectfully ask for your support and your vote for Secretary-Treasurer. I am prepared to steward our finances with integrity, clarity, and strategic focus, ensuring our union remains strong, united, and capable of delivering for every member—today and into the future.

In Solidarity,
Kevin Ragland

Patrick Romain

Albany

Patrick Romain

The Time Is Now: Building Power, Leadership and Dignity Across UUP

It has been an honor to serve as your statewide Membership Development Officer. Over the course of my term, I have worked with chapters across the state to strengthen our union’s foundation: our members. Together, we have expanded engagement, built leadership pathways, deepened our commitment to diversity and inclusion and reinforced one of the CORE VALUES that defines our union — dignity.

Our work has focused on one central belief: strong membership development builds strong chapters and strong chapters build a powerful union.

Growing Membership, Building Activists

Membership is more than numbers — it is about relationships, conversations, and engagement. We have prioritized direct outreach, structured membership drives and provided tools that help chapters connect meaningfully with nonmembers. From bucket lists to campus mapping, from one-on-one conversations to organized campaigns, our focus has been on intentional growth.

But growth alone is not enough. We must convert members into activists and activists into leaders. That is how we build long-term power.

Developing Leadership Pathways

Leadership development has been a cornerstone of my work. Through collaboration with NYSUT and AFT leadership trainings, ULI (1-Year Training), Pathways to Leadership initiatives, and statewide engagement opportunities, we are helping members see themselves as leaders.

We are encouraging members to step into roles such as Chapter President, Vice President, Treasurer, Executive Board member, Labor-Management representative, and department rep. We are strengthening campus structures so that leadership development is not accidental — it is intentional and ongoing.

Our goal is simple: every chapter should have a clear, sustainable pipeline of future leaders.

Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our union must reflect the diversity of the members we represent. I have supported efforts that recognize and uplift Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian caucuses and SOMOS. I remain committed to expanding DEI opportunities across our union.

Inclusion is not a side initiative — it is central to organizing. When members see themselves represented and valued, they engage. When we create space for new voices, we grow stronger. We must continue building an inclusive leadership culture that creates opportunity for all.

I have not even touched on the vital work I have done with chapter Presidents at the Potsdam and Downstate Chapters, who are facing the threat of closure and downsizing. I have served as Vice President for Professionals the last 3 years applying all my skills to help make our union more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and relevant to the members. It has been a privilege. I ask you for your vote to continue to do this work alongside all of you.

Strengthening Downstate and Statewide Engagement

We have worked to ensure that Downstate chapters, special projects, legal initiatives, and higher education labor partnerships are supported and connected to statewide strategy. Our union’s strength depends on coordination and collaboration across regions.

Whether through advocacy in Albany, legislative engagement, or campus-based organizing, we must remain united in purpose and clear in our strategy.

Advocacy with Purpose

Membership development and advocacy go hand in hand. When members are informed, engaged, and organized, we amplify our voice in legislative spaces. Our presence in Albany, our participation in statewide advocacy days, and our partnerships strengthen UUP’s influence and visibility.

We must continue to build structures that connect local organizing to statewide advocacy.

A Vision for the Next Term

If reelected, I will continue to focus on:

• Expanding structured membership drives with measurable goals;
• Strengthening department representative systems;
• Deepening DEI-centered leadership recruitment;
• Enhancing tools and training for chapters;
• Building stronger data-informed outreach strategies;
• Encouraging collaboration among RMS, organizers, and chapter leaders; and
• Recognizing excellence through new awards and leadership recognition programs.

Most importantly, I will continue meeting members where they are — listening, supporting, and organizing with purpose.

Our Core Value: Dignity

At the heart of our work is dignity. Dignity in our workplaces. Dignity in our contracts. Dignity in how we treat one another. And dignity in how we build our union. The challenges facing higher education and labor are real. But so is our power — when we organize.

The time is now to deepen engagement, strengthen our chapters, and invest in the next generation of union leadership. I respectfully ask for your support as we continue this important work together.

In Solidarity,
Patrick Romain

Redetha Abrahams-Nichols

Downstate

Redetha Abrahams-Nichols

My name is Redetha Abrahams-Nichols. I have worked at SUNY Downstate for 25 years, gaining over 18 years of experience in nursing leadership. Currently, I serve as the chapter president for Downstate Health Science University. I am proud to announce my candidacy for a position on the United University Professions (UUP) Statewide Executive Board. I am seeking re-election with the theme "No campus left behind from Brooklyn to Buffalo." I am running for re-election based on one of the most defining fights in our union's recent history—the successful collective effort to keep SUNY Downstate open. During the campaign to protect Downstate, as chapter president, I stood alongside UUP members from Brooklyn to Buffalo, labor partners, elected officials, and community allies, defending not just a workplace but a vital public higher education institution that serves Brooklyn and beyond. Downstate was more than a local issue; it was a statewide test of our union's strength, solidarity, and resolve. Together, we organized, mobilized, and made it clear that our members deserve investment, not divestment. That experience reinforced a core truth: unity is strength, all campuses matter, and the fight is not over.

My passion and dedication to the labor movement and UUP members are evident, as I currently serve on the executive board and speak out for our interests. I am a member of the Vote C.O.P.E. subcommittee, co-chair of the Academic Medical Committee, and actively participate in legislative outreach and coalition building to engage stakeholders. As an executive board member, I prioritize advocacy days and stand in solidarity with UUP's statewide legislative agenda. Over the past three years, my activism has included attending rallies, leading targeted letter-writing campaigns to support at-risk campuses, educating members on issues affecting all our campuses, serving as a HELU delegate, and supporting a member-driven ICE rally on campus. Being reappointed to the negotiation team for the second time demonstrates my ability to navigate complex dynamics and secure wins for our members. Locally, I have fostered a spirit of pride and unity within UUP. The current NEOs' presentation highlights our collective actions and achievements, marking a shift toward grassroots activism. I am seeking reelection to the Executive Board to bring that same energy, urgency, and commitment to members statewide, emphasizing action, transparency, accessibility, and results.

As I envision my role on the executive board over the next three years, I will use my voice to champion these priorities by engaging all campuses: "No campus is left behind," no campus or facility stands alone when facing cuts, closures, or restructuring, championing causes such as equity, fair compensation, and job security for all members, building stronger connections between chapters, leadership, and the communities we serve, protecting and expanding public higher education and healthcare as essential public goods, and advocating for rapid-response organizing and statewide solidarity in moments of crisis.

I respectfully ask for your support and your vote.

Bret Benjamin

Albany

Bret Benjamin

My involvement in the Union has been among the most rewarding aspects of my professional life. I began my career interacting mainly with other academics in my home department, English, at SUNY Albany. The union opened a broader sphere of social and political engagement. Through UUP I built ties with co-workers—academics and professionals, contingent and tenure-line—across my university and across the SUNY system. In recent years, my work in launching Higher Education Labor United (HELU) has further broadened that scope to a national scale. UUP has enabled me to see my work in relation to the grand but embattled project of public higher education, the radical ideals upon which it is based, and the material threats it now faces. Union involvement has helped me understand the relationship between labor organizing in my workplace and the larger Left struggles for a more humane, equitable, and just society with which I have always aligned myself. My decision to run for reelection to the Executive Board, therefore, is both an acknowledgement of how much UUP has meant to me personally, and a conviction that I can contribute to our Union and to the broader Labor movement.

My sustained record of involvement at both the Chapter and Statewide levels prepares me to help steer our Union. My role as chief contract negotiator over the past several rounds of bargaining has taught me much about the diversity of our bargaining unit, its strengths, and its limitations. I have built both technical expertise about our contract, and personal relationships across our 32 chapters. Prior to my negotiations work, I served as Chapter President, Vice President for Academics, and Grievance Officer. I have also chaired and served on many statewide and chapter committees and currently serve as a HELU Steering Committee member. Taken as a whole, this body of experience allows me to recognize areas of common interest and points of tension within our bargaining unit, making me a better organizer.

In concrete terms, I have been a staunch supporter of the struggles waged by contingent faculty, insisting that the casualization of academic labor undermines the academic mission, and does grave injustice to the workers whose poor compensation and lack of job security puts them at perpetual risk. I have worked to understand the crises facing our HSC chapters and the needs of those members, including staffing shortages and work overload. Likewise, I am attentive to the needs of professionals, notably revised title series, promotion and evaluation procedures, and remote work opportunities.

More broadly, I have worked to craft intelligent, principled solutions to the problems our members face, striving for the transformational without underestimating the incremental. I have tried to advance policies that aim to help all members while also paying special attention to those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged. I pledge to continue bringing these principles and energies to my work on the Exec Board, should I be so fortunate to receive your vote.

Bret Benjamin
UUP Chief Negotiator

Rebecca Bryan

Cortland

Bekkie Bryan- Academic Candidate for UUP Executive Board

I am running for reelection to the board. I ask for your consideration as a fierce advocate for our Union and for Higher Education and Public Education more broadly. I am from the Cortland Chapter where I am the department chair of the largest Physical Education Teacher Education Program in the country. I serve our union on the Teacher Education Committee as the Board Liaison. This work has always been essential but in the current political climate with the dismantling of the Department of Education, the anemic school budgets, and changing landscapes for teachers, it is critical. I believe as Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education."

I also serve as co-chair of our Outreach Committee, I am on the Vote-Cope committee, and on our UUP PAC committee. This work supports all of UUP’s advocacy, organizing, and contract negotiation efforts to make UUP a consistent and strong voice that works to provide the resources necessary for the amazing work we all do on behalf or our institutions and for our students and patients. We meet with legislators, plan for both budget and post budget advocacy, and most importantly work to grow our legislative action teams at each chapter.

As an Executive Board Member, I serve all our members, not just those from the Cortland Chapter. As board members we are tasked with making the best and most informed decisions we can while considering the budget, campus types, job titles, contract protections, laws, and our diverse membership. We discuss, strategize, disagree, and ask questions on behalf of all of you. If I have the privilege to continue serving our union on the Executive Board, I promise to continue to represent all of our amazing and diverse membership.

Advocacy is what I do every day on behalf of the faculty and students in my department, across campus, the state, and nationally. At the national level it has been a privilege to work with Higher Education Labor United (HELU) on the Politics and Policy committee. My work on the committee has included creating a federal candidate questionnaire that puts into focus the issues facing higher education. It was created with the federal platform in mind and to raise the conversation to the national level to push our representatives to become more knowledgeable about our issues, to support our higher ed platform, and to begin using our language when discussing higher education.

Again, I hope to continue to have the privilege to serve all of you, your chapters, and your concerns as a member of the Executive Board.

In Solidarity,
Bekkie Bryan

Pamela Malone

Empire State

Pamela Malone

Fellow members,

I would be honored to continue my work for our union as a member of the statewide Executive Board, and respectfully ask for your vote for my reelection.

The challenges that our union, partners in the labor movement, communities, families, and democracy all face have never been more serious. UUP is at the forefront of these fights, and our Executive Board plays an important role in our work. Serving on the board requires a thoughtful approach, and I strive to bring a perspective that recognizes the individual as well as chapter needs of our diverse membership.

I have gained expertise about our complex union in many ways. I served as a chapter president for many years for a chapter that mirrors our union’s statewide footprint, and was the chapter VP for Professionals prior to serving as president. I’ve served on our executive board, am currently serving on our negotiations team (my fourth round), and am cochair of our Outreach Committee. I’m a member of the NYSUT board of directors, and the NYSUT Women’s and Civil and Human Rights Committees. I’ve been a delegate for a long time, have offered numerous workshops and webinars for our members, and have moderated many of our statewide panels and events.

These experiences have prepared me to identify challenges, collaboratively determine solutions, and join in the work to achieve our success. And they have toughened me up in order to face these challenges! I’m always looking for ways that we strengthen our union together. Our local power impacts members directly, and our statewide power supports our legislative goals and contract negotiations. It is through our unity and collective actions that we achieve our goals, inspire labor, and advance progressive causes. We are a formidable foe to any opposing force.

Our union is strong because of our diversity, and I have learned about the unique concerns of our members at our hospitals, comprehensive and tech campuses, and university centers. As a board member, I strive to hear all perspectives of fellow board members, and draw upon my experience to make informed decisions that I believe are the best for our union.

I am proud of UUP and wish to continue our great work. With my labor experience, knowledge of working with colleagues at a distance, and my commitment to unity, I will continue to serve our union well. UUP has an opportunity to set an example of unity and strength for all of higher ed and labor across the nation. I pledge to keep an open mind, and open heart while working in a leadership position of UUP.

Thank you for your support and vote.

In Solidarity,
Pamela Malone

Samuel Márquez

Downstate

Samuel Márquez

Dear Delegates,

I respectfully ask for your vote and continued support as I seek reelection to the Statewide Executive Board. It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve on our union’s governing body, helping to set policy, guide statewide strategy, and advocate for fair contracts, workplace protections, and the enduring mission of public higher education. In this role, I have worked to represent the voices and concerns of my colleagues, shape union priorities, and ensure that our decisions reflect the needs of our membership. The past three years have tested our resolve and demonstrated the strength of our collective voice. When the proposed closure of SUNY Downstate University Hospital was announced to our President Fred Kowal by the Chancellor on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2024, our union was confronted with a moment of profound uncertainty. Through organized resistance, sustained advocacy, and unified action, including protests and town halls, we helped secure a full reversal of that decision and a gubernatorial commitment of at least $750 million in investment. This outcome stands as a powerful testament to what solidarity and persistence can achieve.

At the same time, we have confronted broader external threats, including the prospect of significant federal funding cuts. As highlighted by Fred Floss of Buffalo State last year at the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining Conference at Hunter College, reductions to programs such as Title I, IDEA, Medicaid, Medicare, and federal research funding streams like NIH and NSF would have far-reaching consequences. With federal funding comprising a substantial portion of state budgets, these cuts place additional pressure on public institutions and the communities they serve. In this context, the role of the Statewide Executive Board is critical. Equipped with accurate information and a clear understanding of these challenges, we are positioned to engage effectively with legislators, advocate for essential programs, and communicate these issues in ways that mobilize and empower our membership.

As a medical educator and a product of public higher education from K through my doctoral training, I remain deeply committed to advancing a future in which access to high-quality public education is preserved and strengthened. In an era marked by the corporatization of the academy and mounting challenges to organized labor, I am grateful for UUP’s role in safeguarding our working conditions while protecting academic integrity, access, and affordability for future generations. Shaped by a diverse inner-city background, I bring an inclusive perspective grounded in equity and access. My goals are to educate members on the full value of UUP, not only as protection, but as a pathway for advancement; to strengthen communication between administration and membership; and to inspire active, proud participation in our union. Having transitioned from CUNY to SUNY and built strong relationships with leadership, I have advocated, and will continue to advocate, for all campuses with energy and purpose. I would be honored to earn your vote and continue serving with dedication and commitment.

Brendan McGovern

Binghamton

Brendan McGovern – Candidate for UUP Statewide Executive Board

We are in contract negotiations with the State right now, and our bargaining team is doing outstanding work on behalf of our members. This moment calls for all of us to support that work with strong, visible member engagement.

I am running for the UUP Statewide Executive Board because I believe our strength comes from an active, informed, and visible membership. That has been my guiding principle since I became President of the UUP Binghamton Chapter three years ago.

From the beginning, my focus has been on building a union where members are not just represented, but engaged. That means making our work visible, creating pathways for participation, and helping members understand how their involvement directly shapes outcomes. I have worked to increase our union’s visibility across the Binghamton campus, create opportunities for members to step into meaningful roles and take ownership of our work, and build stronger relationships with our union siblings in CSEA and GSEU through the creation of a Campus Labor Council.

I also serve as a NYSUT Regional Political Coordinator, where I have helped strengthen our connections beyond campus and deepen labor and political engagement. That work has reinforced something we all know: our power grows when we show up together, clearly and consistently.

We know how this works. The contract is not won at the table alone. It is strengthened by the unity and engagement of our members. When members are visible, informed, and organized, it reinforces the important work being done by our leadership and negotiating team.

At the same time, SUNY is under real pressure. Federal policy decisions are creating instability in funding. Campuses are dealing with structural challenges. Our hospitals are under strain. These realities affect our members every day and require us to continue building on the strong foundation UUP has established.

UUP has accomplished a great deal, and there is more work ahead. We can continue to grow membership, deepen engagement, and support chapters in building active, connected communities. We can ensure our members understand their contract, use it, and defend it. And we can continue strengthening our political voice across the state to protect public higher education and the people who make it work.

I believe in a union that shows up, communicates clearly, and brings members into the work. Leadership is about building on what is already strong and creating the conditions where people feel informed, connected, and ready to act together.

If elected, I will bring energy, focus, and a commitment to doing the work. I look forward to supporting our leadership, strengthening connections across chapters, and contributing to the continued growth of this union.

We know what it takes. We do it together.

Susan Orr

Brockportr

Susan Orr

I am running to serve on the Executive Board and appreciate this opportunity to tell you a little about myself and the reasons I wish to serve. In June I will have completed one term as an Executive Board member – I feel like I have learned a lot and played a meaningful part. That said, now that I have gained experience I feel I have more to offer in a leadership capacity at a time of significant challenges for UUP. I say that due to the current political climate in the nation that is hostile to unions as well as the looming fiscal crisis confronting the state. In combination, these factors that are outside of UUP’s control will call for solid leadership, energy, and creativity in crafting responses.

Looking to the future, I believe one contribution I can make is to serve as an honest broker of what at times are competing forces and interests within UUP. Some believe the organization is too “top-down” and that grassroots members lack sufficient voice. Others, find the efforts of the “rank and file” to gain visibility and make change somewhat frustrating and unnecessary. I see the value in both positions and think that balancing them is just what the future requires. I don’t often think of myself as a centrist – but if I am reflective, it is where I fit in the landscape of UUP. I have been heartened by the experienced leadership I have observed and energized by the innovative ideas emerging from UUP activists. I always seek to find the merit in competing positions when serving on the Executive Board and think the tension among them has been helpful to UUP. I the future I hope to play a role in balancing such experience, and enthusiasm for change. I am also always cognizant of the importance of attending to the needs and interests of our varied constituent groups – academics and professionals; comprehensives, university centers, specialized campuses and medical centers; working members and retirees. These diverse constituencies are a source of strength and shared interests, but from time to time they bring competing priorities that it is best to acknowledge and carefully consider. Serving on the Executive Board as an academic from a comprehensive campus, I push myself to understand the impact of decisions on UUP as whole even as I may initially see things through the perspective of my home campus and role.

With respect to my background - I have been an active member of UUP Brockport Chapter since 2007. First as a rep on the local Executive Board, a position I took up soon after arriving on campus as I felt privileged to be part of a unionized workforce. I subsequently served as a Brockport academic delegate, Vice President for academics, and currently as Chapter President. Since serving as Chapter President at Brockport, I have learned a lot about UUP – organizationally and operationally. I have become familiar with the contract, gained knowledge of the challenges experienced by the wide-range of professional staff represented by UUP, and deepened my understanding of the diversity of experiences among our academic members. I have also gained greater awareness of UUP’s role representing employees at the medical centers. Our local chapter worked collaboratively with our College Senate and with the support of UUP statewide staff, to reach agreement on revisions to our student evaluation of teaching instrument. Such collaboration also played a role in the introduction of a policy to convert long term lecturer positions to instructor lines. We are currently working to increase our part-time membership, increase engagement of members, boost participation in outreach and Vote-Cope and build our chapter leadership team. I share all of this to provide insights as to my experience and approach to UUP.

Matt Smith

ESF

Matt Smith

"I am running for UUP Executive Board as Chapter President at ESF because our union must act with clarity and purpose: labor leads the fight. As a librarian and chapter president, I work at the intersection of information, access, and public good, and I see daily how austerity and misaligned priorities erode our mission and our working conditions. UUP must stop endorsing and funding candidates who do not materially advance our interests. At the same time, we must build new coalitions across campuses, unions, and communities to expand our power and defend public higher education from SUNY itself. I am committed to a union that organizes, demands, and wins."