CA-AAUP Candidates October 2012

Candidates for Offices of the California AAUP Conference, October 2012

The following are the statements submitted by the candidates:

For President
Ivan Evans, Sociology, University of California, San Diego

I obtained my Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin Madison and joined the Department of Sociology at UC San Diego in 1989. A group of faculty reactivated the moribund UCSD Faculty Association in 2009, stood for election and doubled the membership in less than a year. While I was President of the body from 2010-2012, the SDFA forged strong links with student and labor organizations on campus and continues to strengthen the voice of faculty.

For Secretary-Treasurer
Karen Davis, Film, California State University, Monterey Bay

I am a Lecturer in Film at CSU Monterey and a member of AAUP since 1998. I serve as California Faculty Association Lecturer Co-Representative, and am active on the Faculty Rights Committee. I am also a Statewide Academic Senator. In 2011, I participated in AAUP's Shared Governance Conference as a panelist (with Hank Reichman and John Saraille). Special qualifications: accounts management and tax preparation for a 501(c)3, the Committee for Health Rights in Central America.

For Vice-President for Private Universities and Colleges
Robin Balliger, Urban Studies and Liberal Arts, San Francisco Art Institute

I am a strong advocate for faculty labor and governance, and I serve as President of the Faculty Union at the San Francisco Art Institute. In 2006 I participated on the bargaining team that introduced a tenure system, and this summer I headed the successful renegotiation of our Collective Bargaining Agreement. I am Chair of Urban Studies and Liberal Arts, and my educational perspective builds on a BA from UC Berkeley and PhD from Stanford.

For Vice-President for Community Colleges (3 candidates)
Mary Ann Irwin, History, Bay Area community colleges, including Diablo Valley, Chabot, and Laney

I have both the desire and the qualifications to serve as AAUP vice president for California community colleges. An adjunct since 1996, I teach roughly 10 history courses per year at Bay Area community colleges, including Diablo Valley, Chabot, and Laney. I also have professional service experience: ten years as president of the Coalition for Western Women's History and four years as secretary of the Western Association of Women Historians.

Richard Mahon, Humanities, Riverside City College

Education: AA, West Valley College; BA (History & Religious Studies), Ph.D. (History of Consciousness), University of California, Santa Cruz
Experience: Four years local Academic Senate president and Curriculum Committee chair. Five years on Executive Committee of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC). Current Governor-at-Large, Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC). Current Faculty Commissioner, Accrediting Commission of Community & Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

Marilyn Ribble, Communications, CSU San Marcos, Mt. San Jacinto Community College, Palomar Community College District

With 19 years experience in teaching, administration, and shared governance positions at CSU San Marcos and over 10 years part time combined Mt. San Jacinto Community College and Palomar Community College District, Ms. Ribble seeks to broaden her higher educational profession working with AAUP. Interests include shared governance, grants, contingent faculty, academic freedom, and workload. CSUSM’s growth in the past 19 years provided Ms. Ribble with extensive opportunities to investigate and contribute to these areas.

For Vice-President for the California State University System
John J. Halcón, Education, California State University, San Marcos

I am Secretary of the California Faculty Association (CFA). I was elected to liaise with the California Teachers Association (CTA). I serve on the Language Acquisition Committee (LAC), Political Involvement Committee (PIC), and the Long Range Budget Planning Committee, and as represent to the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC). I represent CFA and CTA at NEA-RA. I was CFA’s representative to AAUP.

For Vice-President for the University of California System
Gary Fields, Communications, University of California, San Diego

I am a Professor in the Department of Communications and joined the UC San Diego Faculty Association when it again became active in 2009. I have represented the SDFA at the AAUP’s annual Summit and welcome the opportunity to cooperate with other universities and colleges in California in formulating a common response to the privatization and diminution of higher education in California.