Biology Professor Brent Graves has been elected as the new NMU AAUP President with 86 votes to incumbent Becky Mead’s 62 votes. Graves is certainly no stranger to the NMU AAUP. He has served as the union’s grievance officer since 2010 and is excited about his new role in the union. “I think that we have many opportunities to have a positive impact on NMU. Part of the chapter’s job is to make sure that faculty are treated fairly. The other role for the NMU AAUP is to help to make NMU a place where faculty can have happy, productive, and rewarding careers. Toward this end, the process of shared governance can shape the decisions that affect how the university is run, and this is where the president has greatest influence. Faculty want to work at a quality university where they have the resources necessary to do their jobs well. I will work to make our AAUP chapter efficient and effective at promoting these goals,” Graves said.

Becky Mead, who served as president for the past two years, voiced her support for the ideals stressed by Graves. “I congratulate Brent on his win, and I wish him the best as the NMU AAUP continues the work of defending faculty rights and protecting the principles of shared governance and academic freedom,” Mead said.

In the short-term, Graves feels the biggest problem facing the union and NMU is having sufficient faculty and resources. “Falling enrollment has impacted NMU’s budget and, consequently, resources for faculty. Our job then is twofold. First, we must help administration understand that teaching and scholarship (in their many forms) allow us to accomplish the core mission of the university. Second, we must help to grow enrollment. I firmly believe faculty are the best student recruiting and retention tool available,” Graves said.

Graves will serve a two year term as the head of the NMU AAUP starting July 1.

At the end of the fall semester we said a premature good-bye to Dave Lucas. Now, as we near the end of the winter semester, we must unfortunately do the same for my dear colleague Chuck Ganzert.

Like many of you, when I first encountered Chuck, I discovered a man with uncommon hospitality, humility and of course a good sense of humor.

I had the pleasure of knowing Chuck for over eighteen years. He was a great colleague and an even better friend. From the minute I set foot in Marquette in the summer of 1997, Chuck and Pish made sure I was introduced to nearly everyone they knew and had me out to their house for meals and social gatherings. I was able to partially return the favor on many Sunday afternoons with Chuck and I cheering on the Packers at my place with our buddy Wally Niebauer.

Despite his many accomplishments and awards, Chuck was a team player and was always highly supportive of his colleagues, his community and of course his students. Chuck also loved to laugh, and he engaged his students with a sense of humor as well. In fact, the last thing I heard from my good friend was his laughter echoing through the hall as he left for the airport last week. May we all hear his laughter for a long, long time.