Governance

The University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA) is a member-led association representing Faculty, Librarians, Veterinarians, College Research Professors, College Professors, and College Lecturers. The UGFA is the sole bargaining agent for the terms and conditions of employment for members.

The workings of the UGFA is guided by the following:

Membership

The members of the UGFA elect council members who manage the operation of the UGFA. An annual general meeting is held for hearing and receiving reports and statements and to conduct any other business.

Council

The role of council is to manage the affairs of the Association and to administer the Association’s policies as outlined in the UGFA constitution. Association Members elect Representatives to Council.

If you are interested in sitting on Council, please contact us at facassoc@uoguelph.ca.

Council 2025-2026

College of Arts

  • Bill Cormack
  • Mary DeCoste
  • Mark Lipton
  • Andrew Sherwood

College of Biological Science

  • Shoshana Jacobs
  • Ray Lu
  • Geoff Power

Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics

  • Rumina Dhalla
  • Philippe Lassou
  • Jing Lu
  • Asha Sadanand

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

  • France-Isabelle Auzanneau
  • Fantahun Defersha
  • Steve Gismondi
  • Herb Kunze
  • Marcel Schlaf

College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

  • Susan Chuang
  • Myrna Dawson
  • Andy Hathaway
  • Michele Preyde
  • David Walters

Ontario Agriculture College

  • Gregoy Bedecarrats
  • Helen Booker
  • Paul Goodwin

Ontario Veterinary College

  • Andria Jones
  • Shari Raheb
  • one open position

Library

  • Iman El Gamal
  • Jordan Pedersen

Animal Health Lab

  • Davor Ojkic

Veterinary Teaching Hospital

  • Emily Brouwer

Unit 2 Ridgetown

  • Lezlie Cunningham
  • Curtis Mikel

Guelph/Humber

  • two open positions

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is a committee of Council.

Executive Committee 2025-2026

  • President: Lezlie Cunningham, Ridgetown Academic
  • Vice President: Jing Lu, Department of Management
  • Grievance Information Officer: Andrew Hathaway, Sociology
  • OCUFA Chair: Helen Booker, Plant Agriculture
  • Economic Benefits Chair: Steve Gismondi, Mathematics & Statistics
  • Academic Freedom Chair: Susan Chuang, Family Relations & Applied Nutrition
  • Health and Safety Chair: Gregoy Bedecarrats, Department of Animal Biosciences
  • Collective Bargaining Chair: Herb Kunze, Mathematics & Statistics
  • Past-Presidents: Mary DeCoste, School of Languages and Literature; Herb Kunze, Mathematics & Statistics
  • Treasurer: Philippe Lassou, Department of Management
  • Members-at-large: Curtis Mikel, Rigdetown Academic; Jordan Pedersen, Library

Past executives

For a list of previous Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Grievance Officers, see Past Executives.

Standing Committees

Council has established the following standing committees:

  • Economic Benefits
  • Academic Freedom and Oversight
  • Health and Safety

Constitution

The rules that govern the UGFA are described in the Constitution. It defines the purpose of the Association, membership, the makeup of committees, and the frequency that meetings are held.

UGFA Bylaw and Constitution, updated March 12, 2025.