Members of the Bargaining Team

Marisa Chappell

College, School, or Department/Unit: School of History, Philosophy, and Religion – History

Rank: Associate Professor

How long have you worked at OSU?: Since 2005 (you do the math)

Why did you get involved?: Because of zero week. And the lack of paid parental leave. And the hundreds of stories I’ve heard from around campus of faculty colleagues subject to exploitative conditions, arbitrary decisions, and lack of respect. And because I am a historian who knows about labor history. And because our society desperately needs as many grassroots democratic organizations of people fighting for fairness and decency as it can get. And because I have incredible privilege in my life, including my position as a tenured faculty member, which comes with the responsibility to stand up for those without those privileges and to try to make OSU a better place for all of us.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: There’s not enough alcohol in the world…

Louisa Hooven

College, School, Department/Unit: Horticulture, College of Agricultural Sciences

Rank: Assistant Professor, Senior Research / Instructor

How long have you worked at OSU?: I started as an OSU undergraduate in 1993, got my BS and PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics, and have worked at OSU in various capacities since 2004.

Why did you get involved?: We all want OSU to be the best at teaching, research, extension, and all the other things we do. To accomplish that, we also need to be the greatest place to work. I have been involved in postdoctoral issues at OSU, and have served for several years on the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, including as co-chair. While serving on committees and creating reports is helpful, the only way to really be heard is to organize on a larger scale and speak with one voice.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: I would never torment others with a karaoke song. As a student, before I had an exam, I would hum Ride of the Valkyrie to myself. On rare occasion, I get together with old friends from Camp Kilowan, where I went as a girl, and sing camp songs together.

Filix Maisch

College, School, or Department/Unit: College of Science – Mathematics

Rank: Senior Instructor I

How long have you worked at OSU?: 8 years

Why did you get involved?: Because I want to be involved in the process of negotiating for what we believe is right and just. That and a certain someone did a really good job of convincing me to join our team.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

Kelly McElroy

College, School, or Department/Unit: Libraries

Rank: Assistant Professor

How long have you worked at OSU?: 4 years

Why did you get involved?: Both of my parents were public school teachers, so participating in a union was always just a normal part of being a working person. I love being a librarian at OSU, and United Academics is our way to make working here better for all of us.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: Rich Girl – Hall and Oates

Jan Medlock

College, School, or Department/Unit: Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine – Biomedical Sciences

Rank: Associate Professor

How long have you worked at OSU?: 7 years

Why did you get involved?: I joined the UAOSU bargaining team to honor the dedication and hard work over the last few years of other members and staff of our union. I hope to help to make OSU a better, more equitable, and more responsive place for all of us to work.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: Suspicious Minds – Elvis the King

Mark Novak

College, School, or Department/Unit: College of Science – Integrative Biology

Rank: Associate Professor

How long have you worked at OSU?: 6 yrs

Why did you get involved: The initial impetus was the fact that my wife and I had to share our parental leave time when our child was born, simply because we were both unclassified faculty. I ended up not taking any paternity leave to ensure that her miniscule amount of maternity leave was not reduced.  As assistant professors, we did not feel confident enough to complain to anyone but our department chair.  When we did talk to senior colleagues and a few administrators, we were met with disbelief that this was even OSU’s policy. What’s kept me involved is my growing recognition of just how much apathy (or, perhaps, forgotten experience) there is among my senior (and tenured) colleagues concerning what it’s like to be pre- or non-tenured.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: Sorry, the only people who have ever heard me sing as an adult are my kids (and wife)! ?

Victor Reyes

College, School, or Department/Unit: INTO OSU

Rank: Instructor ESL

How long have you worked at OSU?: 7 years

Why did you get involved?: I first got involved in our union because the instructors in my department deserve better working conditions. Ten years ago, the university entered into a public-private partnership that resulted in my colleagues and I being hired under unequal contract terms. The Instructor ESL contract ensures that we work more hours for less pay than most instructors who have similar levels of education and experience. These terms were negotiated behind the backs of my colleagues and the faculty senate, and it has resulted in a decade of burnout and high turnover. Through my organizing efforts, I have gotten to know faculty members from a much-wider swath of the university, and I have seen the same themes arise over and over again: low pay, lack of transparency in decision making, and employment instability.  To me, it is clear that unionization and collective bargaining are the only ways to get the university administration to address these issues and many others in a meaningful way.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: I did karaoke for this first time this year, so I don’t have a go-to song, but aspirationally-speaking, it would be “Why is it so hard to make it in America” by Charles Bradley

Steve Shay

College, School, or Department/Unit: School of History, Philosophy, and Religion – History

Rank: Senior Instructor I

How long have you worked at OSU?: 14 years

Why did you get involved?:  Initially, my involvement was centered on giving instructors a voice in workplace decisions for those who do the heaviest service teaching. Since becoming more involved and having countless discussions with colleagues, it is clear that UAOSU will have a dramatic impact on improving OSU because equity issues are not just instructor issues. I wanted to be part of the bargaining process that is a democratic and legal method for our union to make OSU a more equitable and productive place to work and research for our students and ourselves.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: Friends in Low Places – Garth Brooks

Kathleen Stanley

College, School, or Department/Unit: School of Public Policy – Sociology

Rank: Senior Instructor I

How long have you worked at OSU?: 24 years

Why did you get involved?: I got involved to strengthen the rights of all faculty but especially those of non-tenure track faculty.  As is true at most other universities, the majority of the faculty at OSU are not part of the tenure stream.  We work full time for low salaries and often without any assurance of continuing employment. Instructors are frequently denied benefits, to which they would otherwise be entitled, through manipulation of FTE.  Academic freedom and shared governance are difficult to maintain at universities when so many faculty are precarious and contingent.  A healthy and ethical university requires that all faculty be treated equitably and with respect. Our union will, for the first time, give faculty the opportunity to bargain directly with the administration over these and many other issues.  We are an integral part of OSU’s successes and our voices deserve to be heard.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister

Bill Thomas

College, School, Department/Unit: College of Agricultural Sciences – Botany and Plant Pathology

Rank: Research Associate (Postdoc)

How long have you worked at OSU?: I started out as a graduate student in 2006 and never left!

Why did you get involved?: Initially, I got involved because of a general sense that building a union was a good idea, and that the realization of this good idea would require a lot of work on the part of OSU faculty. I quickly realized that we were building something special here—a true community of dedicated educators and researchers. A lot of amazing people have worked very hard to forge a union that will have a long-lasting, positive impact at Oregon State University, and I am grateful for the opportunity to play a small part in that. 

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: The first and only time I was duped into singing karaoke the song was ‘Sexual Healing’ by Marvin Gaye, so I guess that’s it.

Bargaining Staff

Dan Andersen

College, School, or Department/Unit: School of Public Policy – Political Science

Rank: Instructor. Also, AFT-OR Field Rep. That’s probably the more important piece.

How long have you worked at OSU?: This is year 6 as an instructor. Also, 2.5 years as a staff organizer for UAOSU.

Why did you get involved?: I had previous graduate employee union experience as a steward, grievance officer, and member of a bargaining team. After my full time instructor position at OSU was cut, I moved into full time work on the unionization effort because I know first hand how valuable unions are in higher education.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: S.O.B – Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.

Ashley Bromley

College, School, or Department/Unit: AAUP-Oregon

Rank: Executive Director

How long have you worked at OSU?: I worked as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at OSU during my Masters Degree. Subsequent to that, I worked as the Staff Organizer with the Coalition of Graduate Employees for four years. While I have never been faculty at OSU, I have worked closely with OSU faculty, staff, and students for several years.

Why did you get involved?: I took my current job with AAUP-Oregon because it would afford me the opportunity to support the faculty unionization effort at OSU. I had worked closely with OSU faculty for many years, and I knew those leading the organizing effort to be committed to building a vibrant, democratic union. I could not be more excited to help negotiate this first contract.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?: I can only sing one note. I try to avoid karaoke at all costs.