Department Governance

2023-2024 Path Chairs

Organic: Jennifer Schomaker / Dan Weix
Inorganic: John Berry
ChemEd: Sam Pazicni
Materials: Song Jin
Analytical: Bob Hamers
Physical Chem: Etienne Garand
ChemBio: Judith Burstyn

Department Meeting Schedule

Department Committee meetings are held in room 9341 at 1:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month from September through May.

All department members, including graduate students and postdocs, are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Past Meeting Minutes

Past Leadership Council Meeting Minutes

 

2023-24 Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I propose an item for discussion at a department meting?

Let the Department Chair and Associate Director of Faculty Services know if you have items for discussion at an upcoming Department & Executive Committee meeting by the Monday prior at 11 a.m.

If an agenda item requires consideration by the Leadership Council, the Chair will call a Leadership Council vote or postpone action on the item until the following Department and Executive Committee Meeting.

Agenda items for department meetings commonly are brought forward by committees. Some items, most notably those involving commitment of department financial resources, may require prior action by the Leadership Council. Individuals are welcome to make suggestions for the department meeting, and such suggestions will be considered by the Chair.

If you have questions to be addressed at either the Department or Executive Committee meeting, please send them to the Chair and Associate Director of Faculty Services.  Time permitting, they will be addressed at the meeting.

How can I request a change to our department?

This content was first published as A Message from the Chair (Judith N. Burstyn), April 2021 Badger Chemist News Alert.

One thing that makes our department unique is the ability of one person or group of people to recognize an issue or need and address it through a governance system. In many businesses or academic institutions, one person, or a small group of people, make decisions based on their limited knowledge and observations. In our department, we have a governance setup that can function to help turn one person’s idea into a plan or process improvement.

As you can see on the Department Governance page of our intranet we are organized into a system of committees, which address a variety of needs – including everything from graduate admissions to facility decisions. Our committees include representation from graduate students, postdoctoral scientists, staff, and faculty. Though many companies and/or departments are guided only by a small group of people, we have the benefit of learning from many different perspectives.

You may notice that each committee is associated with a different operational component of the department. These components are the chair’s office, the research program, the graduate program, the undergraduate program, and department administration. Each committee is supported by the leader of that operational component, an associate chair or director. That leader represents the interests of the associated committees as part of the department Leadership Council, which means that the committees and all of the people who serve on them are closely linked to the high-level department decisions. For example, the associate chair for the Graduate Program supports the Graduate Program Oversight Committee, the Graduate Admissions Committee, and others.

You might think that the department chair makes all of the decisions, but in fact, the committees through the leadership team have a lot to do with the direction of the department. Here’s how that process might work:

  • One person, with a suggestion, takes that idea to the appropriate committee.
  • The committee discusses the idea and formulates a plan for implementation. That plan may include things like information on resources needed, how the change will affect others, and a timeline. The committee may vote to send the plan to their Leadership Council representative so that the leadership team sees it as an official proposal.
  • The Leadership Council reviews the proposal and may send it back to the committee with advisement or move it forward to the department. If the proposal returns to the committee, the committee may address the leadership team’s concerns and answer questions, and resubmit the proposal.
  • Proposals that move on to the department are presented, typically by a representative of the committee, for discussion at a department meeting, where everyone has the opportunity to address their concerns and ask questions. The proposal may be put up for a vote. If the department accepts the proposal, it may move to higher levels of administration, such as the College of Letters & Science for approval.

The length of the process required to move a proposal forward may be related to the resources needed to fulfill the objective. Proposals that cost a lot are likely to take longer and may not be possible to implement. The department has a fixed amount of money to fulfill its mission, with surprisingly little beyond that dedicated to paying the salaries of our many wonderful employees.

I encourage you to think creatively in solving department problems, work with the committees, associate chairs, and directors, and engage actively in department governance. There aren’t a lot of steps in bringing an idea from one person or group to the attention of department leadership. Our system is designed to incorporate as many voices as possible, allowing everyone the opportunity to play a role in the direction of the Department of Chemistry.

Chair-Associated Top-Level Departmental Committees

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DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Charter

Voting members:

  • Department Chair:  Clark Landis (Inorganic)
  • Associate Chair for Research: Danny Fredrickson (Inorganic/Materials)
  • Associate Chair for Undergraduate Program: Thomas Brunold (Fall)/ JR Schmidt (Spring)
  • Associate Chair for Graduate Program: Helen Blackwell (ChemBio)
  • Path Rep: Bob Hamers (Materials/Analytical)
  • Path Rep: Tehshik Yoon (Organic)
  • Path Rep: Silvia Cavagnero (PChem)
  • Staff Rep: Rachel Bain

Non-Voting Members:

  • Department Manager: Pat Egan
  • Assistant Dept. Manager: Char Horsfall
  • Admin support: Mandi Simmons Thies

ADVANCEMENT

Charter

  • Department Chair: Clark Landis
  • Advancement Director: Kayla Riese
  • Communications Director: Kimberly Hazen
  • Chief of Staff to Chair: Kayla Driscoll
  • Department Manager (Budget): Pat Egan
  • Rising Chair: Sam Gellman

POST-TENURE REVIEW

Charter

  • Chair: Sam Gellman
  • Admin Support: Kayla Driscoll
  • Xuhui Huang
  • Bob Hamers
  • Jennifer Schomaker

FACULTY RECRUITING

Charter

  • Faculty Chair: Gil Nathanson
  • Admin Support (Associate Director of Faculty Services): Kayla Driscoll
  • HR: Beatriz Lemire
  • Staff Rep: Michael Schwartz
  • Asst. Dept. Manager: Char Horsfall

7 Path Reps:

  • Analytical: Lloyd Smith
  • Materials: AJ Boydston
  • ChemBio: Judith Burstyn
  • ChemEd: Sam Pazicni
  • Inorganic: Eszter Boros
  • Organic: Zach Wickens
  • PChem: Randy Goldsmith

FACULTY SENATE

Charter

  • Judith Burstyn
  • Andrew Buller
  • John Berry
  • Ryan Stowe

FACULTY AWARDS COMMITTEE

Charter

  • Faculty Chair (Physical): Marty Zanni
  • Admin Support: Emma Weimerskirch
  • ChemBio: Judith Burstyn
  • Analytical: Ying Ge
  • Materials: AJ Boydston
  • Organic: Shannon Stahl
  • Inorganic: Eszter Boros
  • ChemEd: Sam Pazicni
  • Physical: Arun Yethiraj

CLIMATE, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Thomas Brunold
  • Staff Co-Chair: Desiree Bates
  • Administrative Asst.: Mandi Simmons Thies
  • HR Representative: Beatriz Lemire
  • Research Staff: Mike Shortreed
  • Instrument Center: Heike Hofstetter
  • Computing: Paul McGuire
  • Graduate Student: To be determined
  • Graduate Student: To be determined
  • Business Office: Carolyn Karls
  • Faculty: Mark Ediger
  • Faculty: Susanna Widicus Weaver
  • Grad Program: Erin Grunewald
  • Advancement: Kayla Riese
  • UG Program: Amanda Buchberger

Research-Associated Departmental Committees

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COMPUTING/ NETWORKING

Charter

  • Co-Chair Faculty: Arun Yethiraj
  • Co-Chair Staff: Paul McGuire
  • Computing Staff: Desiree Bates
  • IT Director: Jonathon Gapen
  • Instrument Center: Charlie Fry
  • Faculty Member: Xuhui Huang
  • Academic Staff: Rachel Bain
  • Grad Student: John Van Buskirk

SEMINAR / COLLOQUIUM

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair Associate Chair for Research: Gil Nathanson
  • Staff Co-Chair: Erin Hale
  • Admin Support: Kayla Driscoll
  • Analytical Rep: Tim Bertram
  • ChemBio Rep: Jeff Martell
  • ChemEd Rep: Sam Pazicini
  • Inorganic Rep: Judith Burstyn/Eszter Boros
  • Materials Rep: Kyoung-Shin Choi
  • Organic Rep: Zach Wickens
  • PChem Rep: Xuhui Huang
  • Grad Student McElvain Rep: TBD
  • Grad Student McElvain Rep: TBD

MAKER SPACES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Etienne Garand
  • Staff Co-Chair: Steve Myers
  • Staff Member: Tracy Drieir
  • Staff Member: Robert Shanks
  • Staff Member: Blaise Thompson
  • Staff Member: Rob McClain
  • Faculty Member: Susanna Widicus Weaver
  • Graduate Student: Will Leiter

INSTRUMENTATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Charter

  • Instrument Center Chair: John Berry
  • Department Manager: Pat Egan/Char Horsfall
  • Academic Staff: (NMR) Charlie Fry
  • Academic Staff: (X-Ray) Ilia Guzei
  • Academic Staff: (Mass Spec) Martha Vestling
  • Adademic Staff: (Syncat) Spencer Heins
  • Graduate Student: Yun (Bob) Hu
  • Faculty Reps: Jennifer Schomaker, Helen Blackwell (Keck Center), Kyoung-Shin Choi
  • Staff Reps: Heike Hofstetter, Rob McClain, Bob Shanks, Cathy Clewett

SYNCAT CENTER

Charter

  • Staff Co-Chair: Spencer Heins
  • Faculty Co-Chair: Shannon Stahl
  • Faculty: Tehshik Yoon
  • Faculty: Andrew Buller
  • Faculty: Dan Weix
  • Faculty: Zach Wickens
  • Graduate Student: TBD
  • Graduate Student: TBD

Graduate Program-Associated Departmental Committees

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GRADUATE PROGRAM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (GPOC)

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair Associate Chair of Graduate Program: Helen Blackwell
  • Staff Co-Chair Director of Graduate Program: Francisca Jofre
  • Admin Support Grad Program Coordinator: Erin Grunewald
  • Path Chairs:
    • Analytical: Bob Hamers
    • ChemBio: Judith Burstyn
    • ChemEd: Sam Pazicni
    • Inorganic: John Berry
    • Materials: Song Jin
    • Organic: Dan Weix
    • PChem: Etienne Garand
  • Graduate Students: To be determined

 

GRADUATE STUDENT FACULTY LIAISON COMMITTEE

Charter

Leadership & Faculty

  • Chair: Alexander Zielinski
  • Secretary:  TBD
  • Treasurer: Jonathan Van Buskirk
  • Webmaster: Subi Thakali
  • Grad Office Director: Francisca Jofre
  • Faculty Member: AJ Boydston
  • Subcommittee Chairs:
    • Outreach: Irene Stoutland
    • Career Development: Ryan McDonnell
    • Community Building: Julia Fraser
    • Wellness: Kailey Komnick

GRADUATE ADMISSIONS

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Tehshik Yoon
  • Staff Co-Chair Grad Program Director: Francisca Jofre
  • Admin Support Grad Program Coordinator: Erin Grunewald
  • Path Representative: Inorganic Judith Burstyn, Jeff Martell
  • Path Representative: (Organic) Zach Wickens, Jen Schomaker
  • Path Representative: (Physical) Yang Yang, Etienne Garand
  • Path Representative: (Analytical) Josh Coon, Lingjun Li
  • Path Representative: (Materials) Song Jin, Bob Hamers, AJ Boydston
  • Path Representative: (ChemBio) Tina Wang, Andy Buller
  • Path Representative: (ChemEd) Ryan Stowe
  • Student: Madeleine Atwood

GRADUATE RECRUITING

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Tim Bertram
  • Graduate Program director: Francisca Jofre
  • Graduate Program Assoc. Chair: Helen Blackwell
  • Graduate Program Coordinator: Erin Grunewald
  • Staff: Becca Moy
  • Student: Will Leiter
  • Student: Claire Lundberg

ACS BRIDGE PROGRAM STEERING

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Sam Pazicni
  • Staff Co-Chair: Desiree Bates
  • Graduate Office Coordinator: (Admin Support) Erin Grunewald
  • Faculty Members: Bob Hamers, Susanna Widicus Weaver
  • Staff Member: Mike Schwartz
  • Staff: Rie Fredrickson

TEACHING COMMITTEE

Charter

(Crosses over with Undergraduate Program)

  • Faculty Co-Chair, Associate Director of the Undergraduate Program: Thomas Brunold (Fall)/ JR Schmidt (Spring)
  • Staff Co-Chair, Director of Undergraduate Program: Jeanne Hamers
  • Assistant Department Administrator: Char Horsfall
  • Associate Chair, Grad Program: Helen Blackwell
  • Director, Grad Program: Francisca Jofre
  • Staff Rep: Mary Beth Anzovino
  • Staff Rep: Pam Doolittle
  • Undergraduate Program Manager: Andrew Hinz
  • Undergraduate Services Specialist (Admin Support): Rosemary Wonnell

Undergraduate Program-Associated Departmental Committees

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UNDERGRAD PROGRAM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair, Associate Chair of Undergraduate Program: Thomas Brunold (Fall)/ JR Schmidt (Spring)
  • Staff Co-Chair, Director of Undergraduate Program: Jeanne Hamers
  • Admin Support: Andrew Hinz
  • Staff: Cheri Barta
  • Faculty: AJ Boydston
  • Staff: Pam Doolittle
  • Staff: Brian Esselman
  • Faculty: Ryan Stowe
  • Staff: Jaclyn Trate
  • Staff: Jeremy Weaver
  • Staff: Mark Wendt
  • Staff: Chad Wilkinson
  • Staff Leadership Council Representative: Rachel Bain

ICOOP (INSTRUCTIONAL CONTINUITY)

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair, Associate Chair of Undergraduate Program: Thomas Brunold (Fall)/JR Schmidt (Spring)
  • Staff Co-Chair, Undergraduate Program Director: Jeanne Hamers
  • Stephen Block
  • Pam Doolittle
  • Brian Esselman
  • Kimberly Hazen
  • Heiki Hoffstetter
  • Mark Wendt
  • Chad Wilkinson

TEACHING COMMITTEE

Charter

(Crosses over with graduate Program)

  • Faculty Co-Chair, Associate Director of the Undergraduate Program: Thomas Brunold (Fall)/ JR Schmidt (Spring)
  • Staff Co-Chair, Director of Undergraduate Program: Jeanne Hamers
  • Assistant Department Administrator: Char Horsfall
  • Associate Chair, Grad Program: Helen Blackwell
  • Director, Grad Program: Francisca Jofre
  • Staff Rep: Mary Beth Anzovino
  • Staff Rep: Pam Doolittle
  • Undergraduate Program Manager: Andrew Hinz
  • Undergraduate Services Specialist (Admin Support): Rosemary Wonnell

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

Charter

  • Faculty Co-Chair: TBD
  • Staff Co-Chair: Pam Doolittle
  • Katie McCullough
  • Mark Wendt
  • Pat Egan (financial)
  • Jeanne Hamers (admin)
  • Andrew Hinz (admin)
  • Rosemary Wonnell (admin)
  • Kayla Riese (WARF Contact)

UNDERGRADUATE RELATIONS

Charter

  • Staff Co-Chair: Amanda Buchberger
  • Staff Co-Chair: Katie McCullough
  • Matt Bowman
  • Lea Gustin
  • Maddy Henkel
  • Rosemary Wonnell
  • Marty Zanni
  • Rep from Alpha Chi Sigma (AXΣ)
  • Rep from Chemistry Undergraduate Research Board (CURB)
  • Reps (2) from Undergraduate Chemistry Student Association (UCSA)

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM TEAM LEADS

  • Introductory Courses Team: Thomas Brunold & Jackie Trate
  • Intermediate Courses Team: Pamela Doolittle & Ryan Stowe
  • Advanced Courses Team: Nick Hill & Xuhui Huang
  • Chemistry Majors & Undergraduate Research Team: Tim Bertram & tbd
  • Student & Curricular Services Team: Katie McCullough
  • Chemistry Learning Center: Tracey Reitz
  • Instructional Admin Team:  Rachel Bain
  • Lab Curriculum, Equipment, & Facilities Team: Stephen Block
  • TA & Hourly Worker Team: Liana Lamont
  • HR & Admin Team: Andrew Hinz