Chem Connect
UW-Madison Department of Chemistry Intranet

Department Governance

Department Meeting Schedule

Department Committee meetings are held in room 9341 at 1:30pm 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

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

  • Department Chair: Clark Landis (Inorganic)
  • Associate Chair for Research: Gil Nathanson (Pchem)
  • Associate Chair for Undergraduate Program: Ned Sibert (PChem)
  • Associate Chair for Graduate Program: Helen Blackwell (ChemBio)
  • Path Rep: Bob Hamers (Materials/Analytical)
  • Path Rep: Tehshik Yoon (Organic)
  • IT Rep: JR Schmidt (PChem)
  • Staff Rep: Rachel Bain

ADVANCEMENT

  • Department Chair: Clark Landis
  • Advancement Director: TBA
  • Communications Director: Kimberly Hazen
  • Exec. Assistant to the Chair: Kayla Driscoll
  • Department Administrator: Pat Egan

POST-TENURE REVIEW

  • Chair: Sam Gellman
  • Admin Support: Kayla Driscoll
  • Xuhui Huang
  • Judith Burstyn
  • Bob Hamers
  • Mark Ediger

FACULTY RECRUITING

  • Faculty Chair: Mark Ediger
  • Admin Support (Associate Director of Faculty Services): Kayla Driscoll
  • HR: Beatriz Lemire

7 Path Reps:

  • Analytical: Bob Hamers
  • Materials: Song Jin
  • ChemBio: Sam Gellman
  • ChemEd: Sam Pazicni
  • Inorganic: John Berry
  • Organic: Shannon Stahl
  • PChem: JR Schmidt

FACULTY SENATE

  • Xuhui Huang
  • Dan Weix
  • John Berry
  • Ryan Stowe

CLIMATE, DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION STEERING

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Thomas Brunold (co-chair)
  • Staff Co-Chair: Desiree Bates (co-chair)
  • Admin Support: Mandi Simmons Thies
  • HR Rep: Beatriz Lemire
  • Research Staff Rep: Mike Shortreed
  • Instrument Center Rep: Heike Hofstter
  • Computing Rep: Paul McGuire
  • Undergrad Rep: Amanda Buchberger
  • Business Office Rep: Hailey Johnson
  • Grad Program Rep: TBN
  • Faculty Rep: Silvia Cavagnero
  • Advancement: Kim Bair

Research-Associated Departmental Committees

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COMPUTING/ NETWORKING

  • Co-Chair Faculty: JR Schmidt
  • Co-Chair Staff: Paul McGuire
  • Computing Staff: Desiree Bates
  • IT Director: TBN
  • Instrument Center: Charlie Fry
  • Faculty Member: Arun Yethiraj
  • Academic Staff: Rachel Bain
  • Grad Student: John Vanbuskirk

SEMINAR / COLLOQUIUM

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Gil Nathanson (Associate Chair for Research)
  • Staff Co-Chair: Kayla Driscoll (Associate Director for Faculty Services)
  • Admin Support: Mary Hanson
  • Analytical Rep: Tim Bertram
  • ChemBio Rep: Jeff Martell
  • ChemEd Rep: Sam Pazicini
  • Inorganic Rep: Judith Burstyn
  • Materials Rep: Kyoung-Shin Choi
  • Organic Rep: Zach Wickens
  • PChem Rep: Xuhui Huang
  • Grad Student: McElvain Rep

MAKER SPACES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  • 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

INSTRUMENTATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MEMBERS

  • Instrument Center Chair: John Berry
  • Department Administrator: Pat Egan
  • Academic Staff (NMR): Charlie Fry
  • Academic Staff (X-Ray): Ilia Guzei
  • Academic Staff (Mass Spec): Martha Vestling
  • Academic 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

Graduate Program-Associated Departmental Committees

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GRAD PROG OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Helen Blackwell (Associate Chair of Graduate Program)
  • Staff Co-Chair: Francisca Jofre (Director of Graduate Program)
  • Admin Support: Erin Grunewald (Grad Program Coordinator)

Path Chairs:

  • Analytical: Bob Hamers
  • ChemBio: Sam Gellman
  • ChemEd: Sam Pazicni
  • Inorganic: John Berry
  • Materials: Song Jin
  • Organic: Shannon Stahl
  • PChem: JR Schmidt

 

GRAD STUDENT- FACULTY LIAISON COMMITTEE

Leadership & Faculty

  • Chair: Alex Zielinski
  • Secretary: Kailey Komnick
  • Treasurer: Jonathan Van Buskirk
  • Webmaster: Subi Thakali
  • Grad Office Director: Francisca Jofre
  • Faculty Member: Thomas Brunold
  • Faculty Member: AJ Boydston

Subcommittee Chairs

  • Wellness: Kailey Komnick
  • Career Development: Alicia Tripp
  • Community Building: Julia Fraser
  • Outreach: Ryan McDonnel

(Updated 11/7/2022)

GRAD RECRUITING EVENTS TASK FORCE

  • Faculty Co-Lead: Tim Bertram
  • Staff Co-Lead: Francisca Jofre
  • Faculty Rep: Zach Wickens
  • Admin Lead: TBN
  • Event Support: Mary Hanson

GRAD ADMISSIONS

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Tehshik Yoon
  • Staff Co-Chair: Francisca Jofre (Grad Program Director)
  • Admin Support: TBN (Grad Program Coordinator)
  • Path Representative (Inorganic): Judith Burstyn, Jeff Martell
  • Path Representative (Organic): Zach Wickens, Dan Weix
  • 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

ACS BRIDGE PROGRAM STEERING

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Sam Pazicni
  • Staff Co-Chair: Desiree Bates
  • Grad Office Coordinator (Admin Support): TBN
  • Faculty Member: Bob Hamers
  • Staff Member: Spencer Heins

TEACHING COMMITTEE

(Crosses over with Undergraduate Program)

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Ned Sibert (Associate Director of the Undergraduate Program)
  • Staff Co-Chair: TBN (Director of Teaching and Learning)
  • Director (Undergrad Program): Jeanne Hamers (Interim Staff Co-Chair)
  • Undergrad Services Specialist (Admin Support): Rosemary Wonnell
  • Associate Chair (Grad Program): Helen Blackwell
  • Director (Grad Program): Francisca Jofre
  • Assistant Department Manager: Char Horsfall
  • Faculty Rep: Thomas Brunold
  • Staff Rep: Nick Hill
  • Staff Rep: Pam Doolittle

Undergraduate Program-Associated Departmental Committees

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UNDERGRAD PROG OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Ned Sibert (Associate Chair of Undergraduate Program)
  • Staff Co-Chair: Jeanne Hamers (Director of Undergraduate Program)
  • Director of Teaching and Learning: To Be Named
  • Undergrad Services Specialist (Admin Support): Rosemary Wonnell
  • Cheri Barta
  • Thomas Brunold
  • Pam Doolittle
  • Ryan Stowe
  • Mark Wendt
  • Brian Esselman
  • Jeremy Weaver
  • AJ Boydston

ICOOP (INSTRUCTIONAL CONTINUITY)

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Ned Sibert (Associate Chair of Undergraduate Program)
  • Staff Co-Chair:  TBN (Undergraduate Director of Teaching and Learning)
  • Lab Director Organic: Brian Esselman (Interim Staff Co-Chair)
  • Director of the Undergraduate Program: Jeanne Hamers
  • Lab Director (Gen Chem): Stephen Block
  • Lab Director (Analytical): Pam Doolittle
  • Lab Director (Physical): Mark Wendt
  • CIC: Heike Hofstetter
  • Gen. Chem Course Coordinator: Jeremy Weaver

TEACHING COMMITTEE

(Crosses over with graduate program)

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Ned Sibert (Associate Director of the Undergraduate Program)
  • Staff Co-Chair: TBN (Director of Teaching and Learning)
  • Director (Undergrad Program): Jeanne Hamers (Interim Staff Co-Chair)
  • Undergrad Services Specialist (Admin Support): Rosemary Wonnell
  • Associate Chair (Grad Program): Helen Blackwell
  • Director (Grad Program): Francisca Jofre
  • Assistant Department Manager: Char Horsfall
  • Faculty Rep: Thomas Burnold
  • Staff Rep: Nick Hill
  • Staff Rep: Pam Doolittle

Administration-Associated Departmental Committees

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CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS (COOP)

  • Department Chair: Clark Landis
  • Department Administrator: Pat Egan
  • Assistant Department Manager: Char Horsfall
  • Department Building Manager: Jeff Nielsen
  • Facilities Communications Chair: Bob McMahon
  • Department IT Manager: TBN
  • Communications Director: Kimberly Hazen
  • Associate Chair Grad Program: Helen Blackwell
  • Associate Chair Undergrad Program: Ned Sibert
  • Associate Chair Research: Gil Nathanson
  • Safety Committee Chair: Ive Hermans

SAFETY

  • Faculty Co-Chair: Ive Hermans
  • Staff Co-Chair: Rob McClain
  • Department Building Manager: Jeff Nielsen
  • Department Manager: Pat Egan
  • Faculty Rep: Etienne Garand
  • Faculty Rep: John Berry
  • Faculty Rep: Randy Goldsmith
  • Undergrad Staff Rep: Cheri Barta
  • Student Rep: Sam Wood
  • EH&S Rep: Tilak Chandra

FACILITIES/BUILDING

  • Chair: Bob McMahon
  • Faculty Member: Tim Bertram
  • Faculty Member: John Moore
  • Building Manager: Jeff Nielsen
  • Department Administrator: Pat Egan

WEBSITE

MEMBERS

  • Interim Co-Chairs: Rachel Bain & JR Schmidt
  • Communications Director: Kimberly Hazen
  • IT Director: TBN
  • Librarian: Ariel Andrea
  • Research Computing: Paul McGuire
  • Business Services Staff Rep: Kate Hill
  • Undergrad Staff Rep: Pam Doolittle
  • Grad Program Staff Rep: TBN (Interim – Francisca Jofre)
  • Faculty Member: JR Schmidt is the interim Faculty Co-Chair

ACADEMIC STAFF

  • Chair: Nick Hill
  • Instrument Center Rep: Cathy Clewett
  • Undergrad Instruction Rep: Jeremy Weaver
  • Undergrad Instruction Rep: Mark Wendt
  • Business Services Rep: Kate Hill
  • Administration Rep: Assistant Department Administrator (TBN)
  • Scientist Rep: James Gerken
  • Research Computing Rep: Desiree Bates
  • Research Services: Tracy Drier

UNIVERSITY STAFF

  • Chair, HR Rep: Beatriz Lemire
  • Business Office Rep: Cecilia Stodd
  • Administrative Assistant Rep: TBN
  • Undergrad Instruction Rep: Kurtis Casperson
  • Undergrad Office Rep: Rosemary Wonnell
  • Makers Space Rep: TBN