About Us
Senate Council
Senate Council

St. Jerome’s University is committed to a bicameral governance structure. SJU Senate Council is composed of members of the University administration, faculty members, contract academic staff, student representatives, and a representative from the University of Waterloo. It is the governing body responsible for academic policy development and programs. 

 

SJU Senate Council recommends to the University of Waterloo Senate for academic matters pertaining to UWaterloo degrees, or to the St. Jerome’s University Board of Governors for academic matters pertaining to St. Jerome’s University degrees.

Members of Senate Council
2024 - 2025 Membership
All full-time members of the faculty holding academic rank
Name Department
Acton, Carol English
Bednarski, Steven History / Medieval Studies
Bonner, Kieran Sociology and Legal Studies
Brabazon, Honor Sociology and Legal Studies
Brophy, Susan Sociology and Legal Studies
Burris, Chris Psychology
Cauchi-Santoro, Roberta Italian and French Studies
Connolly, Tristanne English
Deman, Andrew English
De Santis, Carm Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies
Desroches, Fred Sociology and Legal Studies
Drysdale, Maureen Psychology
Gregoire, Stephanie Philosophy
Hutchison, Jesse English
Klassen, Norm English
Kline, Scott
Religious Studies
Kolentsis, Alysia English
Leroux-Demir, Carlie Sociology and Legal Studies
Lobb, Diana English
Nicholas, Jane History
Rempel, John Psychology
Rodrigue, Carl Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies
Rye, BJ Psychology
Sangalli, Yuri Italian and French Studies
Seljak, David Religious Studies
Serafini, Toni Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies
Spielmacher, Mark English
Stumpf, Andrew Philosophy / Religious Studies
Sutherland, Siobhan Psychology
Tataryn, Anastasia Sociology and Legal Studies
Terzian, Sylvia English
Touhey, Ryan History
Tremblay, Bruno Philosophy
Vanin, Cristina Religious Studies
Whitehead, Denise Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies / Sociology and Legal Studies
Williams, David English
Wriglesworth, Chad English
Zunic, Nikolaj Philosophy

 

Ex-officio Members
Name Title
Meehan, Peter President and Vice Chancellor - Chair 
MacGregor, Carol Ann Vice President Academic and Dean - Vice Chair
Austen, Veronica Associate Dean
Moule, Saphron Executive Director, Finance and Administration (non-voting)
McCourt, Clayton Director, Student Affairs (non-voting)
Catania, Serena Registrar (non-voting)
Atkin, Michelle Associate Librarian
Vacant  Director, Advancement (non-voting)
Vacant UW Faculty Member (non-voting)
Aiello, Rosina One Executive Officer of the Students’ Union appointed by the Students' Union Executive

 

Elected Members
Name Title
Diebold, Alishau
Contract Academic Staff member elected by/for the Contract Academic Staff
Vacant Student member elected by/for students registered at SJU

 

Recording Secretary
Name Title
Schwendinger, Christine Academic Operations Manager
Senate Council Committees
The SJU Senate Council Standing Committees for 2024-2025 are as follows:
 
Governance Committee
  • Kieran Bonner (to August 31, 2026; on sabbatical January 1-June 30, 2025)
  • Tristanne Connolly (to August 31, 2025; on sabbatical January 1-June 30, 2025)
  • Carol Ann MacGregor (Vice President Academic and Dean; ex officio)
  • Peter Meehan (President and Vice Chancellor; ex officio)
  • Carl Rodrigue (to August 31, 2027)
  • TBD (January 1-June 30, 2025)
  • TBD (January 1-June 30, 2025)
 
Academic Committee
  • Carol Ann MacGregor, Chair (Vice President Academic and Dean; ex officio)
  • Rosina Aiello (Student Representative; ex officio; non-voting)
  • John Arnou (Student Advisor; ex officio; non-voting)
  • Michelle Atkin (Associate Librarian; ex officio)
  • Veronica Austen (Associate Dean; ex officio)
  • Serena Catania (Registrar; ex officio; non-voting)
  • Roberta Cauchi-Santoro (Acting Chair, Italian and French Studies; ex officio)
  • Clayton McCourt (Director, Student Affairs; ex officio; non-voting)
  • John Rempel (Chair, Psychology; ex officio)
  • Andrew Stumpf (Acting Director, Health Humanities; ex officio)
  • Anastasia Tataryn (Chair, Sociology and Legal Studies; ex officio)
  • Ryan Touhey (Chair, History; Acting Co-Director, Medieval Studies; ex officio)
  • Cristina Vanin (Chair, Religious Studies; Director, Master of Catholic Thought; ex officio)
  • Denise Whitehead (Chair, Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies; ex officio)
  • David Williams (Chair, English; ex officio)
  • Nikolaj Zunic (Chair, Philosophy; ex officio)
  • TBD (2nd Student Representative; ex officio; non-voting)
 
Research Officer
  • Steven Bednarski (to June 30, 2025)
 
Committee on Research and Scholarship
  • Steven Bednarski, Chair (Research Officer; ex officio)
  • Veronica Austen (Associate Dean; ex officio)
  • Fred Desroches (to August 31, 2026)
  • Sylvia Terzian (to August 31, 2026)
  • Nikolaj Zunic (to August 31, 2025)
 
Library Advisory Committee
  • Michelle Atkin, Chair (Associate Librarian; ex officio)
  • Steven Bednarski (to August 31, 2025)
  • Laureen Harder-Gissing (Conrad Grebel University College Librarian)
  • Sandra Keys (University of Waterloo Librarian)
  • Sylvia Terzian (to August 31, 2026)
 
Experiential Learning Advisory Committee
  • Veronica Austen, Chair (Associate Dean; ex officio)
  • Michelle Atkin (Associate Librarian; ex officio)
  • Carm De Santis (to August 31, 2026)
  • Carol Ann MacGregor (Vice President Academic and Dean; ex officio)
  • Clayton McCourt (Director, Student Affairs; ex officio)
  • Cristina Vanin (to August 31, 2025)
  • Resource: Michelle Metzger (Service Learning Program Coordinator)

 
Renewal, Tenure, and Promotions Committee
  • Carol Ann MacGregor, Chair (Vice President Academic and Dean; ex officio)
  • Steven Bednarski (to June 30, 2025)
  • David Seljak (to June 30, 2027)
  • Anastasia Tataryn (to June 30, 2026)
  • Appointed member from the corresponding University of Waterloo department (non-voting)
  • Alternate: Nikolaj Zunic (to December 31, 2026)
Senate Council Meetings, Agendas & Minutes
2024-2025 Senate Council Meetings
Fridays, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Meeting Date
Meeting Agenda
Approved Meeting
Minutes
September 27, 2024
   
October 25, 2024
   
November 29, 2024
   
January 24, 2025
   
March 21, 2025
   
April 25, 2025
   
May 23, 2025
 
 
June 20, 2025
 
 
Meetings will be held in person from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Senate Council Terms of Reference

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