Dear Colleagues,

As the semester comes to a close, the Executive Board wishes everyone a strong finish, a safe & restful break, and a wonderful start to the new year. If your holidays are still to come, a festive and fulfilling season to all.

In this month’s email, we include information on:
1) New Website and Email (very important!)
2) Elections Committee Update
3) Member Meeting Date

1) The UAFP is happy to share that we have a new website and general email. The website address is uafp.net. Our new email to reach the executive board and for all general correspondence is now info@uafp.net. We anticipate that you will like the new, improved design and that you will find it more user friendly. Please take a look and email us with any comments, concerns, or suggestions.

2) From the Elections Committee:

Hello, Pace Adjuncts and Part-time Instructors!

We are writing today to introduce ourselves as your UAFP 2022 Elections Committee.

We – UAFP members representing both Pace campuses and several of Pace’s schools, long-time Pace profs and new members of the contingent faculty – volunteered to facilitate the UAFP’s spring 2022 elections because we believe a vibrant union is critical to adjuncts’ and part-time instructors’ well-being. And, because adjuncts and part-time instructors teach the majority of classes at Pace, our well-being fuels Pace students’ success.

A few dates to jot down for the UAFP 2022 Elections:
January 24 — An election overview will be sent to all members
February 23 — Last day to turn in nomination forms with ten signatures of members in good standing (write to uafpelections@gmail.com to get a nomination form, write to info@uafp.net to see if you are in good standing)
Late March — Candidates’ platforms circulated, Zoom meet-the-candidates events
April 4-8 — UAFP 2022 elections week

Please see below for election committee member bios and photos.

We are all excited to be your 2022 UAFP elections committee and look forward to talking with all of you!

Sincerely,
Jessica, Nathifa, Deirdre, Jay, Lindsey, Julie, and Eve

3) As requested at the last member meeting, we will be hosting another general member meeting on January 7th. The time is TBD, so watch for emails and the website for updates.

As always, if you have any question, comments, or concerns, reach out to the executive board members by emailing info@uafp.net.

Thank you,

UAFP Executive Board

Jessica Marshall, Ph.D

Jessica Marshall, Ph.D, has been teaching English and Women’s and Gender Studies at Pace on the NYC campus since 2017. Before joining Pace, she worked in multiplatform content creation and K-12 education innovation. A masters powerlifter, Jessica deadlifted 325 pounds in Utica, NY, earlier this month. When not teaching or lifting, she can be reached at jessicamarshallphd@gmail.com

Nathifa Lewis

Nathifa Lewis has been an Adjunct in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems since September 2008. She is also a dual Pace alum from both Dyson and Seidenberg. She can be reached at nathifa.a.lewis@gmail.com

Jay Muir

Jay Muir is an adjunct for the Women’s and Gender Studies department at the New York City campus. They are currently working on a master’s degree in disability studies at CUNY. They also volunteer for Queery, an LGBT education organization dedicated to making queer theory accessible.

Deirdre Courtney-Batson

Deirdre Courtney-Batson has been teaching History as an adjunct on Pace’s Pleasantville campus since 1995. A specialist in medieval ecclesiastical history, she has offered courses in early European and Global history, European and American Political History, Women’s History and the History of the 16th-17th Century Witchcraft Hysteria. Prof. Courtney-Batson has also developed local history exhibits and educational programs for the Katonah Historical Museum and chairs the Town of Bedford’s Planning Board. She can be reached at dcourtneybatson@gmail.com  not teaching or lifting, she can be reached at jessicamarshallphd@gmail.com

Lindsey Lee

Lindsey Lee is an adjunct in the English Department and the Honors Thesis Advisor for the New York City Honors College. She is a Pace honors alum and has been teaching here as an adjunct since 2008. She can be found M-F in her office in w207c. Feel free to stop by to ask any questions about the union elections. Her email is lindsey.lee@gmail.com.

Julie Shaw

Julie Shaw has been instructing the Educational Law and School Leadership course in the Dyson School of Education’s School District Business Leader program since 2014. In her “other” life, Julie is a Partner in a boutique law firm in the Hudson Valley that predominantly represents public schools and other municipalities where her practice is largely focused on labor and employment law. During her free time, Julie likes to play football with her two little boys, ages 3 and 5. Julie’s email address is julie.mayshaw@gmail.com.

Eve Becke

Eve Becker has taught writing to students from eight to eighty. She is new to the Pace English department, and is teaching Critical Writing and Advanced Fiction, this year. Eve is the founder and director of Leaf and Pen, an organization that runs writing retreats for educators. She was awarded the Pushcart Prize for her essay “Final Concert” and is the author of over thirty published novels for young adults.