Meet the 2026 FAUW board candidates

This position has been acclaimed.

Why nominate for the FAUW Board of Directors?

I have been at the University since 2002 and have had the opportunity to serve on a number of cross faculty committees and boards, including the Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, and the Health Futures Council (currently serving on that committee). I have collaborated extensively with faculty in Health, Engineering, and Arts, which has given me a good feel for how the campus functions in a range of domains. I feel like now is a good time to give back to my community by taking on a role at FAUW.

What will I bring to the Board?

What I have learned through my approach to research is that we achieve far more through collaboration than we ever could through competition and that an open-minded attitude always leads to good outcomes. I will bring that same approach to my role on FAUW. We are all aware that these are difficult budgetary times and that academic freedom has never been more important to protect. It is important to me that we represent our concerns in clear and compelling ways, while maintaining the collegial relations we have had with university administrators.

As this would be my first position at FAUW, I would first endeavour to listen and learn from the experience of others. Consulting widely with faculty from both the teaching and research streams will be something I strive to do throughout my term so that I can faithfully represent our concerns to the administration.  

James Denckert's website.

This position has been acclaimed.

In my current role as a FAUW Board member, I have worked diligently to promote fair and equitable treatment of FAUW members and the University community as a whole, in accordance with the FAUW constitution. I am currently serving a second term and would like to continue my participation on the FAUW Board of Directors for a third (and final) term because I believe that my contributions over the past three years have been constructive and progressive, but some of them remain incomplete. I respectfully request that the members re-elect me to the Board to continue contributing, especially in the following three areas:

(i) improving faculty participation in association and university governance by facilitating more “liquid” democratic decision-making,
(ii) improving university governance processes through meaningful and ongoing policy changes with a focus on academic freedom,
(iii) restoring a university operational focus to the support of quality teaching and research.

Over the past decade, I have served in administrative and governance roles which provide me with relevant experience, information, and context that enable me to optimally serve FAUW as a Board member. These roles include Associate Director (Undergraduate) of the collaborative Nanotechnology Engineering program, Faculty-at-large member of Senate (re-elected), faculty representative on the Board of Governors (and sub-committees), and my current role on the FAUW Board.

The University is going through challenging times, both due to external financial constraints and internal collegial governance issues. These ongoing issues are exacerbated by uncertainties associated with the changing educational and political landscape, which is having immediate effects on our conditions of employment, including academic freedom and freedom of expression on campus.

I have consistently worked to represent FAUW member interests in a principled and open way, frequently providing constructive criticism and potential alternatives that address our ongoing financial issues without unnecessarily detracting from the academic mission of the University. I have consistently advocated for increasing transparency in decision-making at all levels of the University, especially within Senate and the Board of Governors. This has been challenging, both personally and professionally. However, if given the opportunity, I will redouble my efforts and continuously work to improve any perceived shortcomings to be more effective in advocating for members’ rights. I truly believe that by doing so, the whole campus community will benefit, especially the students to which we have such an important duty to teach and mentor.

If reappointed to the FAUW Board, I will continue working together with other Board members to address and solve issues facing faculty members by approaching them well-prepared and well-informed, while keeping an open mind.

Finally, if re-elected to the Board, I promise to do my best!

Nasser's profile on Chemical Engineering's website.

Why do I want to be a FAUW Board director?

I am excited about the opportunity to join the FAUW Board and contribute to FAUW’s efforts to support a positive work environment across campus. The University is currently facing several challenges, and I want to be part of the faculty group helping us navigate economic uncertainty while ensuring we remain leaders in teaching and research.

What skills or experience do I have to make me a good director?

I believe the following two skills and experiences would make me a good director.

1. I have experience in roles that involve in-depth knowledge of university policies and procedures. For example, I have served as the School of Planning’s Associate Director of Graduate Studies for two years, and I was previously the chair of the Faculty Council for the Faculty of Environment.
2. I work well in a team to deliver positive outcomes. I was the chair of the Hagey Lecture Committee for the past two years, and I was part of the committee for three years prior to my role as chair. This experience involves working with representatives from across the University to ensure the success of the lecture. I believe my experiences on this committee are directly relevant to the work of FAUW.

What is my approach to collaboration and how will I apply it to representing all FAUW members?

I am a true believer in the power of collaboration, and I see a lot of potential for FAUW members to work together to ensure that the University is an excellent place for all of us to work. I value transparent and open interactions, and I hope that I can facilitate clear lines of communication as a FAUW Board director. I believe it is the responsibility of FAUW Board directors to represent the interests of the wider membership, and if elected, I would work hard to uphold this responsibility.

This position has been acclaimed.

I'm Diana Skrzydlo, a Teaching Stream faculty member in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. I would like to be a FAUW director to help shape the working conditions and learning conditions in our university. I have particular interest in promoting accessible teaching and encouraging pedagogical innovation by all faculty.

I have experience doing broad consultation and representing faculty voices on several university working groups, including the Accessible Teaching Project, the EdTech Advisory Committee, and as the Math Teaching Fellow. In addition, for the past 4 months I have been filling in as the Math Director on the FAUW board, and a member of the Pension Working Group and the Teaching Stream Faculty Committee.

I believe in meaningful community engagement as early as possible in projects, and taking both direction and feedback from members of the groups that will be most affected.