Board of Governors - Staff Election

Staff elections for the Board of Governors vacancy will be held in March 2026, and all eligible staff are encouraged to consider nomination.

The Board of Governors is responsible for the governance of the University including control of is property and revenues, the conduct of its business and affairs, except such matters assigned by the University of Waterloo Act, 1972 to the Senate.

The Act prescribes that there are 36 voting Board members. Governors include community leaders, staff, faculty, students, and alumni. The Board conducts its business through committees that bring recommendations to the full Board at four regularly scheduled meetings. The composition of the Board of Governors consists of "two members of the full-time staff" of the University for 2026, with one member to be elected.

To appear on the ballot, nominees must provide a brief statement (100 words maximum) along with a completed nomination form. Those interested in becoming a Governor can find more information below within the Staff Election Guidelines.

The nomination period will open February 9, 2026 at 9:00am and remain open until February 20, 2026 at 4:30pm. The campaign period is to commence at the close of nominations on February 20^th and run until March 3, 2026.

The nomination form link.

• Staff to Board

Voting will begin as follows:

Online Voting (Regular Full-Time staff members): Wednesday March 4, 2026 at 9:00am and will close March 10 at 4:30pm.

Paper Ballots (Union staff members): Wednesday March 4, 2026 at 9:00am and will close March 17 at 4:30pm.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about being a Governor, please be in touch with the Secretariat. 

The composition of the Board of Governors consists of "two members of the full-time staff" of the University. The election guidelines are to be "determined and established by the Board of Governors" (The University of Waterloo Act, 1972, section 11.5).

Where used in these Guidelines, the phrase "full-time staff" has the meaning assigned to that phrase in The University of Waterloo Act, 1972 and Policy 54.

Candidate Eligibility: Candidates must be full-time staff members of the University.

Nominator Eligibility: Each nominator must be a full-time staff member of the University.

Voter Eligibility: All full-time staff members of the University are eligible to vote.

Term of Office:

• The term of office is three years.
• Member "shall be eligible for re-election . . . save that an elected . . . member shall serve for no more than two consecutive terms, provided that any such elected . . . members shall be again eligible for election . . . after the expiration of one year following the completion of two consecutive terms" (The University of Waterloo Act, section 23).

Nomination Process:

• The Secretariat will post a call for nominations to the Daily Bulletin and the Secretariat website.
• The call will stay open for 10 business days.
• Interested candidates will complete an online nomination form and submit it to the chief returning officer (CRO), Secretariat. At least five nominators are required in each case.
• Candidates may provide a brief campaign statement (100 words maximum) with their nomination form and will have the option of including their contact information with their campaign statements to facilitate voter questions during the campaign period.
• Where only one nomination is received, the candidate will be declared elected by acclamation.

Campaigning:

• Official announcement of the slate of candidates, with links to their 100-word campaign statements, will be posted to the Secretariat website and the Daily Bulletin the first day of the campaign period.
• The announcement will also provide notice of the campaign period (eight business days) and voting period (five business days for regular full-time staff – electronic ballot; 10 business days for union full-time staff – paper ballots), and information about who is eligible to vote.
• Candidates are not permitted to campaign or solicit votes through email including mass messages or group distribution emails. They are allowed to respond to individual voter questions through email during the campaign period.

Voting:

• All regular full-time staff members will receive an email prompt to vote on the first day of the voting period. The email will provide a link to the electronic ballot and voting instructions.
• Regular full-time staff will authenticate their vote with their WatIAM userid and password.
• All regular full-time union staff will receive a paper ballot to be returned to the CRO, Secretariat.

Candidate Behaviour:

• Any behaviour deemed inappropriate or in contradiction to the guidelines could result in candidates being removed from the candidate slate.
• Appeals concerning any act or decision made in implementing the guidelines for the election may be made by a candidate to the CRO, Secretariat. All appeals must be filed with the CRO within two business days of the voting results being released.

Approved by the Board of Governors, 7 April 2015
Revised by the Board of Governors, 2 February 2016

Dhananjai Borwankar
Email: dsborwan@uwaterloo.ca

My name is Dhananjai Borwankar, and I am a Manager in the Safety Office with over 10 years of experience at the University. My role has allowed me to collaborate with a wide range of people and departments across all campuses. If elected, I will focus on examining our workplace culture and strengthening accountability, particularly for those in positions of authority over vulnerable workers.

Randy Dauphin
Email: rdauphin@uwaterloo.ca

I have proudly served the University of Waterloo for 22 years as a staff member dedicated to supporting students, faculty, and staff across our campuses. I am deeply committed to Waterloo’s mission and have actively engaged with the University’s governance by regularly attending open sessions of the Board of Governors which has helped me to better understand its direction and priorities. I am proud of the role staff play in shaping our institution, and I am seeking this position to bring a thoughtful, experienced staff voice to the Board and to help guide Waterloo’s future in service of our community.

Wendy De Gomez
Email: wdegomez@uwaterloo.ca

I am applying for a staff position on the Board of Governors to share my expertise in policy, strategic planning, and project management to collaboratively operationalize the short-term needs and long-term visions of the University. Having worked for nine years in roles across the Faculty of Environment, the International Tobacco Evaluation Project (Faculty of Arts), the Faculty of Engineering, and in my current role as the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives and Research Oversight in the Office of Research, I have developed a cross-functional campus view which would be helpful in providing support to the Board of Governors.

Frances Hannigan
Email: fhanniga@uwaterloo.ca

I’m a proud graduate and employee of the University of Waterloo having started my career here in 1997. In my 25+ years of outstanding service to UW, I have held diverse positions within many different departments/areas. I have, for better or worse, lived through, heard, and experienced many issues, struggles and achievements that I am sure have also been experienced by my colleagues and peers. I hope to be a guiding voice and representative for staff across our diverse campus to help make a positive impactful difference within the Board of Governors.

Samantha Murray
Email: samantha.murray@uwaterloo.ca

With 15 years at the University, I want to represent staff at a time when our institution is navigating uncertainty and transformation. My background in change management, one rooted in active listening, clear communication, and critical thinking, helps me turn complex challenges into practical, people‑centered solutions that reduce uncertainty and fosters trust. I am committed to governance that considers real impacts on staff, uses evidence responsibly, and supports people through transition. I would be honoured to bring a strong staff voice to the Board of Governors during this pivotal time.

Daniel Opperwall
Email: daniel.opperwall@uwaterloo.ca

I have been an Online Learning Consultant here at UW since 2019, and have been working in the university sector for nearly 20 years as both a staff member and instructor. I have served on the board of multiple small nonprofits, as well as on the union executive for CUPE 3906 at McMaster University (2009-2010). I believe that organizational health and transparency are the foundation of a thriving university, and that union and non-union staff voices are essential to good university governance. If elected I will bring a listening ear and collaborative, balanced approach to operational leadership.

Donna Rheams
Email: dmrheams@uwaterloo.ca

I have over 15 years of progressive experience at the University of Waterloo and currently serve as Senior Manager, Wellness & Active Living in Athletics and Recreation. My long term engagement on campus and frequent collaboration with student services and faculties have given me a broad understanding of university operations and shaped the perspective I bring to this seat. My goal is to apply this experience through meaningful governance work. I bring professionalism, curiosity, and accountability, and I am committed to preparing thoroughly and contributing constructively to the Board’s responsibilities as a passionate and caring member of this campus community.

Kirstie Slaney
Email: kaslaney@uwaterloo.ca

With 16 years of experience at the University of Waterloo, primarily in the Faculty of Health, I bring a strong understanding of the institution and a commitment to effective staff representation in University governance. My work has focused on collaboration, improving administrative processes, and supporting a healthy, inclusive workplace. I have seen firsthand how transparent, people-centered decision-making strengthens our community. I am running for the Board of Governors to ensure staff voices meaningfully inform decisions, and to contribute a thoughtful, empathetic, and solutions-focused perspective that supports the University’s long-term success.

Amanda St. Marie
Email: anstmarie@uwaterloo.ca

With 15+ years in marketing and my current role in Indigenous Initiatives, I offer a unique dual perspective on the University of Waterloo’s reputation and its internal community needs. My background has been defined by bridging diverse perspectives and balancing competing priorities. This experience informs my focus on three pillars: student success, academic excellence, and long-term financial sustainability. Bringing strategic thinking and a proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder needs, I am committed to asking the hard questions and listening to all voices. I look forward to supporting decisions that serve the entire university community’s long-term interests.

Jennisha Wilson
Email: jennisha.wilson@uwaterloo.ca

I am seeking re‑election to the Board of Governors after completing a highly engaged first term, during which I continued to serve actively while on parental leave. In my role as Director, ARAO and as a Governor, I have been a consistent touchpoint for many staff members and leaders, fostering cross‑campus collaboration and connection. This work has strengthened my systems‑level understanding of the University and deepened my commitment to thoughtful, purpose‑driven governance. At a time of significant change, I bring continuity, institutional knowledge, and dedication to representing our diverse communities with integrity and accountability.

Kate Wood
Email: kate.wood@uwaterloo.ca

I manage client service for IT in Science. I’ve occupied most of the roles on this campus: undergrad, grad, TA, lecturer, and staff in casual, contract, part-time, and permanent positions. I also served on Senate Graduate & Research as a graduate student. It is my personal belief that it is our people who make UW what it is, and collaborative relationships that allow us to create great things, especially in an environment of budgetary constraint. My perspective is rooted in staff experience, fluent in faculty and student contexts, and focused on decisions that reflect a big picture balance.

Tamara Zur
Email: tamara.zur@uwaterloo.ca

I am committed to serving the University of Waterloo with integrity, collaboration, and a strong sense of community responsibility. With over fifteen years of leadership experience in higher education and public administration, I bring a values-based approach to governance grounded in transparency, accountability, and evidence-informed decision-making. My roles working in international and equity roles reflect my dedication to inclusive leadership, responsible stewardship of resources, and respectful engagement with diverse partners. I believe effective governance must prioritize student success, staff wellbeing, and long-term institutional sustainability, and I would contribute a thoughtful and balanced staff perspective to the Board of Governors.