Senate Council

St. Jerome's courtyard with trees in bloom
Senate Council

St. Jerome’s University is committed to a bicameral governance structure. 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.

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.

St. Jerome's University Senate Council Terms of Reference.

Members

2026 - 2027 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 Sexualities, Relationships, and Families
Desroches, Fred Sociology and Legal Studies
Drysdale, Maureen Psychology
Gregoire, Stephanie Philosophy
Klassen, Norm English
Kline, Scott
Religious Studies
Kolentsis, Alysia English
Leroux-Demir, Carlie Sociology and Legal Studies
McArthur, Jennifer Psychology
Nicholas, Jane History
Rempel, John Psychology
Rodrigue, Carl Sexualities, Relationships, and Families
Rye, BJ Psychology
Sangalli, Yuri Italian and French Studies
Seljak, David Religious Studies
Serafini, Toni Sexualities, Relationships, and Families
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 Sexualities, Relationships, and Families / 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
Atkin, Michelle Associate Librarian
Chaffe, Melissa Director, Student Affairs (non-voting)
Dattani, Armaan Manager, Outreach and Recruitment (non-voting)
Radcliffe, Karen Director, Finance and Accounting (non-voting)
Hermiz, Jasmine One Executive Officer of the Students’ Union appointed by the Students' Union Executive
Vacant University of Waterloo Faculty Member (non-voting)

Elected Members

Name Title
TBA
Contract Academic Staff member elected by/for the Contract Academic Staff
Vacant Student member elected by/for students registered at St. Jerome's University

Recording Secretary

Name Title
Schwendinger, Christine Academic Operations Manager

Committees

Senate Council Committees

The St. Jerome's University Senate Council Standing Committees for 2026-2027 are as follows:

Governance Committee

  • Alysia Kolentsis (to August 31, 2029)
  • Carlie Leroux-Demir (to August 31, 2028)
  • Carol Ann MacGregor (Vice President Academic and Dean; ex officio)
  • Peter Meehan (President and Vice Chancellor; ex officio)
  • Carl Rodrigue (to August 31, 2027; on sabbatical July 1 to December 31, 2026)
  • Siobhan Sutherland (July 1 to December 31, 2026)

Academic Committee

  • Carol Ann MacGregor, Chair (Vice President Academic and Dean; ex officio)
  • Carol Acton (Director, Health Humanities; ex officio)
  • John Arnou (Student Advisor; ex officio; non-voting)
  • Michelle Atkin (Associate Librarian; ex officio)
  • Veronica Austen (Associate Dean; ex officio)
  • Steven Bednarski (Co-Director, Medieval Studies; ex officio)
  • Chris Burris (Acting Chair, Psychology; ex officio; to December 31, 2026)
  • Roberta Cauchi-Santoro (Chair, Italian and French Studies; ex officio)
  • Melissa Chaffe (Director, Student Affairs; ex officio; non-voting)
  • Armaan Dattani (Manager of Outreach and Recruitment; ex officio; non-voting)
  • Jasmine Hermiz (Student Representative; ex officio; non-voting)
  • Scott Kline (Acting Director, Master of Catholic Thought; ex officio; to December 31, 2026)
  • David Seljak (Acting Chair, Religious Studies; ex officio; to December 31, 2026)
  • Toni Serafini (Chair, Sexualities, Relationships, and Families; ex officio)
  • Anastasia Tataryn (Chair, Sociology and Legal Studies; ex officio)
  • Ryan Touhey (Chair, History; ex officio)
  • David Williams (Chair, English; ex officio)
  • Nikolaj Zunic (Chair, Philosophy; ex officio)
  • TBA (2nd Student Representative; ex officio; non-voting) 

Research Officer

  • David Williams (to August 31, 2027)

Committee on Research and Scholarship

  • David Williams, Chair (Research Officer; ex officio)
  • Carol Ann MacGregor (Vice President Academic and Dean; ex officio)
  • Maureen Drysdale (to August 31, 2028)
  • Siobhan Sutherland (to August 31, 2027)
  • Sylvia Terzian (to August 31, 2028)

Library Advisory Committee

  • Michelle Atkin, Chair (Associate Librarian; ex officio)
  • Carol Acton (to August 31, 2027)
  • Sarah Brown (University of Waterloo Librarian)
  • Stephanie Gregoire (to August 31, 2028)
  • Laureen Harder-Gissing (Conrad Grebel University College Librarian)

Renewal, Tenure, and Promotions Committee

  • Carol Ann MacGregor, Chair (Vice President Academic and Dean; ex officio)
  • Steven Bednarski (to June 30, 2029)
  • David Seljak (to June 30, 2027)
  • Bruno Tremblay (to June 30, 2028)
  • Appointed member from the corresponding University of Waterloo department
  • Alternate: Nikolaj Zunic (to December 31, 2026)

Meetings, Agendas and Minutes

2026-2027 Senate Council Meetings

Fridays, 10:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m.

Meetings will be held in person

Meeting Date Meeting Agenda Approved Meeting Minutes
October 2, 2026    
November 6, 2026     
December 4, 2026    
February 5, 2027    
March 12, 2027    
April 16, 2027    
May 14, 2027    
June 18, 2027    

2025-2026 Senate Council Meetings

Fridays, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Meetings will be held in person.

Meeting Date Meeting Agenda Approved Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025 September 26, 2025
October 24, 2025 October 24, 2025 October 24, 2025
November 28, 2025 Cancelled Cancelled
January 23, 2026 January 23, 2026 January 23, 2026
February 27, 2026 February 27, 2026 February 27, 2026
March 27, 2026 March 27, 2026 March 27, 2026
April 24, 2026 April 24, 2026 April 24, 2026
May 22, 2026 May 22, 2026  
June 19, 2026 Cancelled Cancelled