Faculty Senate
Fall 2026 Meetings
- September 3
- October 1
- November 5
- December 3
Spring 2027 meetings
- January 28
- February 25
- March 25
- April 22
The Faculty Senate meets at 3:15 p.m. in the Sherrill Center, Mountain View Room. If you have questions, contact Kelly Biers, facultysenate@unca.edu
The Academic Affairs Events Calendar contains all Faculty Senate, APC, IDC, and FWDC meeting schedules.
2026-27 Faculty Senate
- Senator Listing with Pictures
- Senate Committee Member Lists
Faculty Handbook, Senate Constitution, and Standing Rules
Faculty Senate Standing Committees Faculty Awards and Endowments
Important Links
Meeting Agendas
- Faculty Senate Meeting Agendas 2025-2026
- Faculty Senate Meeting Agendas 2024-2025
- Archived Faculty Senate Meeting Agendas
Meeting Minutes
Senate Documents
Other Governance Documents
- Handbook for contracts before 7/1/2003
- Standards of Shared Governance
- Constitution
- Standing Rules (2023-24)
- UNC System Code & Policy Manual
- UNC System Process, Documents, and Forms for New Academic Programs
- UNC Asheville Fact Books
- UNC Asheville Institutional Reports
APC Procedures
- APC Procedures
- Sample Proposals
- New or Revised Course Proposal
- Guidelines for Proposals for New or Revised Majors and/or Minors
- Proposing Optional Interdisciplinary Certificates
- General Administration Guidelines and Suggestions for Catalog Copy
- SD2015F: Application for Exceptions to Credit Caps on Majors (APC 15)
- Course Catalog PDF with page numbers
IDC Criteria
- Guidelines for Proposals for New or Substantially Revised Undergraduate Majors,
Minors, and/or Certificate Programs - Initiating Graduate Master’s Degree Programs
Faculty Ombuds
Current Faculty Ombud: Laura Jones, Ph.D., M.S.
Faculty Senate Members
Kirk Boyle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Office Hours
Monday – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Wednesday – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
By appointment
Fabrice Julien, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A.
Assistant Professor of Health and Wellness
Office: 463 Sherrill Center
Phone: 250-2396
Email: fjulien@unca.edu
Office Hours
Monday 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm
Wednesday 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm
Friday By Appointment Only
Rob Shrode, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Office: 221 Zageir Hall
Phone: 825-6816
Email: rshrode@unca.edu
Kelly Biers, Ph.D.
Department Chair and Associate Professor of French
Office: 233 Whitesides Hall
Phone: 232-2440
Email: kbiers@unca.edu
Office Hours
Thursday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Or by appointment
Suzanne Dittenber
Associate Professor of Art - Painting Concentration
Office: 212 Owen Hall
Phone: (828) 251-6875
Email: sdittenb@unca.edu
Peter Kusek
Lecturer of New Media
Office: 307 Owen Hall
Phone: (828) 350-4569
Email: pkusek@unca.edu
Office Hours
Tuesday 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Tuesday 5:15 pm – 7:10 pm
Thursday 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Thursday 5:15 pm – 7:10 am
Or by appointment
Melissa Mahoney, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Economics & Finance
Office: 157 Karpen Hall
Phone: 251-6672
Email: mmahoney@unca.edu
Laura Meadows, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Office: 303 Karpen Hall
Phone: 251-6615
Email: meadows@unca.edu
Office Hours:
Monday 9:30 am – 10:45 am
Wednesday 9:30 am – 10:45 am
Friday 9:30 am – 10:45 am
Tuesday 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Or by appointment.
Ted Meigs, Ph.D.
GlaxoSmithKline Distinguished Professor, Professor of Biology
Office: 305 Zeis Hall
Phone: 232-5155
Email: tmeigs@unca.edu
Office Hours:
Tuesday – By Email Request
Wednesday – By Email Request
Thursday – 1 to 3 p.m.
Sophie Mills, Ph.D.
Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Studies
Office: 122 Whitesides Hall
Email: smills@unca.edu
Office Hours:
Monday – 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Tuesday – 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Wednesday – 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Friday – 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Or by appointment.
Carolina Perez
Assistant Professor of Music
Office: 027 Lipinsky Hall
Phone: (828) 251-6456
Email: cperez4@unca.edu
Giovanny Pleites-Hernandez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Humanities 414 Coordinator
Office: 204 Zageir Hall
Phone: 251-6634
Email: gpleites@unca.edu
Farzana Rashid, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Office: Rhoades Robinson 224
Phone: 250-3918
Email: frashid@unca.edu
Michael Sarris
Lecturer of Computer Science
Office: 218 Rhoades/Robinson Hall
Email: msarris@unca.edu
Office Hours:
Monday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Please email for an appointment (msarris@unca.edu).
Yvonne Villanueva-Russell, Ph,D.
Provost & Executive VC for Academic Affairs
Yvonne Villanueva-Russell earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She joined the faculty at Texas A&M University-Commerce and eventually held administrative roles as department head, assistant dean of the Honors College, associate dean of the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts, dean of University College and founding dean of the College of Innovation and Design. During her time at A&M-Commerce, she coordinated the first-year experience and core curriculum, developed online new programs and initiatives, for adult learners, and served as PI for grants totaling $2.6 million.
Dr. Villanueva-Russell joined the University of North Carolina Asheville as the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in July 2024.
