Academic Affairs Operational Committees 2025-2026
Faculty Emeritus Committee
Purpose
Coordinates the Emeritus Faculty procedure outlined in HOP 3.1.12
Membership
Representatives from each college are elected or appointed by the college faculty.
| Role | Term | Position | Affiliation | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | 2025-2026 | College of Education & Psychology | Dr. Yanira Oliveras |
| Member | 2025-2026 | College of Arts & Sciences | Dr. Elizabeth “Cory” Sills |
| Member | 2025-2026 | Soules College of Business | Dr. Kerri Camp |
| Member | 2025-2026 | Fisch College of Pharmacy | Dr. Rahmat Talukder |
| Member | 2025-2026 | College of Engineering | Dr. Mukul Shirvaikar |
| Member | 2025-2026 | School of Medicine | Dr. Karan Singh |
| Member | 2025-2026 | School of Health Professions | Dr. Woohyoung Jeon |
| Member | 2025-2026 | School of Nursing | Dr. Belinda Deal |
Committee members are expected to devote sufficient time to participate in and contribute to the Committee activities. Committee members are required to adhere to the Committee Charter and assume and complete assignments as designated.
Chair Responsabilities
The Committee Chair is responsible for calling meetings, organizing material, and running the voting/polling process that determines who is selected for emeritus status.
Recommendations and Reporting
Notify Faculty of eligibility by mid‐September
Close nominations by end of October
Forward recommendations to the President by end of November
Appointment and Term Limits
1‐year terms determined by the governance bodies of each college and in conformity with the HOP.
Research Council
Purpose
The Research Council is responsible for advising the President and other university administrators on matters pertaining to policies, procedures, and programs intended to promote growth, excellence, and integrity in research and scholarly activities throughout the university community.
Membership
Members are selected according to the Research Council By‐Laws.
| Role | Term | Affiliation | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | 2023-2026 | College of Arts & Science | Ali Azghani |
| Member | 2023-2026 | College of Arts & Science | Madeline Dawsey |
| Member | 2023-2026 | College of Arts & Science | Robert Sterken |
| Member | 2023-2026 |
College of Education & Psychology (Samantha Estrada)
|
Diane Smedley |
| Member | 2024-2027 | College of Education & Psychology | Jennifer Watters |
| Member | 2024-2027 | College of Engineering | Fernando Resende |
| Member | 2023-2026 | College of Engineering | Mena Souliman |
| Member | 2024-2027 | Fisch College of Pharmacy | Santosh Aryal |
| Member | 2025-2028 | Fisch College of Pharmacy | Winter Smith |
| Member | 2024-2027 | School of Health Professions | Madhura Maiya |
| Member | 2023‐2026 | School of Health Professions | Tina Melamed |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | School of Medicine | Vijay Boggaram |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | School of Medicine | Erminia Massarelli |
| Member | 2023‐2026 | School of Nursing | Kevin Gosselin |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | School of Nursing | Susan McBride |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | Soules College of Business | Kim Nimon |
| Member | 2023‐2026 | Soules College of Business | Arun Kulkarni |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex-Officio | Chief Research Officer | Amir Mirmiran |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | AVP for Research Administration | Lisa Bush |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Research Council Support Staf | Kerry Bonilla |
Committee members are expected to devote sufficient time to participate in and contribute to the Committee activities. Committee members are required to adhere to the Committee Charter and assume and complete assignments as designated.
Chair Responsibilities
The Research Council Chair is responsible for leading and facilitating the work of the Council including, but not limited to, calling meetings, preparing meeting agendas and minutes, directing Council activities, and overseeing communication with Council members and with the Senior Vice President for Research.
By‐Laws Revisions
The Research Council reviews and updates its By‐Laws every three years or as needed.
Student Appeals Committee
Purpose
The Student Appeals Committee is responsible for reviewing and rendering opinions on student petitions of University‐established policy concerning financial aid eligibility or practice and student records related requests, such as late withdrawals from courses and tuition refunds.
Membership
| Role | Term | Position | Affiliation | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | 2023‐2026 | School of Nursing | Dr. Eva Blight |
| Member | 2023‐2026 | Soules College of Business | Dr. Vivek Pandy |
| Member | 2023‐2026 | College of Arts & Sciences | Dr. Kyle Gullings |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | School of Medicine (Pierre Neuenschwander) | Dr. Jeffrey Pearl |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | School of Health Professions | Dr. Jessica Escareno |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | College of Education & Psychology | Dr. Lauren Deaton |
| Member | 2023‐2026 | Fisch College of Pharmacy (Rebecca Dunn) | Dr. Wallace Marsh |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | College of Engineering | Dr. Mohammad Biswas |
| Member | 2025‐2026 | SGA Student Representative | |
| Member | 2025‐2026 | SGA Student Representative | |
| Member | 2025‐2026 | Academic Affairs | Dr. Colleen Swain |
| Non‐Voting | Ex‐Officio | Enrollment Management Representative | Mr. Andrew Barnson |
| Non‐Voting | Ex‐Officio | Financial Aid Representative | Ms. Melanie Jones |
| Non‐Voting | Ex‐Officio | Student Business Services Representative | Ms. Kayla Albright |
Committee members are expected to devote sufficient time to participate in and contribute to the Committee activities. Committee members are required to adhere to the Committee Charter and assume and complete assignments as designated.
Chair Responsibilities
The Committee Chair is responsible for convening the meetings and distributing the cases to committee members. The Chairs works closely with the Registrar’s Office representative.
Recommendations and Reporting
This committee reports to the Provost and Chief Financial Officer.
Appointment and Term Limits
Faculty committee members have three‐year terms. This committee meets twice a month during the fall and spring terms and one time a month during the summer.
University Curriculum Council
Purpose
The University Curriculum Council recommends curricular policies and processes that promote rigorous, high‐quality programs and align with best practices in enrollment, retention, and graduation of UT Tyler students.
Membership
The University Curriculum Council is comprised of representatives from each College/School. At least one member from each College/School must be eligible for Graduate Faculty status. This council will meet at least once per term, excluding summer, to determine curricular issues that impact all students. Council members are expected to devote sufficient time to participate in and contribute to the Council activities. Council members are required to adhere to the rules in the HOP related to committees.
| Role | Term | Affiliation | Name | Represents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Chair | 2024-2027 | College of Engineering | Dr. Torey Nalbone | Undergraduate |
| Co-Chair | 2025‐2026 | School of Medicine | Dr. Pierre Neuenschwander | Graduate |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | College of Arts and Sciences | Dr. Tara Proper | Graduate |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | College of Arts and Sciences | Dr. Katrina Kelner | Undergraduate |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | Soules College of Business | Dr. Mohammed Ali | Undergraduate |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | Soules College of Business | Dr. Robert Schumaker | Graduate |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | College of Education and Psychology | Dr. Ramona Grad | Graduate |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | College of Education and Psychology | Dr. Lauren Kirby | Undergraduate |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | College of Engineering | Dr. Shuhao Liu | Graduate |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | College of Engineering | Dr. Mohammad Biswas | Undergraduate |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | Fisch School of Pharmacy | Dr. Joe Glavy | Graduate |
| Member | 2025 ‐ 2028 | School of Health Professions | Dr. Scott Spier | Graduate |
| Member | 2023‐2026 | School of Health Professions | Dr. Tina Melamed | Undergraduate |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | Honors College | Dr. Randy LeBlanc | Undergraduate |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | School of Medicine | Dr. Christian Alvarado | Graduate |
| Member | 2023‐2026 | School of Nursing | Dr. Martin Rivera | Graduate |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | School of Nursing | Ms. Autumn Ladd | Undergraduate |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Dean of the Graduate School | Dr. Amir Mirmiran | |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Associate Provost Curriculum & Experiential Learning | Dr. Colleen Swain | |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Registrar | Dr. Troy White | |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | VP Admissions | Ms. Katie Ramirez | |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Executive Director, Graduate Admission | Ms. Katie Hall | |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Associate Provost for Continuous Improvement & Accreditation | Dr. Lou Ann Berman | |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Director, Graduate Program Support | Dr. Cindy Davis | Graduate |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Exec. Dir. Undergraduate Advising & Acad. Onboarding | Vacant | Undergraduate |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Library Dean | Dr. Becky McKay | |
| Member | Ex‐Officio | Student Representatives |
Co-Chair Responsibilities
Council Co-Chairs will establish meeting dates and agenda. Co-Chairs will convene meetings and ensure attendance and meeting business are recorded. Co-Chairs will appoint a task force as deemed necessary to complete Council responsibilities.
Recommendations and Reporting
The University Curriculum Council reports to the Provost.
Appointment and Term Limits
Members serve 3-year terms. Per HOP1.10 policy on Academic Committees, the term of office for faculty members/librarians is a maximum of three (3) academic years.