Academic Affairs Operational Committees 2026-2027
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 | 2026-2028 | School of Education | Dr. Yanira Oliveras |
| Member | 2026-2028 | College of Arts & Sciences | Dr. Sean Butler |
| Member | 2025-2027 | Soules College of Business | Dr. Kerri Camp |
| Member | 2026-2029 | Fisch College of Pharmacy | Dr. Ayman Hamouda |
| Member | 2025-2027 | College of Engineering | Dr. Mukul Shirvaikar |
| Member | 2025-2027 | School of Medicine | Dr. Karan Singh |
| Member | 2026-2028 | School of Health Professions | Dr. Fatma Abdel Salam |
| Member | 2026-2029 | School of Nursing | Dr. Valerie Miller |
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 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 | 2026-2028 | College of Arts & Science | Dr. Jon Seal |
| Member | 2026-2029 | College of Arts & Science | Dr. Dustin Patterson |
| Member | 2026-2029 | College of Arts & Science | Dr. Colin Snider |
| Member | 2026-2028 |
School of Education
|
Dr. Yasemin Gunpinar |
| Member | 2026-2029 | School of Education | Dr. Matt (Dennis) Stevenson |
| Member | 2024-2027 | College of Engineering | Dr. Fernando Resende |
| Member | 2026-2029 | College of Engineering | Dr. Arun Kulkarni |
| Member | 2024-2027 | Fisch College of Pharmacy | Dr. Santosh Aryal |
| Member | 2025-2028 | Fisch College of Pharmacy | Dr. Rustin Crutchley |
| Member | 2024-2027 | School of Health Professions | Dr. Madhura Maiya |
| Member | 2026‐2028 | School of Health Professions | Dr. Neil Dong |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | School of Medicine | Dr. Vijay Boggaram |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | School of Medicine | Dr. Erminia Massarelli |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | School of Nursing | Dr. Kevin Gosselin |
| Member | 2026‐2029 | School of Nursing | Dr. Dixie Rose |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | Soules College of Business | Dr. Kim Nimon |
| Member | 2026‐2029 | Soules College of Business | Dr. Dominic Fazarro |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex-Officio | Chief Research Officer | Amir Mirmiran |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | AVP for Research Administration | Lisa Bush |
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 | 2026‐2029 | Fisch College of Pharmacy | Dr. Shankar Munusamy |
| Member | 2026‐2029 | Soules College of Business | Dr. Abdulahel Bari |
| Member | 2026‐2029 | College of Arts & Sciences | Dr. Zita Husing |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | School of Medicine | Dr. Jeffrey Pearl |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | School of Health Professions | Dr. Jessica Escareno |
| Member | 2026‐2029 | School of Education | Dr. Gary Miller |
| Member | 2026‐2029 | School of Nursing | Dr. Anita Lowe |
| Member | 2024‐2027 | College of Engineering | Dr. Mohammad Biswas |
| Member | 2025‐2026 | SGA Student Representative | |
| Member | 2025‐2026 | SGA Student Representative | |
| Non-Voting | Ex-Officio | 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 | 2026‐2029 | School of Education | Dr. Forrest Kaiser | Graduate |
| Member | 2026‐2029 | School of Education | Dr. Christina Chen | 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 | 2026‐2029 | 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 | 2026‐2029 | School of Nursing | Dr. Anna Hanson | Graduate |
| Member | 2025‐2028 | School of Nursing | Ms. Autumn Ladd | Undergraduate |
| Member | 2025-2028 | Honors College | Dr. Randy LeBlanc | 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 | Mr. Dennis Cliborn | |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | VP Admissions | Ms. Katie Ramirez | |
| 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 | |
| Non-Voting Member | Ex‐Officio | Exec. Dir. Undergraduate Advising & Acad. Onboarding | Ms. Lauri Anderson | |
| 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.
Core Curriculum Committee
| College/School | Core Curriculum | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences | Jessica Coleman | 2026 - 2029 |
| Arts & Sciences | Corey Sills | 2026 - 2029 |
| Business | Mahdi Niknejad | 2026 - 2029 |
| Education | Jill Carter | 2026 - 2028 |
| Engineering | Yasser Mahgoub | 2026 - 2028 |
| Health Professions | Ashley Dalby | 2026 - 2028 |
| Nursing | Hannah Gean | 2026 - 2029 |
| Honors | Dr. Paul Sterufert | 2026 - 2029 |
| Academic Affairs | Colleen Swain | Chair |
| Strategic Planning | Jennifer Moore | ex-officio |