MRFA’s 2020-2021 Executive Board

President: Lee Easton

(English, Languages and Cultures & General Education)

Phone: 403.827.6732

Email: President@mrfa.net

                             

Vice-President Negotiations: Anupam Das

(Economics, Justice, & Policy Studies)

Email: Negotiations@mrfa.net

 

Vice-President Policy and Senior Grievance Officer: Heather McLellan 

(School of Nursing & Midwifery)

Email: GrievanceOfficer@mrfa.net 

Advocacy Officer:  Frank Cotae

(Intl. Business, SCM & Aviation)

Email: fcotae@mtroyal.ca

Communications Officer: Kirk Niergarth

(Humanities)

Email: kniergarth@mtroyal.ca

Diversity and Equity Officer: Maki Motapanyane

(Humanities)

Email: mmotapanyane@mtroyal.ca

Academic Liaison Officer:  Carlton Osakwe

(Accounting & Finance)

Email: cosakwe@mtroyal.ca

Contract Faculty Representative:  D.A. Dirks

(Humanities)

Email: ContractRepresentative@mrfa.net 

 

Treasurer: Rafik Kurji

(Accounting& Finance)

Email: rkurji@mtroyal.ca

Member at Large: Irene Shankar

(Sociology and Anthropology)

Email: ishankar@mtroyal.ca

 

 

Executive Board Position Descriptions:

• The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association. The President Chairs the Executive Board and the Faculty Centre Management Committee, sits on the Grievance Committee, and is an ex officio member of all other Association Committees. The President is the Association’s liaison between the Association and the senior administration of the University, and is responsible, in conjunction with the Vice-President, Policy and Senior Grievance Officer, for monitoring proposed changes to University policy which affect the terms and conditions of Regular Members’ employment. The President represents the Association at Step 2 of grievances and provides confidential advice and assistance regarding matters not involving interpretation and/or contravention of the Collective Agreement, including, but not limited to, evaluations, institutional processes, issues of faculty welfare, and conflict resolution. 
• The Vice-President Negotiations serves on the Negotiating Committee in accordance with the terms of the Negotiating Committee articles of the Bylaws and the Collective Agreement. The Vice-President Negotiations is the liaison between the Executive Board and the Negotiating Committee, and sits on the Grievance Committee. 
• The Vice-President Policy and Senior Grievance Officer advises and supports Regular Members at Step 1 grievances, is responsible for stating a grievance in writing, including the remedy sought, to the Provost and Vice-President Academic and the President of the Association at Step 2, and provides regular grievance reports to the Executive Board and to the membership. The Vice-President, Policy and Senior Grievance Officer chairs the Grievance Committee and is a member of the Professional Standards and Senior Governance Committee and shall liaise with the Executive Board regarding the work of the committee. The Vice-President, Policy and Senior Grievance Officer also assists the President in monitoring proposed changes to University policy which affect the terms and conditions of Regular Members’ employment. Should the President resign or leave office, the Vice-President, Policy and Senior Grievance Officer assumes the office of President until a by-election is held. 
• The Advocacy Officer is responsible for the development and execution of all advocacy initiatives in accordance with Association Policies and Procedures, in consultation with the President, and with the support of the Advocacy Committee, Communications Committee and MRU Coalition. The Advocacy Officer assists the President in preparing external communications, related to advocacy initiatives, with the government, media and general public, in accordance with Association Policies and Procedures. The Advocacy Officer chairs the Advocacy Committee and is a member of the MRU Coalition. 
• The Communications Officer is responsible for the development and execution of all non-routine communications with the membership. The Communications Officer Chairs the Communications Committee. The Communications Officer works closely with the Senior Administrative and Faculty Relations Officer and the President in the development and execution of all communications with the membership and coordinates the Department Communicators network. 
• The Diversity and Equity Officer advises and assists the Executive Board and its Standing Committees in matters pertaining to principles and best practices in building a more diverse faculty, academic, and institutional community; in supporting and representing diverse groups more effectively; contributing where possible and appropriate to activities and initiatives to better enhance opportunities for equity across all faculty members; and in identifying gaps in policy, support, and services of the Association.
• The Treasurer is responsible for accurate financial records, financial statements of the transactions of the Association, and reporting to the membership regarding finances. 
• The Academic Liaison Officer assists the President in matters of academic policy and governance and performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Board. The Academic Liaison Officer serves as the Association’s liaison among Faculty Councils and the General Faculties Council and facilitates the exchange of information related to academic governance and academic policy, especially where they affect academic freedom, the Collective Agreement, and the work of Regular Members. The Academic Liaison Officer chairs the Academic Liaison Committee. 
• The Contract Member Representative is responsible for facilitating communication between the Association and contract members, and corresponds with Human Resources to ensure that the Contract Faculty Handbook is kept current and readily available. The Contract Member Representative shall serve on the Negotiating Committee and on the Grievance Committee. The Contract Member Representative shall perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Board. 
• The Member at Large performs duties as assigned by the Executive Board, including acting as the Chief Returning Officer, chairing the Professional Standards and Ethics Committee, serving on the Faculty Centre Management Committee and potentially serving as the liaison between the Executive Board and another Standing Committee of the Association.