Academic Senate

In accordance with the Nipissing University Act of 1992, the direction and operations of the University are determined by a bicameral governance: the Senate and the Board of Governors. In 2007-08, Nipissing University undertook a review and restructuring of its Senate and moved to a representational model.

Members of the Senate include: the President; the Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research; the Vice-President Finance and Administration, the Deans; the Registrar; the Executive Director, Library Services; 39 elected members of the teaching staff, six student Senators as well as representatives from the Alumni Association, Board of Governors and the Aboriginal Council on Education.

The duties and mandate of the Board of Governors and the Senate are generally divided based on administration and academic requirements, with the Senate and its various committees and subcommittees assessing the academic needs of the University. This includes evaluating new programs and courses, approval of graduates, establishing admission requirements and searches for selection committees.

The Senate meets approximately 10 times a year. Follow the links to review Senate minutes or to learn more about the various standing committees created by the Senate.

Agendas

Minutes

2025-2026 Minutes

September 12, 2025 Senate Minutes and Reports

2024-2025 Minutes

April 11, 2025 Senate Minutes and Reports

December 13, 2024 Senate Minutes and Reports

February 14, 2025 Senate Minutes and Reports

January 17, 2025 Senate Minutes and Reports

June 6, 2025 Senate Minutes and Reports

March 14, 2025 Senate Minutes and Reports

May 9, 2025 Senate Minutes and Reports

November 8, 2024 Senate Minutes and Reports

October 11, 2024 Senate Minutes and Reports

September 13, 2024 Senate Minutes and Reports

2023-2024 Minutes

July 14, 2023 Senate Minutes & Reports

August 11, 2023 Senate Minutes & Reports

September 8, 2023 Senate Minutes & Reports

October 13, 2023 Senate Minutes and Reports

April 12, 2024 Senate Minutes & Reports

December 8, 2023 Senate Minutes and Reports

November 17, 2023 Senate Minutes and Reports

February 9, 2024 Senate Minutes and Reports

January 12, 2024 Senate Minutes and Reports

June 14, 2024 Senate Minutes and Reports

March 8, 2024 Senate Minutes and Reports

May 10, 2024 Senate Minutes and Reports

Senate Membership
Meeting Dates
Standing Committees of Senate
Senate By-Laws

2025-26 Senate Membership

Ex-officio Members

Dr. Kevin Wamsley, President & Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
Dr. Carole Richardson, Interim Provost, Vice-President, Academic (Vice-Chair)
Renee Hacquard, Vice-President, Finance and Administration
Dr. Barbi Law, Associate Vice-President, Research, Innovation and Graduate Studies
Dr. Graydon Raymer, Dean of Education and Professional Studies (Interim)
Dr. Nathan Colborne, Dean of Arts & Science
Debra Iafrate, Registrar
Dr. Nancy Black, Executive Director - Library Services

Faculty of Arts and Science

Dr. Reade Davis 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Hilary Earl 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Robin Gendron 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Ali Hatef 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Stephen Kariuki 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Kristin Lucas 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Gillian McCann 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Gyllie Phillips (Speaker) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Peter Nosko 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Margaret Owens 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Katrina Srigley (Interim Speaker) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Susan Srigley 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Trevor Smith 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Tyson Stewart 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Herminio Texiera 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Leslie Thielen-Wilson 1-Jul-22 to 30-Jun-25
Dr. Roxana Vernescu 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Haibin Zhu 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26

Faculty of Education and Professional Studies

Dr. Adam Adler 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. John Allison 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Steven Cairns 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Christopher Greco 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. David Hemsworth 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Ron Hoffman 28-Oct-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Todd Horton 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Dan Jarvis 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Aaron Kociolek 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Alyssa Leblond 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Pat Maher 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Aimable Nkurunziza 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Carlo Ricci 13-Dec-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Alison Schinkel-Ivy 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Mary Pat Sullivan 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Inês Tavares 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Jeff Thornborrow 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Veronika Williams 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
VACANT

Indigenous Council on Education Representative

Board of Governors Representatives

Fran Couchie
TBA

Alumni Advisory Board Representative

Ryan Hehn

Instructor Representatives

Dr. Oriana Pokorny 1-Sep-22 to 31-Aug-25
Corina Irwin 1-Sep-22 to 31-Aug-25
Rebecca Kasperavicius (Librarian) 3-Feb-25 to 30-Jun-25

Student Representatives

VACANT (NUSU President)
*Jaden Martin (NUSU VP Advocacy & Awareness) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
*Nicholas Botham (NUSU VP Finance & Administration) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Owen Remillard (VP Student Life) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
*Dakota Lamirande (NUSU Undergraduate A&S Rep.) 13-Nov-25 to 30-Apr-26
*TBA (NUSU Undergraduate EPS Rep.)
*Will MacKenzie (NUSU Graduate Rep.) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26

*NUSU voting members

2025-2026 Meeting Dates

Senate Meetings

Meetings start at 2:30 p.m. except where noted:

Friday, September 12, 2025
Friday, October 24, 2025
Friday, November 21, 2025
Friday, January 16, 2026
Friday, February 27, 2026
Friday, March 27, 2026
Friday, April 24, 2026
Friday, May 22, 2026 (10:30 a.m. start)
Friday, June 12, 2026 (10:30 a.m. start)

Senate meetings will take place in the Fedeli Theatre (F210) and by Zoom conference for those unable to attend in person.

Senate Executive Committee Meetings

Meetings start at 3:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 4, 2025
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Thursday, June 4, 2026

Senate Executive Committee meetings will take place in the President's Boardroom (F303) and by Zoom conference for those unable to attend in person.

Academic Quality Assurance and Planning Committee (AQAPC)

Meetings start at 1:00 p.m.

Friday, August 22, 2025
Friday, October 3, 2025
Friday, October 31, 2025
Friday, November 28, 2025
Friday, January 30, 2026
Friday, March 6, 2026
Friday, April 10, 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026
Friday, May 29, 2026

AQAPC meetings will take place in the President's Boardroom (F303) with a Teams option for those unable to attend in person.

Academic Curriculum Committee (ACC)

Friday, October 3, 2025 - 11:00 am-12:30 pm
Tuesday, October 21 - 10:00-11:30 am
Friday, November 7, 2025 - 10:00-11:30 am
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 - 10:00-11:30 am (CANCELLED)
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 - 1:00-2:30 pm
Monday, February 2, 2026 - 11 am-12 pm
Thursday, February 26, 2026 - 10-11:30 am

ACC meeting rooms will be announced prior to the meeting with a Teams option for those unable to attend in person.

2025-26 Standing Committees of Senate

Senate Executive Committee

Dr. Kevin Wamsley (Chair)
Dr. Carole Richardson (Vice-Chair)
Dr. Barbi Law
Dr. Graydon Raymer
Dr. Nathan Colborne
Debra Iafrate
Dr. Gyllie Phillips 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27 (leave)
Dr. Katrina Srigley (Interim Senate Speaker) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Kristin Lucas (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. John Allison (EPS Senator) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Jaden Martin (NUSU Executive) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Sandy Landriault (Senate Secretary) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Academic Appeals and Petitions Committee

Debra Iafrate (Chair)
Dr. Robin Gendron (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Stephen Kariuki (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Andrew Ackerman (A&S non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Alison Schinkel-Ivy (EPS Senator) 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Jeff Thornborrow (EPS Senator) 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Julie Corkett (EPS non-Senator) 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Jaden Martin (NUSU VP Advocacy and Awareness) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Dakota Lamirande (NUSU Undergraduate A&S Rep.) 13-Nov-25 to 30-Apr-26
TBA (NUSU EPS Undergraduate student rep.)
Will MacKenzie (NUSU Graduate student rep.) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Jane Hughes (Secretary to the Registrar) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Academic Awards Committee

Debra Iafrate (Chair)
Sarah Taylor (AVP Students)
TBA
Leslie Aitchison
Steven Smits
Dr. Margaret Owens (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Mukund Jha (A&S non-Senator) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Adam Adler (EPS Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Natalya Brown (EPS non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
VACANT (NUSU President) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
TBA (NUSU Student Senator)
Jane Hughes (Secretary to the Registrar) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Academic Curriculum Committee

Dr. Dr. Carole Richardson, (Chair)
Dr. Barbi Law
Dr. Graydon Raymer
Dr. Nathan Colborne
Debra Iafrate
Dr. Nancy Black
Dr. Trevor Holmes - Director of Teaching and Learning (non-voting)
Robin Gibson - Manager of Quality Assurance and Program Innovation (non-voting)
Dr. Gillian McCann (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Ali Hatef (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Toivo Koivukoski (A&S non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Aaron Kociolek (EPS Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
TBA (EPS Senator)
Dr. Ping Zou (EPS non-Senator) 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
TBA (A&S) Graduate Program Coordinator
Dr. Kurt Clausen (EPS) Graduate Program Coordinator 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Jaden Martin (NUSU Executive) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Dakota Lamirande (NUSU Undergraduate A&S Rep.) 13-Nov-25 to 30-Apr-26
TBA (NUSU EPS Undergraduate student rep.)
Will MacKenzie (NUSU Graduate student rep.) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Jane Hughes (Secretary to the Registrar) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Academic Quality Assurance and Planning Committee

Dr. Carole Richardson (Chair)
Dr. Barbi Law
Dr. Graydon Raymer
Dr. Nathan Colborne
Debra Iafrate
Stephen Tedesco
Dr. Nancy Black
TBA (Board of Governors)
Dr. Roxana Vernescu (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
TBA (A&S Senator)
Dr. Rob Breton (A&S non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
TBA (A&S non-Senator)
Dr. Veronika Williams (EPS Senator) 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
TBA (EPS Senator) 28-Oct-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Steve Hansen (EPS non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Greg Rickwood (EPS non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Jaden Martin (NUSU Executive) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Dakota Lamirande (NUSU Undergraduate A&S Rep.) 13-Nov-25 to 30-Apr-26
Will MacKenzie (NUSU Graduate student rep.) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Sandy Landriault (Senate Secretary) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

By-Laws

Dr. Gyllie Phillips (Chair & Senate Speaker) 1-Jul-21 to 30-Jun-27 (leave)
Dr. Katrina Srigley (Chair & Interim Senate Speaker) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Carole Richardson
Dr. Herminio Teixeira (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Todd Horton (EPS Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Owen Remillard (NUSU Executive) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Sandy Landriault (Senate Secretary) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Graduate Studies Committee

Dr. Barbi Law (Chair)
Dr. Dan Walters
Dr. Steve Hansen (Vice-Chair)
Dr. Nancy Black
Debra Iafrate
Dr. Graydon Raymer
Dr. Nathan Colborne
Dr. Jamie Murton 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Kurt Clausen 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Logan Hoehn 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Benjamin Kelly 1-Jul-22 to 30-Jun-25
Will MacKenzie (NUSU Graduate student rep.) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Laura Snoddon (Secretary to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Honorary Degrees Committee

Dr. Kevin Wamsley (Chair)
Dr. Carole Richardson (Vice-Chair)
Dr. Nathan Colborne
Dave Smits (Board of Governors)
Jason Bramburger (Alumni Advisory Board)
Dr. Reade Davis (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Mark Bruner (EPS non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Nicholas Botham (NUSU Executive) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Christine Benoit (Assistant to the President) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Joint Committee of the Board and Senate on Governance

Dr. Kevin Wamsley (Chair)
John D'Agostino (Board of Governors)
TBA (Board of Governors)
David Smits (Board of Governors)
Dr. Mary Pat Sullivan (Senator) 13-Sept-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Robin Gendron (Senator) 17-Jan-25 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Chris Greco (Senator) 24-Oct-25 to 30-Jun-28
VACANT (NUSU Executive) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Christine Benoit (Assistant to the President) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Senate Research Committee

Dr. Barbi Law (Chair)
Dr. Carole Richardson
Dr. Nancy Black
Dr. Haibin Zhu (A&S Senator) 22-Nov-23 to 30-Jun-26
TBA (A&S non-Senator)
Dr. Mary Pat Sullivan (EPS Senator) 28-Oct-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Christine Cho (EPS non-Senator) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Nicholas Botham (NUSU Executive) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Will Mackenzie (NUSU Graduate student rep.) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Laura Snoddon (Secretary to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Senate Budget Advisory Committee

Dr. Graydon Raymer
Dr. Nathan Colborne
Dr. Robin Gendron (Senator) 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Chris Greco (Senator) 1-Jul-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Hilary Earl (Senator) 24-Oct-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Dan Jarvis (Senator) 24-Oct-25 to 30-Jun-28
Nicholas Botham (NUSU Executive) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
Sandy Landriault (Senate Secretary) Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Teaching and Learning Committee

Dr. Graydon Raymer (Chair)
TBA - Director of Teaching and Learning (non-voting)
Dr. Nancy Black
Dr. Trevor Smith (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Leslie Thielen-Wilson (A&S Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Derek Neal (A&S non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Pat Maher (EPS Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Steven Cairns (EPS Senator) 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Louela Manankil-Rankin (EPS non-Senator) 1-Jul-23 to 30-Jun-26
Dakota Lamirande (NUSU Undergraduate A&S Rep.) 13-Nov-25 to 30-Apr-26
TBA (NUSU EPS Undergraduate student rep.)
Will MacKenzie (NUSU Graduate student rep.) 1-May-25 to 30-Apr-26
TBA Recording Secretary (non-voting)

Faculty Senate Representatives on the Board of Governors

Dr. Katrina Srigley (Faculty Senator) 8-Nov-24 to 30-Jun-27
Dr. Tyson Stewart (Faculty Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Dr. Blaine Hatt (Faculty non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-26
Dr. Denyse Lafrance Horning (Faculty non-Senator) 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28

Board of Governors Representatives on Senate

Fran Couchie 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-26
TBA

Council of Ontario Universities

Academic Colleague - Dr. Carlo Ricci 1-Jul-25 to 30-Jun-28
Academic Colleague (Alternate) TBA

Senate By-laws revised April 2025

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