The University of Oregon Senate is welcoming its incoming senators and leaders from its spring 2019 election.

Elizabeth Skowron will be transitioning from her role as senate vice president to senate president this June. As a professor in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services in the College of Education, Skowron studies how early experiences affect neurobiological development in children.

In her report to the board of trustees in May, she wrote that some of her goals as president are to develop orientation programs for new senators and committee members, create better committee structures, improve connections between the Senate and administration and enhance communication between senators and their constituents.

The Senate is also electing a new vice president during its final meeting of the year June 5. As of May 31, Elliot Berkman, an associate professor in the psychology department and a sitting senator, was the only candidate up for election.

In his candidate statement, Berkman wrote he envisions the Senate becoming the place where hard decisions are made through deliberation with faculty members, staff members, officers of administration and students.

“I want the Senate to have more power not only over academic matters as they are commonly understood but also over academic matters broadly construed, such as the university budget, oversight of athletic advising and academic administrative hiring,” Berkman wrote.

The newly elected senators include Annie Zemper, an assistant professor in the biology department; Randy Sullivan, lecture demonstrator for chemistry and biochemistry; Kristin Yarris, associate professor of international studies; Aaron Gullickson, associate professor of sociology; Sylvan Lionni, assistant professor in the art department; and Gina Biancarosa, associate professor for educational methodology, policy and leadership.

Fellow incoming senators are Beth Harn, associate professor of special education and clinical sciences; Jen Reynolds, associate professor at the School of Law; Tina Ching, law reference librarian for UO Libraries; Melissa Brunkan, assistant professor of choral music education; Jason Silveira, associate professor of music education; Stephanie Prentiss, student billing collector for the business affairs office; Salmon “Sam” Stroich, assistant outdoor program director; and Suzie Stadelman, outreach coordinator for the University Counseling Center.

Skowron thanked the departing senators for their service. The outgoing senators are Jack Boss, professor of theory and composition in the School of Music and Dance; Chris Murray and John Seeley, both professors for special education and clinical sciences; Tom Greenbowe, senior instructor II of chemistry and biochemistry; Keith Frazee, assistant director for orientation programs; and Cheryl Ernst, executive director of the American English Institute, among others.