Barineau, Cannon elected to lead faculty, staff governance organizations

August 25, 2025

Columbus State University’s faculty and staff governance bodies begin the 2025-26 academic year with new leadership. They include Dr. Clinton Barineau, who will serve as the executive officer of the Faculty Senate, and Katherine Cannon, who will chair the Staff Council.

Barineau, Faculty Senate

Barineau will lead the Faculty Senate as its executive officer. A representative voice in university operations for more than 550 full- and part-time faculty, it functions through a structure of elected officers and college senators.

A professor of geology in the Department of Earth & Space Sciences, Barineau has served on the faculty since 2007 after teaching appointments at Valdosta State University, Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College. He previously served as the Faculty Senate’s 2019-20 executive officer and received the university’s 2013 Educator of the Year Award and 2016 Faculty Research and Scholarship Award. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate in geology from Florida State University.

Also serving with Barineau in elected Executive Council roles will be Dr. Bobby Nixon, executive secretary (Department of Society, Culture & Languages) and members at-large Dr. Basil Conway (Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling) and Professor Susan Tomkiewicz (Schwob School of Music). Dr. Adam Bova (Department of Communication), who served as a 2024-25 Faculty Senate at-large member, will serve in a non-voting, ex officio past council advisor capacity. 

Cannon, Staff Council

Comprised of staff representatives from units throughout the university, the Staff Council is a voice for staff interests and a conduit for communications between staff and university leadership. After serving as chair-elect last year, Cannon will lead the organization’s efforts to create new and promote existing opportunities for staff development and growth, as well as provide a forum to discuss issues of importance to the university’s 650-plus full- and part-time staff.

Currently serving in the Business & Finance division as the university’s purchasing coordinator and P-Card Program administrator, Cannon has been on the university’s staff since 2017. She is a two-time CSU alumna and earned her Georgia Certified Purchasing Card Administrator (GCPCA) professional certification through the Georgia Department of Administrative Services. She is also a graduate of the LeadCSU program.

Also serving on the Staff Council’s Executive Board will be Cedricia Thomas, chair-elect (Leadership Institute); Ty’kia Johnson, secretary (Office of Human Resources); Venus Frank, membership coordinator (Office of Human Resources); John Wright, financial officer (Office of Residence Life); Danique Rouse, webmaster (Office of the Provost & Chief Academic Officer), and Jessie Merrell, past chair (Archives & Special Collections).

More about governance groups

Each group is led by a slate of officers voted on by its respective members. Each meets monthly throughout the fall and spring semesters.

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Main image: Barineau (left) and Cannon (right)

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu