DeBruyn, Merrell elected to lead faculty, staff governance organizations

August 2, 2024

Columbus State University’s faculty and staff governance bodies will begin the 2024-25 academic year with new leadership. They include Dr. Michelle DeBruyn, who will serve as the executive officer of the Faculty Senate, and Jessie Merrell, who will chair the Staff Council.

DEBRUYN AND THE FACULTY SENATE

DeBruyn will lead the Faculty Senate, which serves as a representative faculty voice in university operations, as its executive officer. It functions through a structure of elected officers and college senators.

A professor in the Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music, DeBruyn has served on the faculty since August 2005. Her teaching focuses on classical and contemporary applied voice and preparing future educators to teach voice. She also serves as the music director for many main stage Department of Theatre and Dance musicals. Her previous Faculty Senate roles have at-large Executive Council member (2021-22) and chair of its Committee on Committees (2023-24).

Also serving with DeBruyn in elected Executive Council roles will be Dr. Bobby Nixon, executive secretary (Department of Society, Culture & Languages) and members at large Dr. Adam Bova (Department of Communication) and Dr. Lydia Ray (TSYS School of Computer Science). Libby McFalls, who served as the Faculty Senate’s 2023-24 executive officer, will serve in a non-voting, ex officio past council advisor capacity.

MERRELL AND THE 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. Merrell 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 staff.

An archival associate in the CSU Libraries’ Archives & Special Collections, Merrell began working at Columbus State in 2019. Her work involves collecting, preserving and providing access to historical and cultural materials curated by the university’s archives. Her previous Staff Council roles have included membership coordinator and chair-elect .

Also serving on the Staff Council’s Executive Board will be Katie Cannon, chair-elect (Purchasing Office); Raquel Aponte, secretary (Center for Global Engagement); Venus Frank, membership coordinator (Office of Human Resources); Kristi Rehrauer, financial officer (Honors College); and Tomiko Roberts, webmaster (Center of Online Learning).

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