Livingston to lead Faculty Senate, Cannon continues chairing Staff Council

August 7, 2026

Columbus State University’s Faculty Senate begins the 2026-27 academic year with Dr. Judith Livingston serving as its executive officer, and Katherine Cannon, GCPCA continues to chair the Staff Council for a second consecutive year.

Livingston, Faculty Senate

Livingston will serve as the Faculty Senate’s executive officer. The Faculty Senate provides a representative voice in university operations for more than 550 full- and part-time faculty and functions through a structure of elected officers and college senators.

A professor in the Department of English, Livingston has served on the Columbus State faculty since 2011 after teaching roles at Louisiana State University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and Tulane University. She recently chaired the university’s Department of English and is currently one of Georgia’s 16 Governor’s Teaching Fellows. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Davidson College, a master’s in English from North Carolina State University, and a Ph.D. in English from Louisiana State University. 

Also serving with Livingston in elected Executive Council roles will be Dr. Joshua Brooks, executive secretary (Department of Accounting & Finance) and members at-large Dr. Reba Wissner (Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music) and Dr. Lauren Neal (Department of Teacher Education, Leadership & Counseling. Dr. Clint Barineau (Department of Earth & Space Sciences), who served as the 2025-26 Faculty Senate executive officer, will serve in a non-voting, past council advisor role.

Cannon, Staff Council

Cannon continues her role as Staff Council chair for a second year, leading its efforts to create new and promote existing opportunities for staff development and growth, as well as providing a forum to discuss issues of importance to the university’s 650-plus full- and part-time staff. 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.

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 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 university’s LeadCSU program.

Also serving on the Staff Council’s Executive Board will be Chair -Elect Maya Shakoor (Office of Human Resources); Secretary Ty’Kia Johnson (Office of Human Resources); Membership Coordinator Jennifer Stone (TSYS School of Computer Science); Treasurer Lisa Nixon (Division of Student Afaris); Webmaster Kaylyn Carlisle (Office of Strategic Communication + Marketing); and Parliamentarian Jacob Wuwert (Fraternity & Sorority Life).

More about governance groups

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

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Media contact:  Michael Tullier, APR