Vol. 38, No. 18

2-4-2009
By: Jeff McCallister

From politically blasé to having a say as a faculty leader

Heather Allen had no desire to become involved in university governance when she joined Ohio State’s faculty nine years ago.

She had just finished a postdoctoral fellowship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s program in Climate and Global Change at the University of Oregon, and came to Columbus mainly to continue her research in the Department of Chemistry.

In fact, she didn’t know there was a University Senate, and wouldn’t have particularly cared at the time if she had known.

But as she was promoted from assistant to associate and then to full professor, she says she became more and more aware of the organization and the part it plays in the workings of the university itself.

And now that she holds one of the top four faculty leadership positions within the senate, she sees the difference that can be made with just a little effort and dedication.

“When I was starting out, my world as a professor included my research, my teaching and my service to the community — that was my job description and that was what I came here to do,” Allen says. “I’m a chemist, not a political scientist, and I figured it was best to stay as far away from politics as I could.”

But about two years ago, she got an e-mail from Matt Platz, then-dean of the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, encouraging her and other faculty to consider service to the university.

“They were trying to recruit a few people to run for senate seats representing MAPS, and I guess it made me kind of curious to see what it was all about. I ran for a seat and was elected, and I like to think I bring a unique perspective to some of the issues that the senate deals with.”

One of the first calls Allen got after the election was from the chair of the Steering Committee, Harald Vaessin, asking her to run for a two-year term on that committee. She was elected to chair the committee this year — one of the top leadership positions on the senate, along with Faculty Chair Dick Gunther, Vice Chair Tim Gerber and Secretary of the Senate Chris Zacher.

“Steering is the committee on committees,” Allen said. “It constantly evaluates the effectiveness of the other committees, recommends issues for investigation by committees or, if any of us has an idea we believe will enhance the university, we invite the individuals relevant to the idea to come and meet with us.

“I also like that Steering is made up of faculty senators, administration and student senators as well,” she said. “It’s a group with a wide view and wide understanding of what’s happening at the university.”

So from the position of Steering Chair, Allen says the next round of elections, which will take place in the colleges and student organizations over the next couple of months, take on even more significance.

Issues such as the possible conversion to semesters, sustainability and the greening of campus, streamlining, the reorganization of the Arts and Sciences, Ohio State’s place within the University System of Ohio and others will continue through the next several years.

“Being on the senate is not an overwhelming commitment, though it does take some effort,” she said. “But to have an opportunity to have a say in how the university is governed and have a say in how many of these issues affect us in our daily lives makes it worth it. It continues to enrich how I look at and how I do my job.”

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