Leadership

George Luta, Ph.D.

Faculty Senate President

The Faculty Senate President is responsible for bringing information, as well as concerns and/or needs of the University faculty to the Senate for discussion. The President is responsible for making sure that the Senate performs the functions set out in the Senate Constitution. The President provides a transparent interface of communication between the administration (University President, CFO, EVPs) and the faculty, communicating faculty concerns to the administration, and bringing information from the administration to the faculty through Senate meetings.

“It is a great honor to serve as the President of the Faculty Senate. In this role, I will make all the necessary efforts to ensure that our faculty can effectively and efficiently participate in the robust shared governance of Georgetown University. To be successful in what we do, we need to identify our long-term goals, establish and actively pursue clearly defined priorities, and, last but not least, operate in a proactive manner.“

Andreas Kern, Ph.D.

Vice President, Main Campus Caucus

The Senate Vice President, Main Campus, is responsible for helping to bring the concerns of the main campus faculty and community to the University Senate and leadership, and to keep the Main Campus faculty up-to-date on Senate activities and decisions through coordination with the Main Campus Executive Faculty.

“Coming to Georgetown more than fifteen years ago, I have always admired the dedication to learning and service that reflects the heart of this community and its Jesuit mission. As Vice President of the University Senate, I look forward to working with colleagues across schools and campuses to strengthen the connections that link faculty, students, staff, and administration. My aim is to build bridges where they are most needed and to ensure the Senate remains a forum for thoughtful dialogue and constructive problem-solving. This role offers a unique opportunity to look ahead not only at today’s decisions but at how we can position Georgetown to thrive in the years ahead.“

Jessica Jones, Ph.D.

Vice President, GUMC Caucus

The Senate Vice President, Medical Center, is responsible for helping to bring the concerns of the GUMC faculty and community to the University Senate and leadership, and to keep the GUMC faculty up-to-date on Senate activities and decisions. The Medical Center Vice President runs the Medical Center Caucus, and the Medical Center Executive Faculty, with a primary role of leading Senate-related activities at the Medical Center.

“For the past three years as a member of the Faculty Senate, I have represented the interests of GUMC faculty as we adjusted to the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the return to campus, I have worked to make sure we have the facilities necessary to carry out our research, education, and clinical missions. I welcome the opportunity to represent my colleagues in the GUMC Senate Caucus and ensure that our voices are heard by leadership.”

Anupam Chander, J.D.

Vice President, Law Caucus

The Senate Vice President, Georgetown Law, is responsible for helping to bring the concerns of the Law school faculty and community to the University, and to keep the Law School faculty up-to-date on Senate activities and decisions.

“It’s an honor to serve as a Vice President of the Georgetown University Senate. I hope to continue to build Georgetown’s deep commitment to both academic excellence and ethical leadership.”

Lisa Strong, Ph.D.

Secretary-Treasurer

The Secretary-Treasurer prepares the minutes of Senate and Steering Committee meetings and ensures they are properly approved and recorded.

“I have represented the Main Campus on Faculty Senate since 2018 and have been a member of the Election Committee and the Main Campus Caucus since 2022. Over the years, I have participated in key discussions about grievance policy, COVID-19 policy, rank and tenure policy, and faculty and staff satisfaction surveys. As Secretary, I prepare and organize minutes for full Senate and Steering Committee meetings to ensure senators and Georgetown community members alike have access to the body’s deliberations and decisions.”

Officer Roles

The Senate has five Officers: a President, a Vice-President for each campus, and a Secretary-Treasurer. Officers must be members of the Senate. Detailed information about the Officer roles is available below to encourage faculty to learn more about the positions and potentially get involved in Senate leadership. Per Section 6 of the Faculty Senate Constitution, the Senate Officers serve three-year terms, beginning September 1. The President and Secretary-Treasurer have a limit of two consecutive full terms. In the event that a vacancy occurs, there shall be a special election. The next Faculty Senate Officer election will occur in Spring 2028. Please contact facultysenate@georgetown.edu with any questions.

The Faculty Senate President is responsible for bringing information, as well as concerns and/or needs of the University faculty to the Senate for discussion. The President is responsible for making sure that the Senate performs the functions set out in the Senate Constitution. The President provides a transparent interface of communication between the administration (University President, CFO, EVPs) and the faculty, communicating faculty concerns to the administration, and bringing information from the administration to the faculty through Senate meetings. The time commitment is substantial, with responsibilities including running Faculty Senate, Senate Steering Committee, and Senate Budget Committee meetings; setting the agenda and running the Faculty Affairs Subcommittee at the Board of Directors meetings; meeting regularly with University leaders and faculty; and attending other University functions. The position is recognized with an annual $10,000 stipend, and $20,000 research fund.

The Senate Vice President, Law Center, is responsible for helping to bring the concerns of the Law school faculty and community to the University, and to keep the Law School faculty up-to-date on Senate activities and decisions. The time commitment is substantial, including actively participating in the Faculty Senate, Senate Steering Committee and Senate Budget Committee, meeting with University leaders and faculty, and attending other University functions. The Senate Vice President of each campus shall call and chair meetings of its Caucus unless the Caucus elects another chair. The Senate Vice President from each campus shall appoint annually the election officer(s) for that campus. The position is recognized with an annual $5,000 stipend, and $10,000 research fund that can also be used for a course buy-out (if approved by Unit head).

The Senate Vice President, Main Campus, is responsible for helping to bring the concerns of the main campus faculty and community to the University Senate and leadership, and to keep the Main Campus faculty up-to-date on Senate activities and decisions through coordination with the Main Campus Executive Faculty (MCEF). The time commitment is substantial, including actively participating in the Faculty Senate, Senate Steering Committees and Senate Budget Committees, meeting with different University leaders and faculty several times a month, and attending other University functions. The Main Campus Vice President runs the Main Campus Caucus, with a primary function of assessing Senate activities, staffing Main Campus and Universities committees (Including UCRT), and serves as a liaison between Senate and the MCEF. The position is recognized with an annual $5,000 stipend, and $10,000 research fund that can also be used for a course buy-out (if approved by Unit head).

The Senate Vice President, Medical Center, is responsible for helping to bring the concerns of the GUMC faculty and community to the University Senate and leadership, and to keep the GUMC faculty up-to-date on Senate activities and decisions. The time commitment is substantial, including actively participating in the Faculty Senate, Senate Steering Committee and Senate Budget Committee, meeting with University leaders and faculty, and attending other University functions. The Medical Center Vice President runs the Medical Center Caucus, which also functions as the Medical Center Executive Faculty, with a primary role of leading Senate-related activities at the Medical Center. The Senate Vice President of each campus shall call and chair meetings of its Caucus unless the Caucus elects another chair. The Senate Vice President from each campus shall appoint annually the election officer(s) for that campus. The position is recognized with an annual $5,000 stipend, and $10,000 research fund that can also be used for a course buy-out (if approved by Unit head).

The Secretary-Treasurer prepares the minutes of Senate and Steering Committee meetings and ensures they are properly approved and recorded. The Senate President may delegate management of the Senate budget to the Secretary-Treasurer. The position is recognized with an annual $2,500 stipend, and $5,000 research fund that can also be used for a course buy-out (if approved by Unit head).