James (Jimmy) Guignard’s term as State APSCUF faculty officer-at-large began June 1. Photo/Submitted
While working in construction for six years, James (Jimmy) Guignard saw some of the effects of not having a union. When he got to Mansfield University in 2005, he said joining APSCUF was a “no brainer.” Now, 20 years later, the professor sits as an officer-at-large on State APSCUF’s executive council.
Guignard was raised in North Carolina. He started his higher education career at Appalachian State University, where he graduated with a degree in communications. Afterward, he worked nonunion construction, where he witnessed lack of overtime despite working overtime hours, having to pay for his own insurance, and no security in the position. When he went back to college, Guignard started as an English-education major, but later changed to an English major, so he could go straight into grad school. He then went on to receive his master’s in English from Western Carolina University. Wanting to move west, Guignard went to the University of Nevada, Reno, for his doctorate. After learning and teaching there, he graduated with a Ph.D. in English composition and rhetoric.
After graduating from his doctoral program, Guignard applied to close to 70 jobs across the country, and received a position with what was then Mansfield University, one of his first-choice schools, as an assistant professor and director of composition. The rural setting and prominent history of mining and fracking continued Guignard’s interest in environmental rhetoric. Biking the trails and roads surrounding Mansfield during the Marcellus Shale boom inspired him to write his book, “Pedaling the Sacrifice Zone: Teaching, Writing, and Living above the Marcellus Shale.”
When he arrived in Mansfield, Guignard did not know a lot about how unions work, but he knew the challenges of not having one.
“I do have a strong sense that a lot of times, employers will not take care of their employees in the way that they should,” Guignard said.
This notion compelled him to join APSCUF.
“I started getting more involved in it because I started understanding more about what the union was doing,” Guignard said.
Then retrenchments came.
“I saw how the union was helping out with that,” he said.
Guignard’s colleagues later elected him as a delegate to APSCUF’s legislative assembly. This past academic year, a couple of members asked him about running for officer-at-large.
“I hadn’t even thought about it — like it wasn’t even on my radar,” Guignard said. After a conversation with his chapter president, Guignard decided to nominate himself for the position.
“We Mansfield, we Commonwealth, we the State System need to be represented in as many conversations as we can be,” Guignard said.
Officers-at-large have a vote on the State APSCUF executive council. In Guignard’s officer role, which he is still learning, he is also a member of the personnel committee.
Back on campus, the professor of English teaches classes on composition and writing. Guignard was department chair for eight years, including two years during the consolidation process.
One of his favorite parts of working as a professor is the students, Guignard said. He mentioned it is rewarding watching students graduate knowing that he was a part of their academic journey.
“I like the fact that I’m constantly learning stuff myself from students,” he said. “So I know what I know, and I think I have stuff to offer to students, but they also have stuff to offer.”
—Ian Hall,
APSCUF intern
This post has been updated to correct information about Guignard’s service as a department chair.