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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.

We were delighted to have Associate Professor Candice Riley of PennWest California as our faculty intern last week. She visited the Harrisburg office to interact with staff members and observe the spectrum of union administration. Members, watch the APSCUF newsletter next year for information about the summer 2026 faculty/coach internship.

APSCUF photo: Associate Professor Candice Riley of PennWest California visits the Pennsylvania Capitol June 10 during her APSCUF faculty internship.

Over the last year, many of our APSCUF members have been recognized for their work. Here is a showcase of some of their accomplishments.

From Commonwealth-Bloomsburg, Susan Kocher picked up her 400th win as head coach of Huskies softball.

PennWest California art Professor Jim Bové went to the arctic and came back with a message about cross-discipline science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) instruction.

Cheyney University’s Chef Ian Baker shared some of his experience teaching students at the Cheyney Grille.

PennWest Clarion Assistant Professor Natasha Dias, adviser to the Clarion International Association, helped organize and host the 18th annual cultural night. Also, PennWest  recognized her with a Keeper of the Flame award.

East Stroudsburg University’s Andy Gavalis, assistant professor of reading, and Ahmed Yousof, associate professor of art, media, and design, gave a presentation to faculty and students about neurodivergence in the classroom.

Associate Professor Camille Dempsey is the inaugural director of the new Center for Artificial Intelligence at PennWest Edinboro.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania Professor Alida Merlo marked her 30th year teaching criminology.

Professor Peg Speirs of Kutztown University was named Pennsylvania Art Education Association’s Outstanding Higher Education Art Educator in the fall.

Commonwealth-Lock Haven Professor Rick Schulze spoke about rural HIV outreach and prevention strategies at the PA Community and Public Health Conference.

Nick Mattis, the new cross-country coach of Commonwealth-Mansfield, led both the men’s and women’s teams to the PSAC championship.

Millersville Professor Dominique Didier led students in a hands-on learning experience where they sheared sheep.

Associate Professor Dhiman Chattopadhyay from Shippensburg University forged academic connections in India, enhancing student learning of conflict journalism.

Professor Sam Thangiah of Slippery Rock University showed off new holograms and talked about their usefulness.

For the seventh time in eight seasons, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference named Steve Mazurek women’s swim coach of the year. PSAC also awarded him the title of men’s swim coach of the year.

Want to share a member accomplishment? Tag APSCUF on social media or email .

—Ian Hall,
APSCUF intern

Edinboro student Ian Hall will intern with APSCUF’s government-and-communication department through August. Click here to learn more about APSCUF internships. Photo/Submitted

My name is Ian C. Hall. I am a student at PennWest Edinboro studying secondary education with a concentration in mathematics. I have done debates and a few presentations during the short time I have spent on campus thus far. I also work with the campus’s wheelchair basketball team, where I have learned a variety of skills and diversified my perspectives.

I am honored to be working with APSCUF as their summer intern. As an education major, all aspects of learning are important to me. This includes ensuring the rights of students and faculty are protected. This is the goal of APSCUF. APSCUF has many of the same values that I hold strong, and I am looking forward to contributing to a cause that I wholeheartedly agree with. This internship is exactly what I was looking for, and I am excited to start.

—Ian C. Hall,
APSCUF intern

The April 10 Board of Governors meeting streamed via YouTube. Below are Dr. Kenneth M. Mash’s comments as prepared.

Chair Shapira, Interim Chancellor Fiorentino, governors, presidents, and guests,

I am Ken Mash, and I am president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, the union that represents the faculty and coaches at our 14 great campuses.

Each semester, I do my best to visit all of the campuses, to meet with my colleagues, update them on what is happening in the Capitol and with the System, and to listen to their concerns. Those concerns vary by campus, but yet for the last couple of years there has been one consistent theme.

Governors, the faculty are just flat-out exhausted. Those at the consolidated campuses are exhausted from the shifting priorities, the shuffling of departments, the changes to curriculum, the lack of appropriate technology, and consistently being asked to do more and more and more with less.

Our faculty across the campuses are exhausted by ideas that do not seem fully thought through that emanate from the System. They are exhausted by the fact that their campus administrators also seem to not understand the dictates, or they perhaps seem to be engaged in an academic version of the children’s game “telephone” where the message gets changed just so slightly by each person who delivers it — until after some turns, the message is completely incomprehensible.

Our faculty are exhausted because of years of hiring freezes.

By the blame-shifting for drops in enrollments while they do not feel that they are being adequately supported.

By the expectation that as universities make cuts that they will pick up the slack. By the sense that all decisions are being driven by budgetary concerns without regard to pedagogy.

By the lack of accountability for some leadership, despite clear errors.

By the failure of some administrators to provide logical explanations for decisions.

By the levels of incompetence they too often encounter on their campuses.

By the cutbacks to student-support structures at their universities.

By the irrational combinations of disciplines into single departments.

By being asked to jump through hoops, jumping through those hoops, only to be told that the performance just wasn’t good enough.

I could add more, but that list is already quite long.

Governors, there is a lot going on in our nation. And there has been a lot going on on our campuses. My colleagues are exhausted, and morale is at the lowest level it has been since I began my career some time ago.

As one of my APSCUF colleagues put it succinctly, we all need a break.

Can we not go one semester without distractions, disappointments, and a push to do more with less? Can we not pause the wave on our campuses? Can administrators in the System and at our Universities give our faculty, our coaches, and our staff colleagues a respite? Can we not pause for one semester the “brilliant ideas,” the lectures (which are too often condescending), and the demands for people to do more or to change what has already been changed countless times?

Yes, we need a break. We need that break not so that we can make our lives easier nor to ignore problems. We need that so that we can do our jobs adequately. We have soldiered on. But our main job is to educate our students. We need that break to ensure our students continue to get the highest quality education.

Thank you for your attention.