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Indiana University of Pennsylvania student Jesse Daugherty visited the Pennsylvania Capitol as part of his summer internship with APSCUF’s government-and-communication department. Click here to learn more about APSCUF internships. APSCUF file photo

Honestly, coming into this internship, I had no idea what to expect. I don’t come from a union background, nor do I come from a higher-education background (I’m a first-generation college student.). That almost deterred me from even applying, but I’ve learned that is what internships are for: to learn and explore interests. That is exactly what APSCUF has offered me.

I’ve been interested in government for as long as I can remember, and my program at IUP has deepened my interest in our governance. From talking with representatives to interviewing faculty and coach members, APSCUF provided me with such an insightful experience that I think may lead me to continue work in the government or with another union.

The public-relations or PR aspect of this internship really showed me another side of union work, and even working with the government. If I begin working in municipal management, I will need to know how to create press releases, how to answer questions, and how to talk to people. Coming from a government background, those were skills I just didn’t possess when I began this internship. Kathryn Morton, APSCUF’s communications director, not only has these skills, but also the patience of a saint when teaching them. I felt in over my head when I first started writing for the union, but Kathryn not only encouraged me to continue writing, but provided valuable feedback to help me improve. While this internship only lasted 10 weeks, these skills I will carry with me for a lifetime.

Sean Crampsie, APSCUF’s director of government relations, has provided me with so many experiences of meeting new people, especially legislators. Just this week I met with Rep. Jacob Banta, and Rep. Jim Struzzi, who represent districts that include State System institutions. These sessions allowed me to see faculty concerns and how legislators respond to them. If you have any interest in government, these experiences are going to be especially helpful as you progress in your career. You can see just how hard government relations are to manage, and Sean has really opened my eyes to how you can thrive in a fast-paced environment. I attended fundraisers and was able to experience firsthand how powerful a good lobbyist can be for an organization. I’m not sure if lobbying is in my future, but I learned so much about how important it is to keep up with the ever-changing nature of the state legislature, a quality that I feel will help me in my career later.

I almost didn’t attend the interview for this internship, feeling my résumé was lackluster and my background wouldn’t fit what APSCUF was going for, but boy was I wrong. APSCUF has a special thing going on here, fighting not only for faculty, but for us as students. They showed me how powerful the impact our State System has on students, and how important it is for us to do everything we can for our campuses. I see why student support was so strong during the strike back in 2016. If I can even come close to working with an organization as passionate as APSCUF, I would be thrilled. If you have any doubts about applying, go for it! This experience will be short but leave a lasting impact. I no doubt will take more than a handful of new skills with me as I begin my career.

—Jesse Daugherty,
APSCUF intern

Dr. Chris Hallen, left, and Dr. Kara Laskowski talk at APSCUF’s April 2024 legislative assembly. Hallen is immediate-past vice president, and Laskowski took on the role in June. APSCUF file photo.

Dr. Kara Laskowski began her career as a communication professor at a nonunionized private institution, giving her firsthand experience in a workplace without a voice for the rank-and-file employees. She joined APSCUF in 2003, shortly after joining Shippensburg University as a temporary faculty member, becoming the fourth generation in her family to be a part of a union.

Speaking to the State System Board of Governors in July, Laskowski reaffirmed the union’s commitment to students.

“As vice president of APSCUF, I’m both grateful and proud to assert that it is our union that most directly, efficiently, and successfully allows all of us to meet our (State System) mission and serve our students,” Laskowski said.

Laskowski brings a wealth of experience to the position of vice president, including her most recent stint as the chair of the state meet-and-discuss committee. Her other APSCUF service has included roles at the campus level, positions that are more internal to APSCUF, and duties that require interaction with the State System. Her levels of experience have taught her the different workings of the union, she said.

“I really felt a sense of obligation and responsibility,” she said about running for vice president.

Laskowski discussed the previous state vice president, Dr. Chris Hallen, and how he brought a sense of calm that allowed APSCUF leaders to think and better understand relevancy and requirements before they jumped into action.

“He’s been somebody I’ve learned a great deal from,” Laskowski said.

She assumed her new position on June 1, and said her responsibilities include being the president’s designee on the meet-and-discuss committee, being a member of the executive council, serving at legislative assembly, being an ex-officio member of many committees, and serving as assigned by the president. The vice president also has responsibilities during negotiations for faculty and coaches.

In her new position, Laskowski said she wants to improve the strength of the contract and to support the union membership and staff in any way she can.

Laskowski said she wants to bring her communication background with her into the role.

“(I want to) do a lot of listening, to really understand what’s important to people and why,” Laskowski said.

Laskowski said faculty and coaches should join the union for practical reasons. For example, when working at a nonunionized private institution, she had no dental insurance, and would ask for her parents to pay for a dental cleaning as a Christmas gift. Educators who are unionized are able to control the curriculum and are empowered to advocate for their students, she said.

MORE ABOUT LASKOWSKI

Kara Laskowski first started at Shippensburg University as a temporary faculty member in 2003, becoming tenure-track in 2004. Today, she is chair of the Communication Studies Department. She served most recently as the state meet-and-discuss committee chair, but also chaired the public-relations committee and personnel committee, served as an at-large member of the executive council, and was chapter president of SU-APSCUF. She received her bachelor’s from Juniata College, and her master’s and doctorate are from Penn State.

—Jesse Daugherty,
APSCUF intern

Dr. Eric Hawrelak addresses APSCUF’s legislative assembly in April 2024. APSCUF file photo

Joining APSCUF was a no-brainer for Dr. Eric Hawrelak, who signed up during his 2004 new-faculty orientation at Bloomsburg University. He has a family history of union membership, with both his parents serving in union jobs. On June 1, Hawrelak succeeded Dr. Tom Stewart as State APSCUF’s treasurer. Hawrelak in his new position said he intends to assist chapters in using union dues to “do more for the membership,” such as activities to involve members. He said his primary job is to “watch and maintain what’s going on with our budget,” as well as working with Beth Connelly, State APSCUF’s director of finance and facilities. He said he’ll work on the budget projections that are done in February and maintain the books, making sure that financial matters are on the up and up.

Hawrelak served on the state budget committee for over 15 years, and he chaired the state mobilization committee, where he participated in the planning and coordination of the 2016 strike. He has a close working relationship with former State APSCUF Vice President Dr. Chris Hallen, who was a faculty member in the same department as Hawrelak at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg. Hallen, a past State APSCUF treasurer, encouraged Hawrelak to serve on the budget committee back in 2008. Hawrelak also is president of his local chapter at Bloomsburg.

“(Faculty and coaches) should join the union, because the union ultimately supports them,” Hawrelak said, outlining the benefits of the union. This includes pay, benefits, working conditions such as how many courses faculty teach, and union staff to assist members. Hawrelak stressed the importance of union membership, as it takes money to provide these services, and APSCUF can only do that with the help of the members.

HAWRELAK FACTS

Hawrelak is a professor in the department of biochemistry, chemistry, engineering, and physics at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg. He received his bachelor’s from Hamilton College in 1995, his master’s from the University of Kentucky in 1998, and his doctorate from Virginia Tech in 2002.

—Jesse Daugherty,
APSCUF intern

Patrick McGinty discusses the Pennsylvania Promise at APSCUF’s February 2024 legislative assembly. The Slippery Rock University member is State APSCUF’s new secretary. APSCUF file photo

Patrick McGinty brought his plus-one to the APSCUF strike in 2016.

“I walked the picket line as an adjunct, with my wife — my wife who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant,” McGinty said. As a new adjunct, the union’s fight was especially pertinent to him: One of the major sticking points of negotiations was adjunct courseload and compensation.

McGinty assumed the position of State APSCUF secretary on June 1, succeeding previous office-holder Dr. Michele Papakie. The Slippery Rock creative-writing professor has been involved in APSCUF since he became an adjunct in the fall of 2015. Since then, he has been involved with his chapter, including SRU-APSCUF’s executive council as the Committee for Action through Politics (CAP) chair.

The new secretary noted the retirements of prominent APSCUF executive council members, such as Dr. Chris Hallen and John Gump. McGinty said one of the reasons he ran for the position was to learn from more veteran members of APSCUF, such as Dr. Kenneth M. Mash and Dr. Kara Laskowski.

“We do not live forever, nor do we serve forever,” McGinty said. He said he wants to “be present, and to learn, and watch,” to prepare for a future when these experienced members of APSCUF retire, and the next generation must step into leadership roles.

McGinty said the duties of secretary include ensuring that minutes taken are accurate and without errors. McGinty plans to take in all he can during his time in Harrisburg. He said he will help push for more affordable higher education in Pennsylvania.

MORE ABOUT MCGINTY

Patrick McGinty received his bachelor’s from Denison University and his master’s from Portland State University — where he also spent time as an adjunct professor. He joined the faculty at Slippery Rock as an adjunct and was converted to assistant professor in 2022. In APSCUF, he served as the adjunct representative and CAP chair of his local EC, and he chairs the PA Promise Leaders committee. He published his first book, “Test Drive,” in 2022 and has another novel, “Town College Crypto Road,” on the way, scheduled for release in 2025.

—Jesse Daugherty,
APSCUF intern

John Gump has spent the last eight years continuing APSCUF’s fight for coaches. Rob Fulton of Shippensburg University aims to use his experience to continue this fight as the new coach executive leader for the union. This is only the second time since the coaches’ first collective bargaining agreement in 2002 that APSCUF has had a change in coach leadership, with the first leader, Keith White, taking office in 2014. Gump said Fulton’s experience on the negotiating team will be valuable, as the soccer coach starts his new position with the union.

Rob Fulton, left, is APSCUF’s new coach executive leader, succeeding John Gump. Photo/Kathryn Morton

Gump has been with APSCUF since the nascent days of coach representation. He also served as the coach executive leader from 2016 until the beginning of June, when Fulton took on the position. As the coach leader, Gump said the moment he was most proud of was the unity the coaches showed when the faculty went on strike in 2016.

“Even though the coaches did not go out, seeing our coaches on the picket line with their faculty colleagues on campuses across the System, I felt like that was a moment that the unity of our two bargaining units was at its peak, and the union was at its strongest,” he said.

Gump’s advice for his successor is to ask questions, saying there are many people within the organization who are knowledgeable.

“I leaned on them incredibly, incredibly, often,” he said.

Fulton learned of the importance of unions as he continued his athletic career. He joined APSCUF shortly after becoming a coach at Ship. He mentioned the benefits of being united while pursuing a challenging profession.

“A union provides its members a voice,” he said.

Within APSCUF, Fulton has worked alongside President Ken Mash and Gump, as well as with Dave Springer, the former coach president for Shippensburg-APSCUF. Fulton’s experiences include sitting on the coach-negotiation team for the past two contracts. He said Gump was extremely knowledgeable and dealt with coach issues and concerns with a great devotion to the union. Gump also did this with a sense of humor and positivity, Fulton said.

“He’s been a great influence,” Fulton said. “(I) really look up to him and have admired just his knowledge and the skills he’s acquired over the years to be an effective leader for our coaching group.”

Fulton said he plans to first learn the ins and outs of his new position and to speak with his chapter coach presidents. He said he’ll support the chapter coach leaders. In doing this, he said, he will also have to stay up-to-date on coaches’ issues throughout the State System, including issues relating to the coaches’ CBA. Fulton will give a coach report at legislative assembly and attend monthly State APSCUF executive-council meetings. Once he spends some time as the coach leader, he will begin to develop his long-term vision.

Coaches should get involved in APSCUF, Fulton said, as greater representation leads to a stronger voice, which in turn leads to better conditions for those who are part of the union.

ABOUT THE COACHES

John Gump was head coach of the Kutztown University women’s volleyball team from 1997 until 2021. He served as the coach executive leader from 2016 until June 1. Gump received his bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in 1988. Rob Fulton has been at Shippensburg University since 2004, and he’s been the head coach of the women’s soccer team since 2006. Fulton received his bachelor’s from Graceland College in 1992, and his master’s in 1999 from Southwest Texas State University. Fulton holds licensing in coaching from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the United States Soccer Federation.

—Jesse Daugherty,
APSCUF intern