Massachusetts Society of Professors

Executive Committee

MSP’s Co-Presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer make up the Executive Committee, informally known as MSP officers. They set the agenda for the Executive Board, evaluate priorities and plans, and oversee the MSP budget and operations.  MSP officers are elected by the membership at the spring General Assembly membership meeting.  Officers meet separately from the Executive Board during alternate weeks on Wednesday from 8:45 - 10:00 a.m. The Executive Committee also meets with the Chancellor and Provost once a month to discuss important issues raised by faculty and librarians. Officers serve three-year terms.  

Executive Board

The MSP Executive Board is the decision-making body of the union.  Executive Board members are elected at the spring General Assembly membership meeting. Meetings are held every two weeks on Wednesday from 8:45 - 10:00 a.m. Board members serve three-year terms.

Department Representatives and Activists

The MSP Department Reps and Activists are the first line of communication between what is happening in departments and the union. We rely on Reps and Activists to bring to the MSP issues that matter to faculty and librarians, while also letting our members know what the union is planning and how members can be involved.  Department Reps and Activists help MSP advance our mission as a social justice union to fight for more than just bread-and-butter issues, and to be engaged and involved in issues affecting our students and our community.

Contact the MSP Office for information on current department reps or if you are interested in representing MSP in your department.

Contract Bargaining Team and Support Committees

Every three years, the MSP elects a Contract Bargaining Team to negotiate the successor collective bargaining agreement.  This small group of faculty and librarians sits across the table from the administration, negotiates, and discusses any proposed changes to the contract.  At the same time, Bargaining Support Committees are responsible for working on specific issues, formulating bargaining proposals, and mobilizing people to support our positions.

The Contract Bargaining Team for the 2024-2027 contract in alphabetical order, consists of: Kate Hudson (College of Education), Marc Liberatore (CICS), Lori Reardon (MSP Director), Sigrid Schmalzer (History/HFA), Katie D'Urso (MTA), and Jeremy Smith (Libraries).

Faculty Advocates

Several faculty members serve as Faculty Advocates.  Formerly known as the Grievance Committee, this group works closely with individual faculty who are experiencing problems or trying to avoid potential problems in the workplace.  Faculty Advocates often accompany our colleagues to meetings, strategize about resolving concerns, and serve as liaisons with the MSP to support our members.

If assistance is needed, MSP staff will pair members up with a Faculty Advocate. This group is led by MSP Vice-President and Grievance Officer, Eve Weinbaum.  Current Faculty Advocates are: Luke Bouvier (French and Italian), Steve Eyles (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), Emily Hamilton (History), Clare Hammonds (Labor & Sociology), Kate Hudson (Educational Policy, Research & Administration), Josh Michal (Music and Dance), Jason Moralee (History), Christine Turner (Libraries) and Jake Zucker (Business Communication Program/Isenberg).

Staff

Katie D'Urso
kdurso@massteacher.org 
MTA Field Representative

Katie is our MTA Consultant assigned to represent MSP. Katie assists our local with contract language enforcement through both informal and formal processes and connects us to important MTA initiatives.
  

Lori Reardon
lreardon@umass.edu
MSP Director
413-545-2206

Lori is MSP's Director.  She oversees and coordinates the daily operations of the MSP.  Additionally, she advises individual bargaining unit members on a wide range of workplace issues and informs them of their rights, benefits and working conditions under the union contract. Together with MSP's grievance officer and MSP's MTA field representative, Lori works with UMass administrators to enforce the collective bargaining agreement through formal and informal processes.  She is also a member of the MSP's negotiating team during bargaining and she organizes and faciliates a variety of member trainings/workshops on topics such as tenure and promotion, NTT promotions, personnel committee trainings and retirement workshops.
 

Kristen Streahle
kstreahle@umass.edu
MSP Staff/Organizer
413-577-4121

Kristen recruits new members and union activists in order to build and strengthen the union.  She works on organizing initiatives and coordinates member outreach during campaigns.  She conducts new employee union orientations and assists new and current employees with membership questions and concerns.  Kristen also meets with and helps problem-solve workplace issues for MSP’s non-tenure track faculty members and provides staff support to MSP leaders.
 

Alisa Brewer
avbrewer@umass.edu
MSP Membership Coordinator

Alisa maintains and updates the union’s membership records.  She processes payroll deductions in coordination with HR and acts as the liaison between MSP and MTA with regard to collection of member dues. Alisa assists members with questions and issues specific to invoices, payroll deduction and membership status.