January 25, 2005

	Allen Warner, incoming Faculty Senate president and professor of curriculum and instruction. Photo by Thomas Shea

Since Allen Warner arrived at the University of Houston in 1974, he has worn too many hats to count.

As a principal figure in the College of Education, the professor of curriculum and instruction has served as director, department chair, associate dean and dean. For the past four years, his focus has extended beyond the college as a Faculty Senate member, serving on several of its committees and as its secretary. On Wednesday, January 26, Warner will become the Faculty Senate’s new president.

Warner sat down with UH Today to discuss his hopes and goals for 2005.

A Four years ago, some of my colleagues asked me to become a candidate for the senate. A year or two after becoming a senator, I was asked to be a candidate for the senate’s secretary position and then asked be a candidate for president. I was fortunate enough to be elected to both positions. I agreed to run for the senate’s presidency because I strongly believe that the faculty is the backbone of an institution of higher learning.

Q What are the key issues facing the senate this year?

A The biggest issue concerns the Faculty Senate Commission on University Governance, which is a joint effort between the senate and President Jay Gogue and his leadership team. This Commission is looking at ways to institutionalize a strong working partnership between the faculty and the university’s administration on a continuing basis. My personal desire is to develop partnerships that are less dependent on personalities or who is leading either the senate or the university’s administration at a given time. We also want to see more family-friendly policies. It’s important that faculty have the opportunity to have both a career and a family. These issues tend to impact women faculty especially, and at the moment only about one quarter of UH’s full time, tenure track faculty are women. We need to pay special attention to ways to attract potential faculty members who want to raise families and contribute to the quality of this university. That means support to achieve excellence in teaching, scholarship and creative activity, as well as, professional and community service. All of which comprise the duties of faculty and are consistent with the recent strategic plan draft adopted by the UH System Board of Regents.

Q This year will be very active for the senate, considering the current legislative session and the Senate-sponsored Scholarship and Community Conference in the fall. What are your feelings about leading the senate during this time?

A It’s very exciting, but there’s also pressure to get things done in a short amount of time. I will only be in this role for one year. I’m not anxious, though, because I will be working with colleagues in the senate for whom I have great respect.

Q Have you set any specific goals for yourself as president?

A Whenever I accept a leadership position, I do so with the goal of creating something that will benefit the organization long after I have left office. I hope that a year or two after my term expires some of the things I have helped to put in place are institutionalized within the senate. I also am hopeful that if I have any legacy, it will be to move us toward an ethos of continuing partnerships and mutual respect that will benefit the university for years to come.

Mike Emery
memery@central.uh.edu