Vote Tuesday, April 11

Endorsements

NANCY JOHNSON BLACK

“As an IFO Board Member, I have seen Nancy Black’s strong leadership qualities.  She courageously speaks up and speaks out for our membership in many different forums.  In today’s environment, there are a variety of well-organized special interest groups whose motives and actions are undermining the foundations of public higher education in Minnesota.  To counter balance such influences, we need an articulate spokesperson who has the courage to refocus the public debate on the importance of Minnesota’s long-standing commitment to creating access, quality and opportunity in our public universities.  Nancy Black fulfills that role well. She is a well-informed and forthright advocate for the IFO, and for the ideals of academic integrity that are the cornerstone of our faculty union.  I wholeheartedly support the reelection of Nancy Black as our IFO President.”

Gerald Toland, IFO Board Member, Southwest Minnesota State

“I have had the pleasure of working with Nancy Black for the past two years and she has been an excellent president!  She has given the IFO a respected academic presence at MnSCU Board of Trustees meeting and has worked very hard to make the IFO function more professionally.”

            Mary Kesler, FA President, Winona State University

“Dr. Black is completing her first two-year term as President of the IFO.  I believe we need to reelect her to carry through on the improvements she has initiated.  She is an amazingly strong and determined person with a keen understanding of both the economic and academic issues that face us in dealing with MnSCU and the State of Minnesota.”     

            Cindy Phillips, FA President, Minnesota State University Moorhead

“Nancy Black has been a strong and knowledgeable leader for the IFO over the past two years.  She represents and advocates for the faculty in a professional effective manner, and I support her nomination for a second term.”

            Derek Webb, IFO Board Member, Bemidji State University

“I endorse without reservation the election of Nancy Black to IFO President. In her last terms as President, she has placed a new emphasis on academics through coordination of the work of the central office with statewide committees.  This emphasis is also apparent in statewide Meet and Confer and in written communications with MnSCU representatives.  I am impressed with her forcefulness and professionalism in working with MnSCU and with the Chancellor as well as her responsive and responsible leadership within the IFO.  I hope that the IFO will endorse Dr. Black’s high quality work by electing her for a second term.”

            Judy Kilborn, FA President, St. Cloud State University

“Nancy Black is a dedicated faculty member who exhibits the characteristics I admire most in a leader; strong commitment, solid reasoning, insightful humor, and ethical follow-through.  It is an honor to work with her.

            Ruth Zietlow, IFO Board Member, Metropolitan State University

“Over the past two years as faculty association president at Southwest State University, I have had the opportunity work with Nancy Black, IFO president.  Nancy possesses solid leadership and has successfully led the IFO through difficult issues encountered with MnSCU and the IFO organization. I strongly support Nancy in her bid for the IFO presidency and feel confident that she will continue to help our union achieve its goals.”

            George Seldat, FA President, Southwest State University

“As Treasurer this year, it has been a pleasure working with President Black.  She has been diligent in controlling spending so that we did not have to institute the possible 5 percent dues increase in 2005-2006 as authorized at the 2004 Delegate Assembly.”

            Annette Schoenberger, IFO Treasurer, St. Cloud State University

“It is with pleasure that I am unequivocally endorsing Nancy Black in her campaign for re-election as the president of the IFO.  I have worked Nancy the past year as an IFO Board Member.  She is thoughtful, assertive and assure that everyone’s voices are hears.  She represents the union with dignity and integrity.”

            Cindy Killion, IFO Board, Winona State University

“Working with Nancy Black over the past two years has been refreshing in that her eye is always on the same prize; supporting faculty so that they can continue best-practices scholarly service to the state while being respected as people.  Nancy has demonstrated strength as a political, economic, and organizational leader during times of transition and challenge—she has my strong vote of support once again.  I look forward to benefiting from her continued work over the next biennium.”

            Sonja Meier, IFO Board, Minnesota State University, Mankato

“Nancy Black is an outstanding leader who works tirelessly to ensure that the professionalism, excellent teaching and research, and commitment to students by faculty at state universities is represented to the Legislature, the MnSCU Board of Trustees, the Office of the Chancellors, and the public.  It has been an honor to work with her the last two years.”

            Becky Omdahl, FA President, Metropolitan State University

"It has been my distinct pleasure to have had the opportunity to work with IFO President Dr. Nancy Black.  Nancy has done an outstanding job of improving our organization, and we should look forward 5to another successful two year term."

            Steve Bohnenblust, FA President, Minnesota State University, Mankato

"President Nancy Black has proven to be an energetic and skilled leader for the Inter Faculty Organization.  She has made important decisions and moved the organization in a positive and productive direction.  I endorse her second term with confidence and enthusiasm."

            David Larkin, FA President, Bemidji State University

I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and thank them for all their considerable help as we move forward together.

     - Nancy Johnson Black