APRIL DANIELS
Social Justice Director
April has been teaching in the ESOL/TRS department since 2014. Teaching courses that support predominately underserved students, the faculty in this department strive to carry out the very mission of diversity, equity, and inclusion, despite the systemic barriers within higher education. She is proud to be a part of this dedicated team of equity-minded, compassionate, and innovative educators. As a proud alumna of MCC and now a proud faculty member, April is intimately acquainted with the necessity for the entire college community to experience the benefit of a robust historically underrepresented faculty. Promoting and protecting diversity, equity, and inclusion is a primary motivation for her service at a community college. In addition to serving on Faculty Council, April is beginning her first term as a senator, serving on the SCAA committee.
April lives on a small-but-tranquil bit of nature, and when not working, she cherishes her quiet time with her books, her 3 cats, the wild animals on her property, and her close loved-ones.
JOE SCANLON
Legislative Chair
LISA EKIERT
Site Representative
Jay has been teaching English full-time at MCC since 2001, primarily technical writing, business communication and literature. Prior to MCC, he worked in the private sector as a technical writer and engineer. He did his MA and PhD work at Binghamton, and his BS in math at Bucknell. At MCC, he has been hiring chair three times, and currently serves as retention, tenure promotion chair for the English/Philosophy department. He looks forward to this new role with the FA helping with internal and external communication.
MEET YOUR FA LEADERSHIP
Faculty Council
BETHANY GIZZI
President
Bethany began her career as an adjunct in 1997 and has been full-time at MCC since 2001.. She has been in a leadership role in the union since 1999 and has served as the FA President since 2011. She also serves as a member of the AFT Higher Education Program and Policy Council, the NYSUT Higher Education Policy Council, the NYSUT Women’s Committee and both the NYSUT & AFT LGBTQ+ Committees. Her academic areas of expertise include gender & sexuality studies, sociology of the family, social movements and environmental sociology. Bethany developed the Gender & Sexuality studies degree at MCC and serves as the faculty advisor for students in that program. She also serves as the faculty advisor for the student LGBTQ+ co-curricular club, the Pride Alliance and is a certified Safe-Zone trainer and Implicit Bias/Anti-racism trainer.
AMANDA COLOSIMO
Executive VP
Amanda Colosimo has taught geology full-time geology at Monroe Community College since 2004. She teaches a wide range of geosciences courses, including Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Great Mysteries of the Earth, Geology of the National Parks, and Field Studies in Geology.
Beyond the classroom, Amanda has taken on several leadership roles across the college. Her work as a member and then chair of the Faculty Senate Professional Development Committee and Academic Policies Committee culminated in her service as Faculty Senate President. Additionally, she has served as interim coordinator of the Teaching and Creativity Center and the co-chair for Standard III in MCC’s most recent Middle States Reaccreditation.
Committed to equity and collaboration, Amanda strives to ensure that the voices of faculty, staff, and students are heard and respected in every space she serves. While she previously held the position of Teaching Representative on the FA’s Faculty Council, she currently serves as the Executive Vice President, NYSUT Representative Assembly Delegate, and Contract Administrator, and serves on the Executive, Labor- Management, and Health Care Committee. Amanda’s free time is spent pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of South Carolina, co-hosting her podcast, Coffee Break Classroom: Brewed for Higher Ed, and spending time with loved ones.
JENNIFER HILL
Vice President for Teaching Faculty
Jennifer has been teaching in the Biology Department at Monroe Community College since 2006 and has been involved in the Faculty Association since 2008. She has held a variety of positions including Secretary, Acting Contract Chair, Institutional Chair and currently serves as the Vice President for Teaching Faculty. Additionally, she has served on the Executive Committee, Labor-Management Committee and several Negotiation Teams. Jennifer’s commitment to providing an outstanding, affordable and transformative learning experience for our students is the foundation of her work as an educator at MCC. As a union leader, she strives to represent our members fully and fairly and help maintain a high-quality workplace and institution for students and all employees. We are “stronger together”.
BECKY BABCOCK
Vice President for
Professional Staff
Becky began her career at MCC in 2009, starting in the Admissions Office before moving to Schools @MCC. She now serves as Associate Director in Student Success & Advising Services, where she continues to champion student support and institutional collaboration. From early on, Becky engaged with union work—attending Contract 101 sessions and contributing to labor-management and contract negotiation subcommittees. Her involvement has included service on the Faculty Resource Committee (FRC), participation in FA leadership trainings, and regular attendance at Faculty Council meetings. She served on the Faculty Senate for 13 years, culminating in her presidency from 2023 to 2025. That same year, she transitioned into a leadership role within the union, continuing her commitment to shared governance and faculty and professional staff advocacy. Beyond her union and governance work, Becky has contributed to numerous college-wide committees, consistently bringing thoughtful leadership and a student-centered approach to every initiative.
JAY KEITH
Communications Director
JULIE SLATE
At-Large Representative
Julie is the Director of Admissions at MCC. She has been working for the college in the Admissions Office since 2009 & has 15 years of Admissions experience including extensive experience in recruitment and sales. Julie has been involved in numerous college-wide committees, as well as in local, state and national leadership positions including serving as President of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC), Region 1 Director of AAWCC through the National Board, Chair of the Rochester Area College Committee, and SUNY College Admissions Professionals E-Board Community College Representatives. In 2019, Julie was named SUNYCAP Professional of the Year. Julie holds a B.S. in Marketing from SUNY Oswego and an MBA from Medaille College. She is currently enrolled in the Educational Doctorate of Higher Education leadership program at American College of Education.
JEFF BAKER
Secretary/ Treasurer
Jeff is Adjunct Professor of Psychology in his 24th year at MCC. He also taught at RIT and other universities. Jeff held the role of Adjunct Director or Chair for seven years and is now FA Secretary/Treasurer. He was twice a member of the FA negotiating team, served on adjunct and communication sub-teams, presented three times at the NYSUT Community College Conference, and conducted FA workshops for adjunct faculty. He is past president of the New York State Conference of the American Association of University Professors (both a faculty union and a non-disciplinary professional advocacy group now affiliated with AFT), and of the Learning Disabilities Association of New York State, where he is currently a Trustee. He has an M.S. in counseling and a Ph.D. in psychology with an educational specialization.
Ryan Clemens
At-Large Representative
ANTONIA CUSTODIO
Professional Staff Representative
Antonia started at MCC in 1992 as a receptionist in the Student Services Office at the Damon City Campus. She is now the Director – Capital Planning & Project Management. In her role, she provides leadership and direction for the planning, development and management of construction and capital projects. Toni has served in many college-wide committees and initiatives, as well as in local, state, and national leadership positions including Chair for the Latino Empowerment Network (LEN) MCC affinity group; President, President-Elect, and Secretary of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC); served on the Ad Astra Client Advisory Board; 2006 graduate of the Latino Leadership Development Program through United Way; 2017 MCC’s President’s Emerging Leaders Fellowship; 2019 Institute Fellow for the SUNY Hispanic Leadership Institute. Toni is a lifelong learner and is always seeking ways to engage with colleagues and students to make MCC a destination. Toni’s heart is her two grown adult boys Daniel and Jeremiah. She enjoys landscaping and adult coloring.
ERIC BERG
Teaching Representative
Eric has many years of experience as a classroom teacher and is proud to serve as a Teaching Representative to the Faculty Council. Having first taught high school math in the city of Buffalo for seven years, Eric has been a full time faculty member at MCC since 2015. Eric was originally hired to serve in the Transitional Studies Department (TRS), where he enjoyed many years supporting and advocating for students who arrive at the college under-prepared for college coursework. He now continues this service to students as a member of the Mathematics Department. From the University at Buffalo, Eric earned both his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education. Outside of his professional life, Eric enjoys working out, tackling home improvement projects, and being outdoors walking his dog, hiking, camping, or kayaking.
Melissa Santiago
Professional Staff Representative
ROBERT LEOPARD
Adjunct Representative
When I started teaching at Oakland University I was pleased to find that we were part of the AAUP. I am still benefiting from having been in that union.
At Cayuga Community College I worked to try to establish an adjunct union. Now, long after I left, they finally have one.
At Finger Lakes Community College I contacted NYSUT about establishing an adjunct union and our campaign was successful. I was on the first negotiating team even though I was by then full-time at MCC.
During my full-time years at MCC I was on the Faculty Council. I like to think that I made genuine contributions at that time, not the least was helping thwart the board’s attempts to appoint Bill Smith as president.
I’m now adjunct at both MCC & FLCC and benefitting from the presence of unions at both. I hope to be of benefit to the adjuncts at MCC.
BILL HORTON
Grievance Officer
Bill was born and raised in North Chili, NY, graduated from York Central, and is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He obtained an A.A.S. in Heating and Air-Conditioning Technology in 1992 and completed a 5 year apprenticeship in HVAC (Journeymen) with Sheet Metal Workers Local 46, May 1997; working for 15 years for the Leo J. Roth Corporation as an HVAC field technician and an apprentice instructor at the union hall. He became an HVAC Instructor at MCC in 2007. He earned a B.S. in Vocational and Technical Education in 2016 from Empire State College and a Masters in Adult Education from Buffalo State College in 2017. He is pleased to have a chance to serve on Faculty Council as the site director for the Applied Technologies Center and hopes to become more involved in union leadership. Bill enjoys all outdoor activities including hiking, biking, camping, and fishing. He has two huge dogs that he loves to walk in all four seasons of weather and incredible beauty of New York State. He has enjoyed 28 years of marriage to his wonderful wife as they raised their son and daughter.
GORDON DUTTER
Teaching Representative
Gordon has been teaching history at MCC since 2004 and teaching somewhere since 1983. It is possible he has learned something about teaching, but also possible he just tells everything to his dogs and cats and then forgets. He is delighted to be back in the classroom and to see students and activity around MCC. Please share any concerns about teaching conditions at MCC and ideas about how to address them.
ELLEN MANCUSO
NYSUT PAC Representative
As your NYSUT rep to our local Political Action Committee, Ellen works on behalf of higher education. She is one of five local Political Action Coordinators (PAC) and serves as a liaison to our Regional Political Organizer, Anthony Plonczynski-Figueroa, and NYSUT’s Legislative Department. Our PAC team along with two Vote Cope Coordinators create strategic plans for regional political actions and for our lobbying efforts and interviews state legislative candidates to make recommendations to NYSUT. Ellen and the PAC team organize meetings and advocacy efforts on behalf of all NYSUT members, including taking part in labor walks, phone-banks, and local AFL-CIO Labor Councils. Ellen has been an activist for public education for over 28 years, serving as MCC’s Legislative Chair for 22 years. She continues to work with the MCCFA to improve educational funding in NYS.
CLAIRE GOVERTS
Membership Director
JUDI SALSBURG TAYLOR
Action & Organizing Director
JORDAN FOREST MILLER
Adjunct Representative
SONJA LENHARD
Office Manager
Sonja has been employed with the FA since 1999. She started off as a part-time secretary then became full-time several years later and is now the FA Office Manager. She also serves on the FA Scholarship committee and coordinates all of the FA events & parties. Sonja received her Associates Degree from MCC in 2011. She has worked alongside FA Administrator Director, Marlene Goho, and past FA presidents Mike Goho and Charlie Clarke. Sonja enjoys camping, biking & hiking with her husband and crazy dog Finn. She has two grown boys, Nick and Zack.