Special Election of One Co-Chair | Education Committee
This election is for one Co-Chair to lead the Education Committee alongside Co-Chair Julie Crawford, the term beginning immediately and running until the opening meeting of Fall 2027.
This election is open to all members of the committee.
The successful candidate will serve a two-year term, beginning immediately and running until August 2027.
There are two candidates, listed in alphabetical order:
James Applegate
Professor of Astronomy
Department of Astronomy
I am a candidate to be co-chair of the Education Committee. I have been a member of the Education Committee for 29 years and I co-chaired it with Letty for about 20 of those years. I have been through a lot in my years of senate service, and I offer my experience and institutional memory. Columbia overall and the senate in particular are in flux right now. I can be a point of reference and stability, and a familiar face and voice to many at Columbia while our committee and the Senate make the transition to the administration of Persident Jennifer Mnookin.
Ulrich Hengst
Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology (in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain)
Department of Pathology and Cell Biology
I am honored to stand for election as co chair of the Education Committee. This is my second year representing tenured VP&S faculty on the University Senate and serving as a member of the Education Committee. If elected, I will work closely with Dr. Crawford to ensure that our committee meetings are managed efficiently and effectively. I am committed to handling routine and procedural matters promptly so that we can dedicate our time to the thoughtful, substantive discussions that our committee members bring forward.
As a PI on the medical school campus, my research focuses on neuronal resilience and neurodegeneration, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. I am an active mentor in the PhD and MD/PhD programs, and until recently served as director of two NIH funded training programs for advanced neuroscience PhD students and for postbaccalaureate students from non research oriented undergraduate institutions.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
In this special election of one Co-Chair of the Education Committee, turnout was 95 percent, with 18 of 19 votes cast. The following candidate was elected:
- Ulrich Hengst, Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology
Detailed results are available upon request.
Special Election to One Seat from the Tenured Faculty Caucus | Executive Committee
This special election is to fill one open seat on the Executive Committee from the Tenured Faculty Caucus.
All Tenured Faculty senators now serving are eligible to run in this election.
Ulrich Hengst
Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology (in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain)
Department of Pathology and Cell Biology
I am honored to be nominated for the open seat on the Executive Committee. This marks my second year in the University Senate and serving on the Education Committee. My motivation for my work in the University Senate stems from my strong belief that institutional shared governance is essential to ensuring academic freedom and fostering an open, inclusive, and equitable environment for all members of the Columbia community. Effective shared governance requires transparent communication and meaningful engagement across the University’s diverse schools, constituencies, and campuses. The past two years have underscored the significance of the Senate as a platform where all voices—faculty, staff, students, and administrators—are heard and respected, and where decisions reflect our foundational commitment to academic excellence, integrity, and community. If elected to the executive committee, I will continue to work in this spirit to support our shared agenda, increase the transparency and visibility of the University Senate’s work, and rebuild the Senate’s partnership with University leadership. Thank you for considering my candidacy.
Julia Hirschberg
Percy K. and Vida L. W. Hudson Professor of Computer Science
Department of Computer Science
I am happy to nominate myself as a candidate for one of the five Tenured Faculty positions on the Senate Executive Committee for the academic years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. I have been on the University Senate since 2009, chairing or co-chairing the IT (Information Technology) Committee as well. Each meeting we speak with two or more guests talking with us about computer security, new programs for use in research such as GradeScope and Overleaf, preparing for hybrid classrooms in 2020 due to Covid, allowing submission to Columbia only through swiping cards, the launch of Concur, the new Vergil, the use of ChatGPT, the impact of CrowdStrike on computer systems all over the world, and many other technologies important to academics, research and other university services. I would be pleased to share the most important discussions we have with the Executive Committee as well and make useful suggestions for next steps of the Senate.
Adana A. M. Llanos
Associate Professor of Epidemiology
Department of Epidemiology
I am honored to be nominated for the vacant tenured faculty seat on the Executive Committee of the University Senate. I bring a steadfast commitment to shared governance, academic freedom, and advancing excellence across our university community.
As a tenured Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Program Co-Leader of the Cancer Population Science Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, I have built a career grounded in rigorous scholarship, principled leadership, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Internationally recognized for my research on the molecular and social drivers of cancer survival disparities, my NIH-funded research reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that institutional policies and practices promote fairness, transparency, and meaningful opportunity.
Beyond my scholarship, I have mentored more than 40 trainees and early-career faculty, developed highly rated courses, and served in national and international leadership roles requiring thoughtful deliberation, coalition-building, and strategic decision-making. These experiences have strengthened my ability to navigate complex institutional challenges with clarity and resolve.
If elected, I will work to advance and strengthen shared governance, elevate faculty perspectives across schools, and help guide the Senate’s work with transparency, integrity, and purpose.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
After a tie in the first round of voting prompted a runoff election, in this election of one member of the Tenured Faculty Caucus to the Executive Committee of the University Senate, turnout was 83%, with 38 of 46 votes cast. The following candidate was elected:
- Adana A. M. Llanos | Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health
Detailed results are available upon request.