COLLEGE OF THE ROCKIES FACULTY ASSOCIATION
2022-2023 EXECUTIVE & COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Joan Kaun | President | [email protected]
Joan has been with the College since 1992. She currently teaches in the OFAD program and has been actively involved with CORFA since 2003. In 2016, Joan was acclaimed as president and is beginning her 7th year in this capacity. One of her goals for this term is succession planning as she looks toward passing the torch and embracing retirement in a few years.
Joan has been in Cranbrook since 1982 when she began her post-secondary studies at East Kootenay Community College. She married her husband Darrell in 1987 and they raised their three children in the community. They have been blessed with four grandchildren who also live in Cranbrook.
CORFA Liaison: College Policy Committee and Board of Governors Faculty Rep.
Sheena Svitich | Vice President | [email protected]
I’m Sheena Svitich and I’m honoured to be acclaimed to the position of vice-president of CORFA for the next two years. I started at the Cranbrook campus of the College in November 1998 in an excluded position for two weeks and then shortly became auxiliary faculty in the Office Administration program. I worked in support staff administrative positions at COTR in the meantime and became a full-time regular in the program in 2013. I have been CORFA secretary for several years and have learned so much about our local and FPSE during this time. I’m excited about my new role in CORFA in more of a forward-facing role and hope to serve faculty in a way that demonstrates solid, thoughtful connection and leadership.
My husband Doug works as a groundskeeper for the College, and I have a 13-year-old daughter, Casey, who is in Grade 8. We live in Marysville, near Kimberley.
CORFA Liaison: Communications & Engagement Committee, Policy Committee, Human rights & International Solidarity Committee, Climate Action Standing Committee, Sustainability Committee, and Wellness Committee.
Kevin Boehmer | Chief Bargainer | [email protected]
My name is Kevin Boehmer (pronounced Beemer) and I was born and raised in Creston. I did my post secondary in Lethbridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Management, Accounting major from the University of Lethbridge (my first 2 years were done at Lethbridge Community College). I worked for a little bit in the area before moving back home to Creston. I obtained my Chartered Accountant designation (now called a Chartered Professional Accountant) in 2012 and left public practice accounting soon after. I have worked as a director of finance, ran my own accounting firm for a couple of years and even served a term as a councillor for the town of Creston. I have been teaching at the college since 2015 and absolutely love it, I find it really fulfilling to teach students and help them on their life journey. I moved from Creston to Cranbrook in 2021 as I had been commuting before then and my back told me it was time to stop that. I have been the Chief bargainer for the college since late fall 2020. My wife and I have 4 lovely daughters; they are a wonderful blessing, and I am so grateful to get to spend time with my wife and our daughters (even though some are teenagers). I enjoy playing and watching hockey and am usually game to play pretty much any sport. I have picked up pickleball and disc golf the last couple of years and am surprised at how enjoyable they are. I have been trying to walk and bike to work regularly and have found that it really helps me feel mentally well. Thanks for taking the time to read this bio and have a lovely day!
CORFA Liaison: Bargaining Committee, Professional & Scholarly Development Committee, and Faculty Development Committee
Andrea Hyde | Chief Steward | [email protected]
My name is Andrea Hyde and I teach Math and Stats in the University Studies department. Before I began teaching five years ago, I worked in finance in Nelson, BC. I live in Cranbrook with my partner, Austin, and our three dogs. I am a proud intersectional feminist and I strive to use the lens of equity in all of my work. I am also a humble learner and try to maintain a growth mindset in all areas of my life. As your Chief Steward, I work for you. My duty and accountability are to you, the members. I look forward to my second year in this role and to all the challenges and rewards that it brings.
CORFA Liaison: Stewards Committee, Non-Regular Faculty Committee, Academic & student Affairs Policy
Leslie Molnar | Member at Large | [email protected]
I joined the College in September of 1988 and since that time have instructed ABE math and chemistry, and University Studies Math and Statistics.
I have held the role of College of the Rockies’ Faculty Association (CORFA) president from 1999 – 2001 and again from 2011 to 2016. Outside of the College, I am the former second Vice-president of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators and currently hold the role of VP of the National Union of Canadian Association of University Teachers. Always looking to find ways to engage my students, I am also involved in applied research on the gamification of learning.
CORFA Liaison: Workplace Health, Safety & Environment Committee, Disability Management Rehabilitation Committee, Occupational Health & Safety Committee, Employee Family Assistance Program, and Disability Management & Rehabilitation Committee.
Jody Mendenhall | MEMBER AT LARGE | [email protected]
I’m Jody Mendenhall. I’ve been the Librarian here at the College of the Rockies since January of 2019. I enjoy connecting people with resources and advocating for the importance of information literacy. In my personal time I find the Kootenays to be a great fit as I love to hike, camp, cross country ski, paddleboard etc. I’m also happy to curl up with a good book on snowy night. I’m excited to come on board the Executive Committee as a new Member at Large and look forward to learning and growing in my role. My goal is to help make CORFA stronger and better for it’s members.
COFRA Liaison: Women & Gender Equity; Education Policy Committee; Decolonization, Reconciliation, & Indigenization Standing Committee; Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization & Belonging Committee; & Education Council
Jo Ann Smith | Member at Large | email coming soon!
Bio coming soon!
CORFA EXECUTIVE | |||||
CORFA Position | FPSE Committee | Faculty Member | Term | End | |
President | Presidents’ Council | PC | Joan Kaun | 2 | July ‘24 |
Vice President | Sheena Svitich | 2 | July ‘24 | ||
Chief Bargainer | Bargaining Co-Ordination Committee | BCC | Kevin Boehmer | 2 | May ‘23 |
| Chief Steward | Contract Administration Review Committee | CARC | Andrea Hyde | 2 | May ‘23 |
| Member at Large (1) | Jo Ann Smith | May’23 | |||
| Member at Large (2) | Leslie Molnar | 2 | July ‘24 | ||
| Member at Large (3) | Jody Mendenhall | 2 | July ’24 | ||
STANDING COMMITTEES | Faculty Member | Term | End | EXECUTIVE LIAISON | ||
| Stewards (3 Reps) | Leslie Molnar | 2 | May ‘23 | Andrea H | ||
| Sharon Demaine | 2 | May ‘23 | ||||
| Becky Pelkonen | 2 | May ‘23 | ||||
| Vacant | 2 | |||||
| Communications & Engagement (unlimited) | Volunteers | Sheena S | ||||
| Bargaining (5-7 Reps) | Chair | Kevin Boehmer | 2 | May ‘23 | Kevin B | |
| President | Joan Kaun | |||||
| Larry Maki | For the duration of bargaining process. | |||||
| Caley Ehnes | ||||||
| Finance & Investment (3 Reps) | Gary McPherson | 2 | July ‘24 | |||
Vacant Vacant | 2 2 | |||||
| Policy Committee | Sheena Svitich | 2 | Sheena S | |||
FPSE COMMITTEES | Faculty Member | Term | End | EXECUTIVE LIAISON | ||
| Professional & Scholarly Development | PSDC | Jeff Quinn | 2 | May ‘23 | Kevin B | |
| Women & Gender Equity | WGEC | Amber Peterson | 2 | July ‘24 | Jody M | |
| Pension Advisory Committee | PAC | Ben Hellewell | 4 | July ‘26 | ||
| Human Rights & International Solidarity | HRISC | Sheena Svitich | 2 | May ‘23 | Sheena S | |
| Non-Regular Faculty Committee | NRFC | Allison Platt | 2 | May ‘23 | Andrea H | |
| Workplace Health, Safety, & Environment | WHSEC | Tim Ross | 2 | May ‘23 | Leslie M | |
| Education Policy Committee | EPC | Sharon Demaine | 2 | May ‘23 | Jody M | |
| Disability Management Rehabilitation | DMRC | Sheldon Dwyer | 4 | May ‘25 | Leslie M | |
| Decolonization, Reconciliation & Indigenization Standing Committee | DRISC | Patti Derbyshire | 2 | July ‘24 | Jody M | |
| Climate Action Standing Committee | CASC | Sheena Svitich | 2 | May ‘23 | Sheena S | |
COTR (& OTHER) COMMITTEES | Faculty Member | Term | End | EXECUTIVE LIAISON | ||
| Occupational Health & Safety (2 Reps) | OHSC | Tim Ross | 2 | May ‘23 | Leslie M | |
| Tim Haine | 2 | July ‘24 | ||||
| Alternate | Trevor Beugeling | 2 | July ‘24 | |||
| Awards (2 reps) | John McDonaugh | 2 | May ‘23 | |||
| JoAnn Smith | 2 | May ‘23 | ||||
| Employee Family Assistance Program | EFAP | Vacant | 2 | Leslie M | ||
| Vacant | 2 | |||||
| Disability Management & Rehabilitation Committee (2 reps) | DMRC | Sheldon Dwyer | 4 | May ‘25 | Leslie M | |
| Karin Fraser | 4 | July ‘26 | ||||
| Faculty Development Committee (5 reps) | FDC | Jeff Quinn (chair) | 2 | May ‘23 | Kevin B | |
| Lisa Stemo | 2 | July ‘24 | ||||
| Larry Maki | 2 | May ‘23 | ||||
| Katie Burles | 2 | May ‘23 | ||||
| Ben Hellewell | 2 | May ‘23 | ||||
| College Policy Committee | CPC | Joan Kaun | 2 | May ’24 | Joan K | |
| Sustainability Committee | SC | Sheena Svitich | 2 | May ‘23 | Sheena S | |
| John McDonaugh | 2 | May ‘23 | ||||
| Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigenization & Belonging | EDIIB | Becky Pelkonen | 2 | May ‘23 | Jody M | |
| Ben Tippett | 2 | May ‘23 | ||||
| Wellness Committee | WC | Jenny Gutzman | 2 | July ‘24 | Sheena S | |
| Leanne Caillier-Smith | 2 | July ‘24 | ||||
| Jan White | 2 | July ‘24 | ||||
| Amber Kostuik | 2 | July ‘24 | ||||
| Education Council | EDCO | Pamela Bailie | 1 | Sept ‘23 | Jody M | |
| Ben Hellewell | 1 | Sept ‘23 | ||||
| Jody Mendenhall | 1 | Sept ‘23 | ||||
| Heather Wik | 1 | Sept ‘23 | ||||
| Academic & Student Affairs Policy | ASAP | Andrea Hyde | Andrea H | |||
OTHER | Faculty Member | Term | End | EXECUTIVE LIAISON | ||
| East Kootenay Labour Council | Butch Butalid | 2 | May ’23 | |||
| Vacant | ||||||
| Vacant | ||||||
| Board of Governors Faculty Rep | Greg McCallum | 3 | Sep ‘22 | Joan K | ||