Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate

  • The Faculty Senate typically meets on the second Friday of the month from 9am-11am via Microsoft TEAMS. Meeting times are subject to change and additional meetings are sometimes called. The Senate does not typically meet in person during June and July, but is able to do so, and remains in contact electronically during those months.
    Faculty Senate Meeting Teams Link
  • All Faculty Senate meetings are open to the Corps of Instruction and staff of the College. Guests at Senate meetings do not have voting privileges.
  • Any member of the Corps of Instruction or staff of the College may add an item to the agenda of a regular business meeting by contacting the Faculty Senate President at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Items from sitting Faculty Senators take priority. Items submitted after the necessary 72 hours may be included at the discretion of the Faculty Senate President.

Important Information

2025-2026 Senate Leadership (August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026)

  • 2025-2026 Executive Committee
    • Laura Ralston, President, lralston@highlands.edu or 678-872-8115
    • Amy Gandolfi, Vice President
    • Christina Talley, Secretary
    • Darkus Newton, Parliamentarian
    • Kelly Shane, Webmaster

Faculty Senators 2024-2025

Atrium Health Floyd School of Health Sciences (election in Spring 2026)

  • Cynthia Elsberry
  • Alania Henderson
  • Jonathan Howard
  • Dez Wooten

School of Business & Professional Studies (terms do not end until 7-31-2027)

  • Andy Borg
  • Christy Deville
  • Laura Ralston (moved to School of STEM on 8-1-2025)
  • Erica Simpson
  • Shanika Wright-Turner
  • Stephanie Hood, part-time representative

School of Humanities & Social Sciences (Humanities election in 2026, Social Science terms do not end until 7-31-2027)

Humanities

  • Michelle Abbott
  • Russell Cook
  • Amy Gandolfi
  • Kathryn Garcia
  • Dana Pergrem
  • Natalie Goodwin, part-time representative

Social Sciences (dissolved 8-1-2025)

  • Jayme Feagin
  • David Hensley
  • Bronson Long
  • Alan Nichols
  • Karen Huggin** (elected, but may not be able to serve??)

School of STEM (terms do not end until 7-31-2027)

  • Banhi Nandi
  • Darkus Newton
  • Ejiro Ogaga
  • Kelly Shane
  • Christina Talley

Library (election in Spring 2026)

  • Thomas Webster

Staff Liaison

  • Rhonda Sosebee