The University Senate is composed of 251 elected senators and 26 Senate Consultative Committee members. This includes faculty, civil service and P&A staff, and student representatives from the University of Minnesota Crookston, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Minnesota Morris, University of Minnesota Rochester, and University of Minnesota Twin Cities campuses. The president of the University of Minnesota chairs the University Senate, and the vice chair is a faculty member. 

2025-26 University/Faculty Senate Leadership

Rebecca Cunningham headshot

University/Faculty Senate Chair 

President Rebecca Cunningham

Perry Leo headshot

Senate/Faculty Consultative Committee Chair

Professor Perry Leo
Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics
College of Science & Engineering
[email protected]
612-625-0535

Professor Jerry Cohen

University/Faculty Senate Vice Chair

Professor Jerry Cohen
Horticultural Science
College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
[email protected]
612-624-9212

Professor Clifford Steer

University/Faculty Senate Clerk

Professor Clifford Steer
Department of Medicine
Medical School
[email protected]

Nancy Sims

University/Faculty Senate Parliamentarian

Nancy Sims
University Libraries
[email protected]
612-624-1851

Amber Bathke headshot

Senior Senate Associate

Amber Bathke
University Senate Office
[email protected]
612-625-1214