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. 

2026-27 University/Faculty Senate Leadership

Rebecca Cunningham headshot

University/Faculty Senate Chair 

President Rebecca Cunningham

Professor Tim Johnson, wearing a white shirt and navy blue jacket, smiles at the camera in front of a blurred background.

Senate/Faculty Consultative Committee Chair

Professor Timothy Johnson
Political Science
College of Liberal Arts
[email protected]

Professor Jerry Cohen

University/Faculty Senate Vice Chair

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

Professor Clifford Steer

University/Faculty Senate Clerk

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

Professor Nick Bednar, wearing a light purple shirt and dark gray jacket and glasses with black, round frames smiles in front of a blurred background

University/Faculty Senate Parliamentarian

Professor Nicholas Bednar
Law School
[email protected]
 

Amber Bathke headshot

Deputy Director

Amber Bathke
University Senate Office
[email protected]