President: Wendy Christensen

I am running for President of AFT Local 1796 because this moment calls for bold, fearless, and unapologetic leadership—leadership that listens to and respects every member. I’ve seen firsthand how our Union has drifted away from truly hearing the voices of faculty and staff and how weakened we have become at the bargaining table. We need a stronger, more democratic Union that tackles these issues head-on with new energy and new skills.

During my 14 years at William Paterson University, I have been a tireless advocate for faculty and staff. As a member of the Senate Executive Committee for six years and a three-term Faculty Senate Chair, I have direct experience negotiating with the administration and will leverage this to transform our negotiation process. Faculty and staff are the backbone of William Paterson and are essential to student success, yet I have observed our administration’s reluctance to invest in us—the people who keep our university going. As Union President, I will bring smarter strategy, better information, and a stronger negotiating stance to secure the gains our members deserve.

Our Union needs a leader who listens and learns from members. Faculty and staff expertise are often sidelined in both University and Union decisions. Membership meetings should be spaces where we can discuss issues and develop solutions together. It’s unacceptable that colleagues across campus avoid toxic Union meetings out of fear of being yelled at if they speak. We deserve leadership that treats every member with respect. As Senate Chair, I facilitated productive meetings and brought together diverse experts from across campus. As President, I will lead our Union in setting clear goals and tracking our progress openly, so we can address immediate issues and plan for the future together.

Union leadership must actively monitor state and national politics, anticipating issues and preparing to protect our institution and Union members. I have spent the past six years attending weekly national Public Higher Ed Worker meetings, learning about the challenges facing Unions like ours across the country, and developing strategies to negotiate and safeguard worker rights. I am a member of Higher Ed Labor United and established our campus chapter of Standing Up for Higher Education. I helped lead our Faculty Senate to join the New Jersey Mutual Defense Compact, connecting colleges across NJ to advocate for investing in and protecting higher education. I also bring statewide and national organizing and political experience that prepares me to negotiate in the evolving higher ed landscape to defend our jobs, our students, and our institution.

I truly enjoy working at William Paterson University, and I am committed to fighting for the support each member needs to excel, develop their careers, and serve our students and communities with strength and pride. I will be a leader who listens, guides, and negotiates from a position of unity and strength — not fear, delay, or excuses. It’s time to turn the page on the past 24 years and build the strong, healthy Union we deserve for our future.

Qualifications:

  • 2026: Fellow, Lead New Jersey
    • A selective, state-wide leadership program that brings together leaders from government, non-profits, labor, and business to study key public policy issues and strengthen service to New Jersey.
  • 2025-2026: University Strategic Planning
    • Senate Representative, Core Strategic Planning Committee
    • Faculty Strategic Plan (FSWOT) Team Member: Worked with a cross-college group of colleagues to develop a faculty-driven strategic plan.
  • 2025-2026: Field Operations Consultant, Mikie Sherrill for Governor
    • Advised campaign leadership on voter outreach strategy and managed components of the ground game, including canvassing, phone banking, and GOTV efforts.
  • 2025: William Paterson University Excellence in Service Award
  • 2022-2025: Chair, Faculty Senate
    • Developed the Program Vitality Review Panel to increase faculty oversight, transparency, and clarity around program closures and mergers.
    • Created the Inclusive Teaching Taskforce and Inclusive Teaching Report.
    • Facilitated discussions in the Senate on admissions, enrollment, department mergers, classroom climate, the impact of COVID-19, WPO, UCC 2.0, faculty mentoring, certificates, success teams, and the University budget.
    • 2022-2025 Strategic Plan Core Committee Member
  • 2021-2022: Vice Chair, Faculty Senate
  • 2020-2022: At-Large Member, Senate Executive Committee.
    • Regular meetings with the current administration to negotiate academic policy.
    • Represented and protected the interests of faculty and staff.
  • Labor Union Training:
    • 2020-2026: Member, Public Higher Ed Workers, Labor Notes
      • Weekly meetings with labor leaders from across the country to discuss and strategize how to make our Unions more effective.
    • 2021-2025: Member, Higher Education Labor United (HELU)
      • Trained and organized national responses to attacks on higher education.
    • 2021-2022: Labor Notes Troublemakers School, Philadelphia, PA
    • 2008: Steward and Strike Captain, TAA Graduate Student Union, Madison WI.
    • 2004-2006: Trainer, AFL-CIO Organizing Institute, Detroit MI
    • 2003-2010 Steward & Organizer, AFT Local #3220, AFL-CIO in Madison, WI. 
  • 2016-2018: Strategic Consultant, NJ 11 for Change and Mikie Sherrill for U.S. Congress
    • Developed best practices in media framing and public relations.
    • Trained teams to increase member involvement.
    • Trained leaders to build inclusive practices and increase diverse voices.
  • 2012-2024: Public Relations & Social Media Coordinator, Sociologists for Women in Society: Crafted communication strategic messaging for diverse public audiences.
  • 2016-2020: Assistant Chair of the Sociology & Criminal Justice Department, WPU
    • Coordinated advisement in the department, advising 130 students each semester.
  • 2014-2022: Co-Chair, HSS College Curriculum Committee
  • 2013-2016: Chair, HSS Student Retention Committee
    • Developed best practices for increasing student retention.
  • 2023-2025: Certified Mental Health First Aid Trainer
  • 2015-2018: Member, Sociology & Criminal Justice tenure track search committees.
  • 2021-2022: Founding member of the Council for Equity & Justice
  • 2019-2020: Member, LGBTQIA+ Needs Assessment Taskforce
  • 2018-2026: Facilitator, Diversity & Justice Workshop