Q&A with Deborah Nichols, University Senate chair

Deborah Nichols, 2020-21 chair of the University Senate. (Purdue University photo/Rebecca McElhoe) Download image

Deborah Nichols, an associate professor of human development and family studies in Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences, is serving as the 2020-21 chair of the University Senate. Here, Nichols answers questions from Purdue Today about her service with the Senate and goals for the year.

How long, and in what positions, have you worked at Purdue?

I came to Purdue in the fall of 2015 as an associate professor.

Why did you decide to become involved in University Senate?

I was originally elected to replace a faculty member in my department who left the University. I became much more involved with Senate happenings after volunteering to sit on the Purdue Global Senate committee, which led to me co-chairing this committee with Steve Beaudoin, the current vice chair. I found this experience to be tremendously helpful as it provided me with multiple opportunities to interact with faculty and administration and to begin to develop relationships that could facilitate later collaborative work. During this period, I was also elected chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee. My impetus to become more deeply involved with the Senate stems from my belief that, through effective communication and shared governance, we can strengthen relationships, build consensus, focus on results, be flexible and adaptable to our changing environment, and cultivate a shared sense of purpose that includes diverse perspectives, comments I made when running for vice chair.   

What did you learn as vice chair or as a committee member that will assist you as chair this year?

My experiences chairing two different committees and my time working closely with past chair Cheryl Cooky have been vital to preparing me for what I imagine will be a challenging year. I also spent a large part of last summer as an Urban Leader Fellow in the mayor's office in Indianapolis. These experiences have underscored the profound significance of developing positive relationships with others by actively listening to them, listening to their stories and their concerns. Sometimes we engage in listening by thinking about how we are going to reply. But truly listening means just that, you listen to their words, you see how their body language interacts with these words and you listen with the intent to understand. I am still working on actively listening and I'm not sure how well I can tune into body language over Zoom meetings, but it is my goal to continue to listen and to share what I hear as I advocate on behalf of faculty, staff and students.

I also learned the importance of having a squad around you. I have this amazing group of women, smart, committed to the work they do within the Senate (and outside of it). We all support one another. It can be rather difficult to be a woman in a leadership position. I know that I can vent with this group or talk through next steps or ask for feedback or share successes and that we all have each other's backs. They are leaders, too, and they get the unique challenges women in leadership roles face, plus, they are all hilarious. In times like these, being able to laugh is a gift.

What will the Senate be working on during the upcoming academic year?

We will continue to advocate on behalf of faculty, staff and students with regard to COVID-19. Over the summer, we asked the Purdue community to complete multiple surveys detailing their questions, concerns, anxieties, confidence, etc., about this fall and the Purdue Protect Plan. With a combined total of 21,865 responses across the three waves, we have been able to identify and begin to address areas of concern; ask thoughtful, detailed questions; and make multiple suggestions related to issues such as telework needs, concerns for those who work 100% on campus, and heightened stress and anxiety. All summer, we have been providing this information to Hovde as well as to deans in various colleges, and to other organizations around campus including MaPSAC, CSSAC, PSG, and PGSG. I am thankful that so many in our community took the time to respond. Your overwhelming participation and your eloquently articulated comments made it that much easier for me to vigorously advocate on your behalf. 

We will also continue to work to create a safe community for our Black, brown, and indigenous Boilermakers and will ensure that their voices are heard within the echelons of the Senate. We will also be mindful of inequities created by COVID-19 and the policies put in place to address the pandemic. And we will actively advocate for mental health support and treatment for all Boilermakers as we are aware of the impact prologonged stress can have.

What are your own goals as the chair of the Senate? What do you hope to have contributed as chair to the Senate and to the University once your term ends? My goal when I first ran for vice chair was to foster a vibrant and supportive academic community through effective and transparent communication by maintaining a seat at the table because having a seat at the table meant that I could advocate on behalf of the needs of our faculty, staff and students. Now my goal is to do all that I can in whatever capacity that might be to keep our community as healthy and as protected as possible as we continue to navigate the complexities that this pandemic has foisted upon us.  

What would you like faculty and staff to know about the Senate? 

I was skeptical when I first was elected to the Senate. I didn't know much about how a faculty or university senate worked. I only knew that most of my colleagues across the different institutions where I have worked did all that they could to avoid spending time on the senate. But as I became more involved and developed relationships with other senators and with administration, I learned that the senate can play an essential role in influencing university policies and procedures. But it means you need to become involved. You must speak up when needed. You must listen when needed. Your job is to be an advocate for those you represent. And those senators who are committed and involved? They do make a difference.

How can faculty/staff get involved? 

To learn more about what we've done and where we are heading with the Senate, you can review our meeting agendas and minutes, see the reports we've drafted , and read through our bylaws on our website: https://www.purdue.edu/senate/. We also have a submission form for your questions and concerns on this website. I would encourage you to reach out to your unit's senator to learn more or to share your concerns. If you aren't sure who your representative is, please check our website for that information as well. There are faculty and staff committees that include members who are not senators. This information can also be found on our website. I would strongly urge you to become involved in whatever capacity that might be.