Everyday Heroes: AFT Higher Education finalists

Voting is open
May 9 - 29, 2016

Steve Kinholt
Professor of mathematics, Green River College, Auburn, Wash.
Green River Community College United Faculty Coalition

Green River College has been under assault for the last five years, its community spirit flattened by a president who literally took "community" out of the college title, ignored faculty voices and closed locally popular programs while focusing on renovations many faculty see as excessive. Among union members fighting back is Steve Kinholt, "the heart, soul and workhorse of the struggle for dignity and solidarity," says one nominator. "He has maintained exceptional dedication to the college, its students, staff and faculty," raising awareness and creatively resisting dictated change. Kinholt has written editorials, rallied and protested, contacted legislators and spoken at board meetings. He even bought a button-making machine and a bullhorn, and has regularly printed signs and posters.

Behind the scenes, Kinholt combed through hundreds of emails to register complaints over program closures, compiled charts and graphs documenting stagnant faculty salaries and management income increases, and researched whether the financial "crisis" administrators claim as the source for program cuts is manufactured or real (the former). He arrives at work by 5 a.m., often works until 10 at night, and on one recent weekend spent 16-hour days trying to save Green River.

It's all taken a toll: He's been accused of ethics violations and watched other union leaders leave after their programs were closed. With just two years until retirement, he's not sure he can continue to endure the stress. But he's also hopeful, with students fully engaged and community support building. In fact, union engagement has never been as high as it is now.

"I've always been part of a union," he says. "I've got it in my blood." And he's always been willing to "stick his neck out," he says. "The fact that we're part of this union makes it easier for us than for some of the other people on campus."

While he is focused on faculty workplace issues, Kinholt ultimately has his students in mind, and he is thrilled to have their support. "The students are stepping up and joining us," he says. "This is a good lesson for them too. This is what college is all about."

Arnold Korotkin
Sociology professor, Montclair State University, Montclair, N.J.
Montclair State University Federation of Adjunct Faculty

When residents in Newark and Jersey City, N.J., worried about lead in the water at their public schools, Arnold Korotkin blogged about it, prompting officials to test the water—even though he had no children in the schools. When 9-11 survivors and their families craved information without having to wade through endless newspapers and television shows, he created a listserv linking them to worthwhile articles—even though he'd lost no one close to him in the tragedy. The list, which has expanded to about 5,000 people, still goes out daily.

Korotkin, a part-time adjunct professor of sociology at Montclair State University for 30 years, retired from full-time work at the New York City Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services, but his days are filled with volunteer work. As a "cybrarian," he organizes information for a national aviation safety group advocating for safety and for the families of people who have died in airplane accidents. He maintains a blog called "The Gadfly," keeping his Little Falls neighbors informed about everything from property taxes to overtesting in the schools, from highway construction to video surveillance at the municipal building. He once advocated for New Jersey Transit to construct a bus shelter—and jokes that it should be named for him when he dies.

Korotkin is the kind of person who steps up when something needs doing. Like union work. "All workers should have a union," he adds. "The union levels the playing field; it advocates for all." Korotkin is active in his local as the co-director of COPE (Committee on Political Education), sending out a daily list of links and articles about politics relevant to the union and the university.

He's also deeply immersed in teaching, and passes on his empathy to his students. In his class on the sociology of illness and health, he shows a film made in part by people with disabilities, then offers extra credit: Spend an afternoon navigating a shopping mall—including the food court and restrooms—from a wheelchair. He goes the extra mile, too: He contacted the filmmakers and plans for the class to Skype with one of the students' favorite actors.

Patricia Medina
Biology instructor, College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, Calif.
Part-Time Faculty United at College of the Canyons

Paty Medina loves biology—which she teaches—but she loves her students even more. Many come to her with personal issues—they may postpone a test to care for a sick mother, she says, or need help finding a place to live. "There is a lot of anxiety. They need connection with an adult they can talk to." So she makes herself available when they need "an extra pair of hands."

She also helps them conquer their fear of science. "The majority of these students are afraid of biology; they think they are a failure in science," she says. "I want to help them change that state of mind." Medina organizes study groups and is a co-adviser for the Student Success Club, helping students apply for jobs, learn workplace skills and hear motivational speakers. The groups boost student confidence and create a sense of community, something Medina also does for the union.

In fact, Medina is a driving force in expanding her local. Membership has leaped from 38 percent of all part-time faculty to 56 percent, a remarkable number among adjuncts. It was no small feat; Medina had to overcome her own shy nature to approach colleagues about joining. "The first time I reached out, I thought it was going to be a catastrophe," she remembers. "But my very first instructor signed right away. He was so cordial and nice." Now Medina looks forward to recruiting. She's approached potential members at department retreats, workshops and during the first week of classes at an information table set up to help new instructors get acclimated to the campus. She's suggested executive officer open hours for faculty with questions, and has won support from visiting department chairs.

Medina is also a single parent to three teenagers, and her schedule is sometimes "exhausting." But it's worth it, she says. Personally connecting with students and union colleagues is her small way of making the world a better place.

Caroline Reed
Social sciences librarian, New College of Florida, Sarasota, Fla.
United Faculty of Florida

Being a librarian is a lot like being a social worker, says Caroline Reed. In each job, "people come to you with a need, and you help them find the resources so they can help themselves." As a social sciences librarian at the New College of Florida, Reed has gone the extra mile to help students and faculty since 2002. Her favorite title is "Thesis Mom," a nickname grateful students gave her for shepherding them through hours of research.

Reed is also a unionist, currently serving as president of the small college's chapter of the United Faculty of Florida. "If you're represented in a bargaining unit, you really do need to give back to the organization," she says, referring not only to "fee payers" who skip full union membership to save money on dues, but also to full participation. "Many times, giving back is not only paying dues but also being involved."

Reed, who comes from a union family, has also been secretary, vice president and treasurer of the local, and she served two years on the bargaining team. Her service is designed to "make sure that issues don't get shoved under the carpet,” she says. “Unions keep issues in the forefront."

Reed's efforts have paid off. The local won domestic partner insurance and tuition remission for every employee, quite a feat for a small college, she notes. "Once we bargained that, it became a benefit for everybody working at our college," she adds proudly—even those who are not in the union.

Reed also volunteers for Suncoast Information Specialists, a professional organization of librarians and others working in the information industry. She is on the board of directors for the Florida Library Association, and helped organize a scholarship for students to attend its conference. She directs social media accounts and the newsletter for her civic association, and crochets baby blankets for a Sarasota’s Mothers Helping Mothers. She's a member of an archaeology group and she is a poll worker.

She does it all, says her nominator, "with impressive energy and bravery," since her union work is conducted from a nontenured position.

Anne Williams
Business professor, Gateway Community College, New Haven, Conn.
Federation of Technical College Teachers

Anne Williams may be a business professor, but she believes there's much more to success than making money. "My personal business philosophy is 'triple bottom line' decision-making," she explains. Profit is one bottom line, yes. But she also values "doing the best thing for the environment and being a good citizen in the community."

For Williams, that means making sure her colleagues and students at Gateway Community College are healthy and moving forward. Along with her courses in finance, accounting and business statistics, she teaches one on critical thinking, designed to help new students transition successfully to college.

Williams also volunteers on the tenure and promotion committee and is active in mentoring other faculty members, encouraging them to take leadership roles that will help them move their careers forward. She has initiated walking groups for staff and jumped through endless hoops to establish a flu clinic and annual flu shots, which are now part of campus culture. She teaches financial literacy sessions for staff and faculty because it’s not just students who are confused by car loans, mortgages, insurance and credit ratings, she says.

Williams also started a campus book group and a service learning program. She works with the college foundation to provide scholarships for students, professional development grants for faculty and equipment for the college.

"I feel very, very deeply that we can change little things that will make a big difference in someone's life," she says. "Some people see a need and wait for someone else to fill the hole, but why not try and fill the hole myself?"

Williams, who came to teaching after a career in industry, has a doctoral degree in strategy, and says strategy is particularly important during this time of diminishing funds for higher education. She says she is both pro-business and pro-union. "We understand the role that a union can play in improving working environment, which improves outcomes for employees and all your clients," she says. Giving workers common voice and bargaining power is good for everyone.