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Spring 2026 UFE Election
Below are the candidates and their statements for the executive board positions up for election for the AY 2026-2027 year.
UFE President
Kristin Edquist
Candidate's statement:
I have had the privilege of serving UFE members as a member the UFE bargaining team since Fall of 2015, as Vice President of Labor-Management since 2020, and as Interim President for a few months in 2024 and since January 2026.
Over this time, I have worked with the UFE Executive Board and WA Education Association Field Representatives to protect and advance the compensation, terms, and conditions of faculty work at EWU, which is the UFE's purview. This includes not only the past three CBA's and the recently ratified CBA, but also MOUs on COVID-era compensation, the 3% salary adjustment for 2023-2024, and the 3% retroactive adjustment for 2025-2026. And I have represented multiple members of our bargaining unit in investigations, workload disputes, and FAP disputes, and have fielded many questions from many of you about numerous other concerns.
I truly appreciate this work and ask for your vote so that I can continue to represent you and all other EWU faculty, from adjunct instructors to special faculty to tenured full professors, in all kinds of situations, from semesters to online, clinics to labs to lectures. We have a challenging situation with multiple headwinds as well as several new EWU initiatives such as applied learning, hybrid courses, calendar changes, and the use of Artificial Intelligence in courses and classrooms. As President, I would continue to maintain as much transparency, communication, accessibility, and diligence as I can while the UFE faces these challenges. I am happy to talk with you anytime to discuss specific concerns or if you wish more information before you vote.
VP Bargaining
Rik Orndorff
Candidate's statement:
I joined the EWU faculty in 2003, and became a UFE member on my first day on campus. As a new faculty member at EWU, I played an active role in union certification as a member of what was then called the Contract Action Committee. I joined the bargaining team in 2012 and played a part in writing the landmark CBA that first incorporated the CUPA model for faculty salaries. Because of that contract, Eastern faculty, who at the time were woefully underpaid, now earn salaries equivalent to national market averages. In 2014 I was elected as VP of Bargaining and led the UFE team in the 2016, 2019, 2022, and current contract negotiations.
Bargaining is a process that benefits all of us (and our students) via improvements in compensation and working conditions. My philosophy of bargaining is very simple. Reach out to faculty members with forums and surveys. Set aside self-interest, and bring the needs and goals of the broader faculty to the table. Be better prepared than the other side, and be steadfast in achieving those goals, regardless of the time and effort it takes. I am grateful to previous bargaining chairs and to every bargaining team member who I have served with, as they have also embodied this philosophy.
VP Membership
Chris Valeo
Treasurer
Ielleen Miller
Candidate's statement:
I am running for a third term as UFE Treasurer. I have been a member of UFE for the 20 years. I’ve been a faculty member here at EWU. I have served on ten Fac Org or university-widecommittees, chairing five of them. If you vote for me, I will continue to do my best to oversee the finances, and to work collaboratively with the executive board members on all aspects of leading the UFE. This academic year has been very stressful, and it has shown how vital it is to have a robust union: one that is financially stable, continues to grow our membership, communicates effectively, and reflects our shared values as faculty.
At-Large (2 positions)
Drew Ayers
Candidate's statement:
I have been serving as Interim At-Large Member since January 2026, and it would be my privilege to continue serving the UFE and the EWU faculty for a full elected term. In my short time as At-Large Member, I have assisted with the ratification of the new CBA, served as a member of the Faculty Review Board, and expressed interest in joining the bargaining team for our next CBA negotiations.
Over the past ten years at EWU, I have pursued service opportunities at the university, college, and department level and have been willing to step into leadership roles when needed. I’m currently serving in my third year as chair of the Graduate Affairs Council, and I also serve on the Rules Committee and the Medals and Awards Committee. I have also served as the UFE representative to the EWU Safety Committee from 2018-2025, and I am currently chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Department’s Unit Personnel Committee. In past years, I have completed terms as Faculty Senator and as Director of the Film Program (a role I will take on again next year). These commitments have provided me with the leadership experience of advocating for faculty interests in discussions with administration, and they have deepened my knowledge of university operations. The opportunity to advocate for faculty through the UFE would fulfill a desire to support my colleagues in a more direct manner. Thank you for considering my nomination to serve you as UFE’s At-Large Member.
Matthew Binney
Candidate's statement:
I'm nominating myself for UFE's at-large position to serve as a union member who will serve as a point of contact between the general faculty and leadership. I spoke with Beth Torgerson, the previous at-large member, about her responsibilities, such as attending union meetings, functions, and shepherding faculty members through the Faculty Review Board. She recounted her commitments and duties, such as reviewing materials and assisting faculty through the process. These tasks and other attending duties I will realize with diligence and focus to serve my fellow faculty to the best of my ability.
Kate Crane
Candidate's statement:
EWU deserves an at-large member who shows up and speaks up. We all have colleagues across the country whose opportunities to show up and speak up are diminishing. I’m not giving up yet. As an at large member, I would bring my commitment to advocacy, stewardship, and communication to the UFE. I want to enhance the UFE’s visibility and represent my fellow faculty on the executive board with gumption and distinction. Through coffee meetings, happy hours, and serendipitous chats on campus, I want to know your concerns and work towards a more just and supportive campus for faculty.
Kelly Evans
Candidate's statement:
I have been at EWU for 13 years and a proud UFE member this entire time. I believe in the collective power of union membership and in the times we are in for higher education, it is critical that union membership for our faculty continue to grow and thrive. Faculty here benefit from having fair labor conditions and a strong collective bargaining. I am running for the at large position so I can continue to advocate to new as well as existing faculty the importance of union participation and being a dues paying member.
Judy Rohrer
Candidate's statement:
I’ve been an active UFE member since I was hired as assistant professor and Director of Women’s and Gender Studies in fall 2018 (now Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies). My PhD is in political science, and I have expertise in critical legal studies and critical race studies. I have published work engaging the impact of law and policy on marginalized populations (LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples). I have co-facilitated Decolonial DEI workshops for the Mid-Pacific Regional office of Earthjustice and Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i. At Eastern, I have assisted in policy development and implementation regarding Title IX, Covid 19 protections, and most recently with the new policy regarding immigration enforcement on campus.
Higher education is currently under unprecedented attack. Non-discrimination, civil rights, and labor protections are being torpedoed. Academic freedom (to research, teach and speak in our areas of expertise) and 1st amendment rights are being eviscerated. Even in Blue states like Washington, affirmative policy and practices furthering diversity, equity, inclusion and justice are being gutted. One of the key sites of resistance to this assault on higher education has been the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). In spring 2025 I stepped into the role of Board Member of the AAUP At-large chapter and have been attending meetings and trainings. Because of the affiliation between AAUP and AFT, many AAUP resources are available to us. If elected to the UFE, I help to build our relationship with AAUP, as well as with other faculty unions in the region. I would work with UFE members to grow our collective power at Eastern and our solidarity with other higher ed workers.
Beth Torgerson
Candidate's statement:
In my family, my parents were both actively involved in unions and cooperatives, so I learned the concept “We are Stronger Together” from an early age. Part of my consideration in taking the job at EWU was whether or not EWU was unionized. I joined the UFE as soon as I arrived, working with a representative from the UFE in writing up my first FAP, so I have been a member now for 20 years. I have served as a Board Member-At-Large since 2019-2020. I allowed myself to be nominated, in part, due to my desire to see more women in leadership roles within the union. Since 2019, in addition to participating in our meetings about various issues, including those related to budget cuts and those related to writing MOUs to protect faculty during the Covid pandemic, I have served on multiple Faculty Review Board (FRB) Committees. I have chaired one of these FRB Committees and I have been the UFE Representative on another.
I feel I have contributed in a variety of ways to the UFE. I listen well, and I am both approachable and compassionate. I am open-minded and can see the larger picture from a variety of perspectives, which helps the board to think through some of the more complex issues. I care about people, I care about people being treated fairly and compensated fairly, and I care about creating and maintaining a supportive work environment, which, I understand, is a greater challenge as higher education comes to be more and more under siege. I care about crafting documents that protect faculty’s rights, and I care about revising such documents to keep them as up-to-date, as strong, and as effective as possible. When needed on behalf of faculty’ rights, I can be persistent, even stubborn. I see myself as a quiet activist who can help move a position forward through discussion and dialogue.
I am honored to serve EWU’s diverse faculty through this position, and, if re-elected, I would continue to serve to the best of my abilities. Thank you for your consideration.
At-Large Special Faculty
Hayley Lake