The Faculty Leadership Council connects IonE to the deep faculty expertise of the University of Minnesota. Council members advise Institute leadership on strategy and direction, strengthen ties across colleges and campuses, and help steward the ambitions of the 2024–29 strategic plan.
What is the FLC?
IonE’s charge extends across the entire University of Minnesota – every campus, college and discipline with a stake in a sustainable future. The Faculty Leadership Council, formed in 2015, keeps that breadth at the center of the Institute’s work: a formal channel for faculty voice and a body of champions who carry IonE’s mission back into their corners of the University.
Membership
Council members are IonE Affiliates appointed by the executive director, spanning a range of disciplines and campuses. They serve as individuals rather than as official voices of their colleges or units; each is encouraged to bring forward needs and opportunities on behalf of colleagues systemwide. Terms are three years, with a maximum of two terms before a break in service.
Responsibilities
The Council advises IonE’s executive director and leadership team on how the 2024–29 strategic plan comes to life – from the stewardship of its resources to the composition of its affiliate community, work carried forward through the Council’s standing working groups. Members also meet annually with IonE’s External Advisory Board, pairing internal faculty counsel with external perspective.
By linking scholars with global partners and local communities, IonE empowers us to transform rigorous scientific inquiry into sustainable, real-world impact, ensuring a vibrant future where both our society and the environment thrive in harmony.
Meet IonE’s Faculty Leadership Council
Afton Clarke-Sather
Kathy Draeger
Julie Etterson
Susanna Gibbons
Clement Loo
Shailey Prasad
Gene-Hua Crystal Ng
Andrew Wickert
Former Members
- Brett McDonnell (Law School, 2020–25)
- Teddie Potter (School of Nursing, 2020–25)
- Elizabeth Borer (College of Biological Sciences, 2019–24)
- Ansu Chatterjee (College of Liberal Arts, 2019–24)
- Alison Hoxie (Swenson College of Science and Engineering, 2021–23)
- Christine Baeumler (College of Liberal Arts, 2016–22)
- Christy Haynes (Department of Chemistry, 2020–22)
- Steve Manson (College of Liberal Arts, 2020–22)
- Peter Reich (Department of Forest Resources, 2019–21)
- Gabe Chan (Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 2017–20)
- Raj Rajan (Fellow, Institute on the Environment, 2016–20)
- Tim Smith (Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, 2017–20)
- Alexandra Klass (Law School, 2016–19)
- Paige Novak (College of Science and Engineering, 2016–19)
- Mara Miksch (College of Liberal Arts, 2016–19)
- Sarah Hobbie (College of Biological Sciences, 2015–18)
- Tom Fisher (College of Design, 2015–18)
- Rolf Weberg (Natural Resources Research Institute, 2015–18)
- Efi Foufoula-Georgiou (College of Science and Engineering, 2015–17)
- Steve Polasky (College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, 2015–17)
- Elizabeth Wilson (Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 2015–17)
Nominations for membership and questions regarding the Faculty Leadership Council should be sent to IonE’s Executive Director, Jessica Hellmann
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