Faculty Senate

Dr. Fox has been teaching English for 15 years. For the last five years at Goodwin University, he has primarily taught first-year composition and developmental English courses. Prior to Goodwin, he taught English at a variety of colleges and places, serving in positions from the primary business writing instructor at the Niantic Women’s Prison to the writing certificate supervisor at Electric Boat. Before teaching, Dr. Fox spent more than five years working in Information Technology, including supervising desktop support for Computer Science Corporation.

Dr. Fox received his bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, his master’s degree from National University, and his doctorate from Touro College International. He has published two books. One book is a textbook, co-authored with colleagues at Goodwin University: Discover the Writer in You. The other book is a critical look at the history of Ralph Waldo Emerson and life in Concord, MA: A Majority of One: A New Historicist Reading of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Circles.” Dr. Fox is currently working on a second edition of Discover the Writer in You and original research into students’ writing experiences and how they affect college entrance and first-year success.

Dr. Fox is also an active member of Goodwin’s college community. He is the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach — Go Navigators! — and he regularly tutors Hartford Yardgoats’ players through a college program. Dr. Fox says, "There’s a real sense of community here at Goodwin. People smile, people laugh, and we’re really doing things that help other people. I love coaching and teaching at Goodwin."

Duties of the President are as follows:

1. Presides at meetings of the Faculty Senate
2. Sets times and location of Faculty Senate meetings
3. Opens meetings of the Faculty Senate at the time for which they are called
4. Recognizes members entitled to have the floor
5. States and puts to a vote all questions regularly moved and announces the result of the vote; or, if a motion is out of order, rules it out of order.
6. Reports on approved motions to The University community and Board of Trustees as needed.
7. Sits on the Board of Trustees as a voting member as the representative of the faculty.
8. Accepts responsibility for communicating to, and acting as the representative of the faculty, to any necessary college officials, including the Faculty and Staff Forum, about the concerns of the Senate.
9. Enforces good decorum
10. Has the authority to set time limits on reports and debates. Any Senate member can, however, motion for more time with the approval of the voting membership present.

Dr. Lisa M. Wisniewski is an assistant professor of Sociology at Goodwin University. She has spent a decade in higher education working in admissions, advising, research, and as faculty. During this time, Dr. Wisniewski completed two degrees, including a Master’s of Science in Counseling from Central Connecticut State University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Hartford. She began her career in research focused on first-generation college students, immigrant students, and college choice. As a faculty member, Dr. Wisniewski teaches courses in Sociology and Psychology.

Dr. Wisniewski received specialized training in Universal Design for Learning and is designated as a trained Teaching Fellow at Goodwin University. She has presented her work on Universal Design for Learning regionally, nationally, and internationally. Most recently she presented her work around Universal Design for Learning at Harris Manchester College of Oxford University and Harvard Law School. As an active member of the Goodwin University community, Dr. Wisniewski has served as faculty marshal at Commencement every year and serves on several committees. She is also involved in community work notably with Suburban Professionals Achieving Real Change (SPARC) of the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce. She is also a board member of the Connecticut ACE Women’s Network.

Annjanette Bennar is the Director of Mathematics, Computer Applications and Communications at Goodwin University. She holds a master’s degree in education from the University of New Haven and a Sixth-Year Certificate in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership from Capella University. Her teaching career spans over 15 years and includes both the secondary and higher education setting.