Executive Committee
President – Phil Wachel
president@cupe4207.org
My name is Phil Wachel and I am the President of the Local. I have been a CUPE 4207 member since 2004, but I did not get involved in the union at that time. In 2011, I played a part in organizing the English as a Second Language (ESL) Instructors into Unit 3. In my free time I spend a lot of time watching Toronto Blue Jays games on TV with my family. I do my best to get to one game a year. I also like to think that I have a bit of a ‘green thumb’ for vegetable gardening. In Solidarity.
Vice-President Unit 1 – Sarah Pierson
Sarah (she/they) is an international student from the Cayman Islands pursuing a Master’s in Social Justice and Equity Studies (SJES) at Brock University. In her capacity as VP Unit 1, Sarah seeks to advocate for international and grad student Members’ rights and visibility in the Union and to support the organizing efforts of long-standing Members. She has been a Member of 4207 and TA for Women’s and Gender Studies since 2022, a Student Representative for the SJES Graduate Program Committee since 2023, and is an alum of Brock’s English Department (WRDS BA Hons).
Vice-President Unit 2/3 – Georgina Keller
I have been an ESL instructor here at Brock for the last 15 years and part of the Brock community for over 35 years as a student and alumnus. I have a BA and MA in Applied Linguistics, specializing in Teaching English as a Second Language. I have always had a passion for teaching and enjoy working with International students. I have been part of CUPE 4207 Unit 3 since it was established in 2011.
Vice-President Unit 4 – Rebecca La Rocca
Vice-President Graduate Students – Ben Johnson
Ben is a master’s student in the Child and Youth Studies program and completed his BA in Psychology at Brock. He is passionate about civic advocacy and engagement. Ben has been very involved in the Brock community over the past 6 years, having served as a student representative in numerous capacities, most notably on Brock Senate as well as on Senior Administration Advisory Committees. For 2 years, he served on the Board of Directors of the Brock University Students’ Union. He also has experience serving as a club president and working as student staff in ESL Services, Student Life & Success, and Youth University. In the little bit of free time Ben has, you can find him playing sports
Vice-President Unit 1 Instructors – Elizabeth D’Angelo
Treasurer – Darrin Sunstrum
Hello there, I’m Darrin Sunstrum and I am honoured to serve as the Treasurer for CUPE Local 4207. I am a Brock graduate, who has worked as a Course Coordinator and Teaching Assistant in the Faculty of the Humanities, Department of Classics since 2003. I have served the local in various capacities, as a Faculty Steward, 1812 Health & Safety Committee, Bargaining Committee member and most recently as a member of the Bargaining Research Committee. I have attended numerous CUPE workshops and look forward to learning more in order to serve our members and community. I’m always available for a chat and I look forward to meeting you.
Lead Steward, Unit 1 – Brigitte Cecckin
Hello Cupe 4207 Members, My name is Brigitte and I will be your Lead Steward for 2023/2024. I have over 30 years experience in grievances, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and general union business. I have a BA in Sociology and MA in SJES – both obtained at Brock. I have TA’d for Sociology and Labour Studies for the past 20 years. I look forward to serving the members of CUPE 4207 once again.
Lead Steward, Unit 2/3 – Donna Pierce
Donna is one of the Program Development & QA Coordinators in ESL Services and also a proud Brock graduate (BA (Hon), MA Applied Linguistics/TESL, 2011/2012). In addition to her unit 2 work, she continues to be a member of unit 1, teaching pronunciation for the PMPB program in the Goodman School of Business. Donna is passionate about learning in general and language learning in particular and is currently in the process of learning her 5th language, Arabic.
Lead Steward, Unit 4 – Kate Hannigan
Recording Secretary – Karen Hofman
recordingsecretary@cupe4207.org
Equity Officer – Nwakerendu Waboso (K)
Membership Outreach Officer – Dan Barnowski
Health & Safety Officer – Mikko Kivisto
Mikko joined the Brock community in 2012 when he enrolled in the Adult Education program. He became a member of CUPE 4027 in 2013 as a teaching assistant for the Dramatic Arts department. Since then, he has worked as a course coordinator and marker-grader for Dramatic Arts and the Centre for Studies of Arts and Culture. He later got involved with the labour movement in 2017 when he was elected as the JHSC worker representative for the local at the Marilyn I. Walker campus. Mikko continued his involvement in health and safety as a JHSC worker representative at the 1812 campus, and later as the Health & Safety Officer on the Executive Committee between 2019 and 2022. He is recharged and ready for a new year to serve as your Health & Safety Officer again.
Unit Stewards
Unit 3 Steward – John Vilella – u3steward@cupe4207.org
Unit 4 Steward – Amanda Singer
Faculty Stewards
Humanities Steward – Claire Thyne clthyne1@gmail.com
Social Sciences Steward – Gabi Milsap
Math and Science Steward – Karl Grantham – karl.grantham77@gmail.com
Karl Grantham is a Master’s student in computer science. His research focuses on AI for drug design. Karl will also be moving on to a PhD in Intelligent Systems and Data Science this fall.
Applied Health Sciences Steward – Drake Christie – drakenchristie@gmail.com
I’m your steward for the faculty of Applied Health Sciences. In 2022, I graduated from Western University with a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Sciences, and in that same year I began my master’s in Applied Health Sciences here at Brock. My research here at Brock is largely centred around muscle metabolism, with a particular focus on improving metabolism and function of muscle in the context of a rare genetic disease known as Barth syndrome. Since starting at Brock, I have worked as a TA and a marker-grader for Applied Health Sciences courses. I hope to help others gain access to support and resources available through the union.
Education Steward – William Birrell – wbirrell@brocku.ca
Business Steward – Vacant
International Student Steward – Kaho Nishibu – kaho.n6@proton.me
Kaho (she/her) is an international student from Japan and recently completed her Master’s degree in Critical Sociology at Brock University. She has been a CUPE 4207 member since 2020 and TA’d Sociology courses. As a new International Student Steward, she hopes to connect international students to their unions and support them navigate their unique challenges as international students / education workers. She has also involved in social and environmental justice organizing locally, and animal advocacy movement in Asia.
Instructors Steward – Melissa St. Germaine-Small – mstgsmall@gmail.com
Melissa St. Germaine-Small (she/her) proudly identifies as Anishinaabe (Chippewas of Rama First Nation) and Scottish. She holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and sociology from Wilfrid Laurier and Brock University and was a member of the first graduating class of Brock University’s interdisciplinary MA in Social Justice and Equity Studies. Melissa’s doctoral work in Community Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University focused on Indigenous women, health and social justice with an emphasis on feminist theory and methodology. Melissa has been a member of CUPE 4207 since 2006 and has taught many cross-listed courses. Currently, she teaches primarily for Labour Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies. In her off-time, Melissa enjoys reading, camping, traveling and visiting with family and friends. She and her husband, Dennis, share their home with two dogs adopted from local animal shelters.
Department Stewards
We are looking for departmental stewards for the upcoming academic year! Department stewards play an important role in mobilizing members in their departments and ensuring that the Collective Agreement is followed and that members are aware of their rights, protections, and union activities. We can have up to 2 stewards in each department. If you are interested, email Brigitte at leadunit1@cupe4207.org to learn more!
Canadian Studies: Brian de Ruiter bderuiter@brocku.ca
Child and Youth Studies: Ike Ikerinwu
Child and Youth Studies: Sandra Kroeker
Classics – Leah Bernardo-Ciddio
Political Science: Tim Fowler tim.dh.fowler@gmail.com
Labour Studies: Vacant, apply now
English: Vacant, apply now
Geography: Sharon Dokurugu
Geography: Adwoa Yeboah Owusu
History: Tracy Stewart
Nursing: Kendra-Lee Dupuis
Sociology: Adwoa Fosuaa Owusu
Physics: Parisa Rouzbazar
Interactive Arts & Sciences – Tracy Kennedy tkennedy@brocku.ca
Health and Safety Officers
Health & Safety Officer – Mikko Kivisto
Deputy Health and Safety Officer -Dan Barnowski
Marylin I. Walker campus Joint Health & Safety Committee – Mikko Kivisto
Alternate for Joint Health and Safety Committee Meetings – Vacant
Trustees
Term ending April 30, 2027
- Melissa St. Germaine-Small mstgsmall@gmail.com
Term ending April 30, 2025
- Vacant
Term ending April 30, 2026
- Jessica Srivastava jessicabsrivastava@gmail.com