Committee Work Matters
February 26, 2026
The request for CAS committee nominations has hit your email, and the request for university committee nominations will be here soon. With everything else happening this time of year (ok, who am I kidding—any time of year), it's easy to pass those emails by. Do you really need one more thing to do?I’m here to urge you to reconsider that impulse. Committee work is meaningful, essential to shared governance in the university, and part of the faculty service obligation. But it’s also quite inspiring at times. Some of my most vivid pandemic memories are of Zoom meetings with the Dean’s office staff and CASCA as we grappled in uncharted territory together. Those meetings never failed to lift my spirits because in a very isolated world, our community persisted.
When I started at Xavier in 1997, I joined a Mathematics and Computer Science department that had a rich tradition of service. Members served not only on committees but also in administration when needs arose. They led the first Xavier Computer Center. They helped write major revisions of the Faculty Handbook. They collected data on faculty salary so we could argue for closing gaps. In short, they were my role models for university service. Since then, I have served on many committees and chaired several. I’ve gotten to know amazing faculty and staff colleagues across the university. I’ve learned so much about admissions, budgets, curriculum, and other aspects of university life. This knowledge has helped me to be a better advisor for my students and a stronger advocate for my department.
The work can, of course, be frustrating at times. But on the whole, committee work matters because I believe that if we have a voice (which we do!) then we should use it. I also freely admit that I am an unapologetic and perennial optimist. At a time of low morale and a feeling that community is waning, working together for a common purpose has the power to lift us up and bring us together. So please, use this opportunity to nominate yourself and your colleagues (with permission) for a committee. You may complain about a meeting or two in your busiest weeks, but I promise that you will not regret the experience.
Liz Johnson
Chair, Department of Computer Science