Dr. A. James McKeever
for Faculty Guild President
I am running for reelection as President of AFT 1521 because our Union’s work is far from finished and this moment demands experienced, principled, and proven leadership.
Together, we secured an amazing contract in 2023, delivering real and meaningful wins for faculty. We strengthened job security, improved compensation, expanded protections for part-time faculty, and affirmed the dignity and value of our work. Those gains did not happen by chance; they were the result of organizing, persistence, and a clear commitment to putting faculty voices at the center of negotiations.
Once again, we are at the bargaining table, and the stakes could not be higher. As budget pressures mount and uncertainty grows, faculty need a Union President who understands the contract, knows the district, and has a proven track record of winning results. I bring continuity, experience, and a deep understanding of what it takes to defend and advance our hard-won gains.
These are difficult times. Faculty and students are facing increasing attacks from the federal government, from threats to academic freedom and labor rights to policies that harm our most vulnerable students and colleagues. In these challenging times, AFT 1521 must remain a strong, unapologetic advocate for public education, workers’ rights, and social justice. I am committed to ensuring our union stands firm against these attacks and continues to protect both faculty and students.
Our slate of me, William Elarton-Selig, Sharon Hendricks, and Jenny Galvez has been the team you can count on. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am energized by the work ahead. I ask for your support so that we can continue building a stronger, united, and a more powerful union. Reelect the #TestedLeadership team.
In Unity,
A. James McKeever PhD
President AFT 1521
Sharon Hendricks
for Faculty Guild Treasurer
Vote Sharon Hendricks for AFT 1521 Treasurer – Trusted Fiduciary
Thank you to all our full‑time and adjunct AFT 1521members for the opportunity to serve you. It is an honor to represent our Guild, and I am grateful for the chance to share my record of stewardship as I ask for your support in the upcoming election.
As Treasurer, I take seriously the fiduciary responsibility of managing our members’ dues with integrity, transparency, and long‑term vision. My work in this role is grounded in years of service—both within our Guild and across the state. I have served six years as your elected Guild Treasurer and fourteen years on the CalSTRS Board,
where I help oversee $400 billion on behalf of California’s educators. This experience ensures that every financial decision I make prioritizes accountability and the long‑term security of our members.
Beyond financial oversight, I have helped strengthen the Guild’s internal governance by implementing long‑overdue policies and procedures that increase professionalism and
transparency. I have also expanded member education on health care, retirement, and other benefits so faculty can make informed decisions. Through this work, we restored
decision‑making authority to the membership and the elected Executive Board—where it belongs—rather than concentrating power in the hands of a few.
As Treasurer, I will continue to communicate openly about our financial health, safeguard every dollar of members’ resources, and ensure the Guild remains strong for the future we are building together.
This election is about the leadership our members deserve. I am proud to run with the #TestedLeadership team—James McKeever, Bill Elarton‑Selig, and Jenny Galvez.
Together, we bring the experience, integrity, and commitment needed to serve our union
effectively.
Dr. Jenny Galvez
for Faculty Guild Recording Secretary
My name is Dr. Jenny Galvez. I am running for Recording Secretary of AFT 1521 along with the #TestedLeadership team of Dr. A. James McKeever for President, Bill Elarton for Executive VP, and Sharon Hendricks for Treasurer. As the Recording Secretary, I serve as a custodian of records and history. I am responsible for taking minutes, producing reports for the Executive Board, and supervising the Guild’s communication operations.
I upheld these responsibilities by combining three major areas of my professional background:
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Labor educator and researcher
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Community organizer, and
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Skills in organizational development and support.
I have used these skills and passion to support the growth and strengthening of the guild by:
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Establishing the Latine/a/o Caucus - started as a space for member activists to meet and strategize to support immigrant communities
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Facilitating “Know Your Rights” trainings - hosted KYR workshops during E-board meetings, district-wide trainings, and at individual campuses.
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Updating the website - work closely with Guild staff in transition to the new website, and maintenance
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Improving the internal operations of the Guild by developing an internal master calendar to support staff with event planning and organizing
The #TestedLeadership team responded to member needs by setting up emergency grants in response to the fires, participating in Freedom Summer alongside our labor family in response to ICE presence in LA, and hosting KYR trainings. We continue to support faculty in enacting their contractual rights by hosting educational workshops, resolving grievances at earlier stages, and increasing Guildwide communication. The #TestedLeadership team has made changes that have increased member participation, leadership development, and infrastructure to support the longevity of the Guild.
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I am running for Secretary with the #TestedLeadership team because we will continue to build and strengthen our power as a union in the greater Labor Movement.
William (Bill) Elarton-Selig
for Faculty Guild Executive Vice President
As part of the #Tested Leadership team, we have fought for members throughout the 2023 to 2026 contract cycle and its implementation, delivering real gains in pay, health care, and democratic governance for our Guild.
In our most recent negotiations, over the three year contract period we secured a total 15.59 percent salary increase that moved LACCD from 34th to 27th out of 73 California community college districts in faculty pay. This was not symbolic. It materially improved our statewide standing and strengthened our position for future bargaining.
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We also achieved the largest expansion of adjunct health care in District history, extending 100 percent medical coverage to adjunct faculty and their families while preserving eligibility at the 0.33 FTE threshold. Many adjuncts and their families now have full medical coverage that was previously out of reach.
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Transparency and accountability guide our work. We strengthened open negotiations so members could see in real time how decisions were made and how the District responded at the Table.
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Beyond the contract, the #TestedLeadership team helped rebuild the Guild’s internal governance by implementing long overdue policies and procedures that strengthen accountability and professionalism. We expanded member education on health care, retirement, and other benefits so faculty can make informed decisions. Through this work, decision making authority was restored to the membership and the elected Executive Board, rather than concentrated in the hands of a select few.
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We remain committed to protecting wages, benefits, working conditions, and democratic
representation for all AFT 1521 members.
Guild members have our utmost respect. It would be our honor to continue serving you.
Vote Team #TestedLeadership
