The Adjunct Faculty Association of the University of Liberia has established a leadership structure with the election of George Sahr Tengbeh as its first president. The election, which took place on September 30, in Room TH 50 on the University of Liberia's Capitol Hill Campus, also produced a full leadership team. Tengbeh and his team represent adjunct faculty members serving across the University's campuses, colleges, schools, and academic departments.
The newly elected leadership team comprises Joseph Kla Wisner Jr. as Vice President, Cephas MMD Flanzamaton as Secretary General, and Isaac Saah Lakpasiyoe as Assistant Secretary General. Other members include Humphrey Tarpeh as Financial Secretary, Nathan Ballepa as Treasurer, Amos B. Karbedeh as Chaplain, and James D. Sinnatwah Jr. as Advisor. This team will be responsible for representing the interests of adjunct faculty members.
Tengbeh has pledged to pursue the association's advocacy agenda through dialogue and constructive engagement with the University administration and other stakeholders. The association's agenda includes concerns over adjunct faculty compensation, job security, employment pathways for long-serving instructors, access to University identification cards, and equitable opportunities for professional and human-capacity development.
The absence of a clear pathway toward more sustainable employment has been a longstanding concern for adjunct instructors who have served the University for years. Tengbeh's administration intends to engage University authorities on these issues while seeking practical and sustainable solutions rather than confrontation. The association also plans to advocate for greater access to professional development, training, research, and other capacity-building opportunities for adjunct instructors.
While placing faculty welfare high on its agenda, the new leadership says students remain central to the University's academic mission. Better working conditions, professional development, and support for faculty should ultimately translate into improved teaching, stronger faculty-student engagement, and better educational outcomes. The association will support initiatives aimed at strengthening teaching quality and promoting academic excellence across the University.
The association's mandate extends beyond the immediate interests of adjunct instructors to the broader development of the University of Liberia. Its leadership will promote dialogue, collaboration, professional responsibility, and solutions-oriented engagement in addressing challenges affecting faculty and students. The association intends to improve communication among adjunct faculty members and create a coordinated platform for presenting their concerns, recommendations, and professional interests to University authorities.
The election marks the establishment of the association's first permanent elected leadership, providing adjunct faculty members with a formal platform for collective representation. The association has adopted the slogan: "United in Representation. Committed to Service. Focused on the Future." The leadership has thanked former Acting President Wilhelmina Garr-Steven and her team for their service during the transitional period and commended the Election Committee for overseeing the inaugural electoral process.
Key points
- The University of Liberia's adjunct faculty has elected George Sahr Tengbeh as its first president.
- The association's agenda includes concerns over adjunct faculty compensation, job security, and employment pathways.
- The new leadership will promote dialogue, collaboration, and professional responsibility in addressing challenges affecting faculty and students.
