Ellen
Benson
Communications Associate
Communicating to the membership became a concern for the
union leadership in the early 2000s. The union sought to hire a staff person for
a one-year contract to enhance internal and external communications and support
the union as it assumed a more active role in state legislative issues. Ellen’s
previous employment as a legislative aide to Massachusetts State Representative
Mark J. Carron, an organizer for numerous political campaigns, and a public
relations associate at a firm in Glastonbury, CT made her an outstanding
candidate for this new position. Ellen’s one-year contract was renewed for a
second year by the CSU-AAUP Council, and she was hired as a full-time staff
person in 2006.
During her tenure at CSU-AAUP, Ellen has increased the frequency and quality of
communication to the membership, including establishing a monthly newsletter
during the academic year and more frequent updates through the use of electronic
mail. Ellen has helped the union utilize technology to better inform the
membership by expanding and redesigning the websites for CSU-AAUP and CCSU-AAUP.
During contract negotiations in 2006 and 2007, the contract proposals submitted
by Management and AAUP were posted on the organization’s website so that members
had easier access to them. The first annual report was also produced in 2006 in
an effort to increase the union’s transparency to the membership.
Ellen works closely with the lobbying firm and CSU-AAUP officers to research
legislative matters and formulate fact sheets and information needed for
advocacy activities. She was successful in assisting the union in publishing
editorials in the Hartford Courant and arranging for the CSU-AAUP President to
speak with several local radio talk shows in opposition to the unfunded freeze
of tuition at all Connecticut public colleges and universities proposed by
Governor Rell during the 2005 legislative session. Ellen also coordinated in the
publication of a series of paid advertisements in 2007 aimed at making
legislators aware of the need for more full-time faculty at CSU.
Serving as a liaison, Ellen has worked to foster better communication between
CSU-AAUP and the campus AAUP Executive Committees. She also assists in the
scheduling and organizing union events as needed.
Ellen graduated from Clark University in 1998 and attended one year of law
school at Pace University before revising her career plans. She plans to
complete a M.A. in Communication at Central Connecticut State University in
Fall 2008.
