Edith Benkov, Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs

Edith Benkov took up her position in Faculty Affairs in August 2010. Prior to this appointment, she completed three years as Chair of the University Senate, 2007-2010. Dr. Benkov started her career at San Diego State University in 1983 as a member of the Department of French and Italian. She chaired that department from 1989 to 1996. After the creation of the Department European Studies, she served as its chair from 2002 to 2010. She served as President of the CSU Foreign Language Council from 2004-2010 and as member of the Executive Board of the California Language Teachers Association. Dr. Benkov earned her Ph.D. in French Studies from the University of California Los Angeles.

Her research on issues of gender, sexuality and religious conflict in early modern Europe, and most particularly France, is internationally recognized. At SDSU, her primary areas of teaching have been in French and European Studies. She also worked on the development of the Gay and Lesbian Studies minor. Dr. Benkov has been involved in many professional organizations, including the Modern Language Association, the Renaissance Society of America and the Sixteenth Century Conference. She has published over sixty articles and essays and continues as an active scholar.

As Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs, Dr. Benkov oversees:

Academic Support
  • directing and supporting academic personnel regarding implementation of the Unit 3 faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement and Unit 11 Academic Student Employees Collective Bargaining Agreement
  • holding meetings and workshops on faculty-related matters for department chairs, faculty, and staff
  • hosting special events and workshops to welcome new tenure-track faculty to the University.

Evaluation
  • managing the processes for reappointment, tenure, promotion, and periodic evaluations

Faculty Awards Programs
  • implementing and managing Alumni Awards
  • collaborating with Graduate and Research Affairs on University Grants Program

Leaves

  • managing the Sabbatical and Difference-In-Pay Leave process
  • reviewing the Professional/Personal Leave Without Pay requests

Resignation, Retirement, Reduced Worktime Programs

  • processing requests for retirements and resignations
  • managing any other retirement-related programs such as the Faculty Early Retirement Program and Pre-Retirement Reduction in Time Base

Personnel Action Files

  • managing official personnel action files for all tenure-track Unit 3 faculty members
  • providing guidance and support to college and departmental offices to manage temporary personnel action files

Faculty Visas

  • managing faculty and foreign scholar immigration matters for the University
  • assisting in the hiring process of foreign scholars

Grievances, Complaints, Litigation Matters

  • handling faculty grievance, arbitration, and litigation procedures and investigations

Reprimands and Disciplinary Actions

  • investigating and resolving complaints involving faculty and evaluating potential disciplinary matters on behalf of the President