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Dr. William E. Fulmer was president of APSCUF from 1998 to 2004. File photo

APSCUF is mourning the loss of past President Dr. William E. Fulmer, who led the organization from 1998 to 2004. He died Aug. 19 at age 85. Click here to read the retired Clarion University professor’s obituary. APSCUF offices are closed today in his honor.

In 2017, Fulmer reflected on his time as president, during which only one month was not in contract negotiations for faculty, coaches, or both.

“I received enormous personal benefit from my APSCUF service, gaining friendships among many dedicated and talented faculty members and leaders at each of our 14 universities,” he wrote. “And I believe we were able to help and assist many … That is an accomplishment that prevails over all others.”

Fulmer received APSCUF’s Distinguished Service Award in 2004. Clarion University Alumni Association presented him with a Distinguished Faculty Award in 2022.

This post will be updated.

Have a Fulmer memory to add to this post? Email it to . Please include your name and university.

Dr. Margaret Ervin accepts APSCUF’s Distinguished Service Award in April. APSCUF photo

Dr. Margaret Ervin likes to empower people.

“It’s sort of who I am,” said the former English professor, writing-center director, chapter president, and a winner of this year’s APSCUF Distinguished Service Award. “Inspiring people to be able to find their own power, that’s my thing. That’s what I live for.”

Ervin started her educator journey as a sixth-grade teacher.

“I enjoyed teaching writing to the middle school students,” Ervin said. “And I enjoyed helping them come up with things to write and expressing themselves and learning how to think using writing.”

From there she earned her graduate degree. After a time as a managing editor for the Journal of Speech Language Hearing Research for the American Speech Language Hearing Association, she secured a job at West Chester University.

And she joined APSCUF.

“That was the first thing I did,” Ervin said. “I was always attracted to unions out of a sense of fairness.”

After years of APSCUF membership, Ervin became a member of the negotiations team, and she was elected chapter president in 2021. She would serve in that position for four years.

“One of the reasons that I became a leader (was) I just had the willingness and passion to put in the time and had a lot of heart for the role,” she said.

Current West Chester Chapter President Dr. Chris Stangl shared a story via email about how Ervin stood up to management.

“Margaret was excellent in holding Management to account,” he wrote.

The willingness to do the work is a major part of the job, she said.

“Part of what I wanted to do was to find new leaders in the chapter and bring them along,” Ervin said. “I did bring in a number of women leaders, but I found that there were so many women with fantastic skills who could have been great union leaders.”

Ervin discussed the need for increasing participation in APSCUF.

“I worry about people who are not my colleagues in APSCUF, people who don’t join the union,” she said. “And even for some people who do join but don’t really get involved. I think understanding how strong the union is something people need to be educated on.”

Ervin discussed people who inspired and helped throughout her APSCUF journey. Dr. Jamie Martin, immediate past APSCUF president who passed away on June 5, was a major inspiration, Ervin said.

“I felt so out of my depth when I got onto the (negotiations) team,” Ervin said. “And Jamie just brought me in and explained things to me and was just so friendly and kind, like a big sister would be.”

Ervin also praised the leadership of APSCUF President Dr. Ken Mash and former APSCUF Vice President Dr. Chris Hallen, as well as all of the people who are delegates to the legislative assembly.

“Professors are such a hard-working group of people,” Ervin said. “They just will do anything for their students.”

Ervin’s commitment to her students went beyond the classroom.

“I think as a professor I was able to touch students’ lives and give them more confidence in themselves as thinkers and communicators,” she said.

Ervin was also a director at the Writing Center on campus. As director, she expanded the Writing Center to be more universitywide and took it out of the English department.

“When I would see the students who came to the Writing Center to get services, when they would experience a sense of efficacy that they didn’t have before they came in, that was great,” Ervin said. “And then the tutors developed great professional skills. Most of them were master’s students that were hired in their first year, so they would work for two years in the Writing Center, and could leave with this incredible skill set.”

Throughout all three of her major positions within the university, one consistent theme emerged.

“What did I enjoy about being a professor?” Ervin said. “What did I enjoy about being a writing center director? What did I enjoy about being a union leader? It’s empowering people.”

—Ethan Rapp, APSCUF intern

Faculty contract negotiations have begun between the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) and Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. Click here to read the release.

Coach contract negotiations have begun between the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) and Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. Click here to read the release.

Ethan Rapp from PennWest Edinboro, right, is APSCUF’s summer intern. He appeared on an episode of “Behind the Headlines” with Host Charlie Greenawalt, left, who retired from Millersville University, and APSCUF President Dr. Kenneth M. Mash. Click here to learn more about the internship. APSCUF file photo

I spent the past 10 weeks as APSCUF’s summer intern, and I enjoyed every second. I found out about this internship through my professor, Dr. Erik Bentsen, and I got accepted on my second application. As an education major with a concentration in social studies, I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to study further in my field. I understand that this internship was not designed for education majors, and, as I look back on my time here, I realize that I am incredibly fortunate. Throughout my weeks, I gained experience that I never would have been able to find anywhere else.

In my degree program, we learn about the history and political nature of our government, but we don’t follow current legislation or see firsthand what goes on in government. Throughout my time with APSCUF, I was lucky enough to travel twice to Harrisburg to meet with legislators in our state Capitol, research legislation, and sit in on government-relations virtual meetings, thanks to the APSCUF director of government relations, Sean Crampsie. I was also able to discuss policies on a broadcast program alongside APSCUF President Ken Mash. As a student who has avidly studied politics and government, this was a dream of mine. I had always wanted to see further behind the scenes of government, and throughout this internship, I had a front-row seat.

As a hopeful future social studies teacher, two main things I have to know are content and how to communicate effectively. In the second part of my internship, I worked alongside the communications director, Kathryn Morton. I interviewed members via virtual meetings, assisted on the digital newsletter, and helped develop advocacy material for the PA Promise. Before entering my internship, I struggled to express my thoughts and ideas in writing. Where I lacked experience, Kathryn guided me, from writing about higher education to teaching me journalism skills and ethics. I now feel much more comfortable communicating my thoughts and ideas.

I was also invited to attend a leadership training. There, I got to meet firsthand with APSCUF members. I learned what they truly care about. They fight not just for one another but for the students and the betterment of the universities as a whole.

I realized the impact of APSCUF and the PASSHE system.  APSCUF and the people fighting for a better-funded education are advocating for a better future for all of Pennsylvania. The funding of higher education can affect businesses, schools, the economy, and the everyday family.

I had an amazing experience this summer, and I would highly recommend this internship to any State System student. I learned so much throughout my little time here. Everyone I met through this journey was kind and helpful. I would like to thank everyone at the APSCUF office as well as all of the professors and faculty at Edinboro who helped me get to this position.

—Ethan Rapp, APSCUF intern