Patrick McGinty discusses the Pennsylvania Promise at APSCUF’s February 2024 legislative assembly. The Slippery Rock University member is State APSCUF’s new secretary. APSCUF file photo
Patrick McGinty brought his plus-one to the APSCUF strike in 2016.
“I walked the picket line as an adjunct, with my wife — my wife who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant,” McGinty said. As a new adjunct, the union’s fight was especially pertinent to him: One of the major sticking points of negotiations was adjunct courseload and compensation.
McGinty assumed the position of State APSCUF secretary on June 1, succeeding previous office-holder Dr. Michele Papakie. The Slippery Rock creative-writing professor has been involved in APSCUF since he became an adjunct in the fall of 2015. Since then, he has been involved with his chapter, including SRU-APSCUF’s executive council as the Committee for Action through Politics (CAP) chair.
The new secretary noted the retirements of prominent APSCUF executive council members, such as Dr. Chris Hallen and John Gump. McGinty said one of the reasons he ran for the position was to learn from more veteran members of APSCUF, such as Dr. Kenneth M. Mash and Dr. Kara Laskowski.
“We do not live forever, nor do we serve forever,” McGinty said. He said he wants to “be present, and to learn, and watch,” to prepare for a future when these experienced members of APSCUF retire, and the next generation must step into leadership roles.
McGinty said the duties of secretary include ensuring that minutes taken are accurate and without errors. McGinty plans to take in all he can during his time in Harrisburg. He said he will help push for more affordable higher education in Pennsylvania.
MORE ABOUT MCGINTY
Patrick McGinty received his bachelor’s from Denison University and his master’s from Portland State University — where he also spent time as an adjunct professor. He joined the faculty at Slippery Rock as an adjunct and was converted to assistant professor in 2022. In APSCUF, he served as the adjunct representative and CAP chair of his local EC, and he chairs the PA Promise Leaders committee. He published his first book, “Test Drive,” in 2022 and has another novel, “Town College Crypto Road,” on the way, scheduled for release in 2025.
—Jesse Daugherty,
APSCUF intern