Dr. Eric Hawrelak addresses APSCUF’s legislative assembly in April 2024. APSCUF file photo
Joining APSCUF was a no-brainer for Dr. Eric Hawrelak, who signed up during his 2004 new-faculty orientation at Bloomsburg University. He has a family history of union membership, with both his parents serving in union jobs. On June 1, Hawrelak succeeded Dr. Tom Stewart as State APSCUF’s treasurer. Hawrelak in his new position said he intends to assist chapters in using union dues to “do more for the membership,” such as activities to involve members. He said his primary job is to “watch and maintain what’s going on with our budget,” as well as working with Beth Connelly, State APSCUF’s director of finance and facilities. He said he’ll work on the budget projections that are done in February and maintain the books, making sure that financial matters are on the up and up.
Hawrelak served on the state budget committee for over 15 years, and he chaired the state mobilization committee, where he participated in the planning and coordination of the 2016 strike. He has a close working relationship with former State APSCUF Vice President Dr. Chris Hallen, who was a faculty member in the same department as Hawrelak at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg. Hallen, a past State APSCUF treasurer, encouraged Hawrelak to serve on the budget committee back in 2008. Hawrelak also is president of his local chapter at Bloomsburg.
“(Faculty and coaches) should join the union, because the union ultimately supports them,” Hawrelak said, outlining the benefits of the union. This includes pay, benefits, working conditions such as how many courses faculty teach, and union staff to assist members. Hawrelak stressed the importance of union membership, as it takes money to provide these services, and APSCUF can only do that with the help of the members.
HAWRELAK FACTS
Hawrelak is a professor in the department of biochemistry, chemistry, engineering, and physics at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg. He received his bachelor’s from Hamilton College in 1995, his master’s from the University of Kentucky in 1998, and his doctorate from Virginia Tech in 2002.
—Jesse Daugherty,
APSCUF intern