Labor of love: Two activists earn UUP's award of distinction

One has paved the way. The other is taking that path in a new direction. Both have been formally recognized by their peers for their noteworthy contributions to the union. SUNY Stony Brook retired professional Charles Hansen and SUNY Plattsburgh librarian Patricia Bentley have been named this year's recipients of UUP's Nina Mitchell Award for Distinguished Service. Although their paths rarely cross, their commitment to academic unionism keeps them headed in the right direction, and places them among a short list of dedicated unionists to earn the Mitchell award. 

The honorees are scheduled to receive their awards later this month during the Fall Delegate Assembly in Buffalo. The award was named in honor of Nina Mitchell (1926-1988), a veteran union activist from Brooklyn HSC. 

A pioneering member of the union's predecessor organizations - State University Professional Association (SUPA) and the Senate Professional Association (SPA) - Hansen is considered by his chapter nominators to have an "unwavering agenda to make faculty and professionals equal partners in the eyes of SUNY and state managers." 

In the early days, that was easier said than done. Professionals were, by all accounts, hired and fired at the whim of managers. As assistant director of business management at the Graduate Physics Facility, Hansen fought to change that. 

In SUPA, he served as a delegate and on several committees. When SPA evolved as a hybrid organization to encompass both academic and professional faculty, Hansen was called to serve as his chapter's first president and, later, as vice president for professionals. He is still a UUP delegate. 

"No one worked harder for union issues than Charlie Hansen," his nominators said. "His vision of and for the union has led to a sense of importance and belonging that many members feel today. Every professional today has been positively affected by Charlie's vision three decades ago." 

Hansen was UUP's vice president for professionals in the early '80s and served for three years on the Executive Board. He has also been a member of the Negotiations, Career Development, Membership, and Active Retired Membership committees.