UL Adjunct Faculty Elects First President, Tengbeh Vows Stronger Advocacy for Faculty and Students

Monrovia – The Adjunct Faculty Association of the University of Liberia has elected George Sahr Tengbeh as its first president, establishing an organized leadership structure for adjunct instructors and opening a new chapter in advocacy for faculty welfare and institutional development.

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By Gerald C. Koinyeneh

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Tengbeh was elected during the association’s inaugural election on Wednesday, September 30, in Room TH 50 on the University of Liberia’s Capitol Hill Campus.

The election also produced a full leadership team, with Joseph Kla Wisner Jr. elected Vice President; Cephas MMD Flanzamaton, Secretary General; and Isaac Saah Lakpasiyoe, Assistant Secretary General.

Humphrey Tarpeh was elected Financial Secretary, Nathan Ballepa Treasurer, Amos B. Karbedeh Chaplain, and James D. Sinnatwah Jr. Advisor.

The newly elected leadership represents adjunct faculty members serving across the University’s campuses, colleges, schools and academic departments, including the Fendell Campus, Sinje in Grand Cape Mount County, Amos Sawyer College, T.J. Faulkner College and the School of Public Health.

Tengbeh Pledges Dialogue

In remarks following his election, Tengbeh thanked adjunct faculty members for entrusting him and his colleagues with the responsibility of representing their interests.

He pledged to pursue the association’s advocacy agenda through dialogue and constructive engagement with the University administration and other stakeholders.

At the center of the association’s agenda are concerns over adjunct faculty compensation, job security, employment pathways for long-serving instructors, access to University identification cards and equitable opportunities for professional and human-capacity development.

For adjunct instructors who have served the University for years, the absence of a clear pathway toward more sustainable employment remains a longstanding concern.

Tengbeh’s administration says it intends to engage University authorities on these issues while seeking practical and sustainable solutions rather than confrontation.

The association also plans to advocate for greater access to professional development, training, research and other capacity-building opportunities for adjunct instructors.

Students Remain a Priority

While placing faculty welfare high on its agenda, the new leadership says students remain central to the University’s academic mission.

The association maintains that better working conditions, professional development and support for faculty should ultimately translate into improved teaching, stronger faculty-student engagement and better educational outcomes.

The new leadership is therefore expected to support initiatives aimed at strengthening teaching quality and promoting academic excellence across the University.

Tengbeh and his team have also expressed a willingness to work with University administrators, student leaders, other faculty associations, alumni, government, development partners and other stakeholders on initiatives aimed at advancing the institution.

Beyond Faculty Welfare

The association says its mandate extends beyond the immediate interests of adjunct instructors to the broader development of the University of Liberia.

Its leadership says it will promote dialogue, collaboration, professional responsibility and solutions-oriented engagement in addressing challenges affecting faculty and students.

With adjunct instructors playing a significant role in teaching across multiple academic programs, the association believes a stronger and more professionally supported adjunct faculty can contribute to the University’s academic mission.

The association also intends to improve communication among adjunct faculty members and create a coordinated platform for presenting their concerns, recommendations and professional interests to University authorities.

New Leadership

The association’s inaugural elected leadership comprises:

• President: George Sahr Tengbeh
• Vice President: Joseph Kla Wisner Jr.
• Secretary General: Cephas MMD Flanzamaton
• Assistant Secretary General: Isaac Saah Lakpasiyoe
• Financial Secretary: Humphrey Tarpeh
• Treasurer: Nathan Ballepa
• Chaplain: Amos B. Karbedeh
• Advisor: James D. Sinnatwah Jr.

Following the election, the association thanked former Acting President Wilhelmina Garr-Steven and her team for their service during the transitional period.

It also commended the Election Committee, chaired by Abayomi K. Nmah, for overseeing the inaugural electoral process, while special appreciation was extended to Acting President James Massaboi for facilitating what the association described as a smooth election.

The election marks the establishment of the association’s first permanent elected leadership and provides adjunct faculty members with a formal platform for collective representation.

The association has adopted the slogan: “United in Representation. Committed to Service. Focused on the Future.”