Anna Marie Roos (University of Lincoln)

Election address

American President Harry Truman said, 'The buck stops here'. There were some decisions that only he could make in the executive office.  Although the trustees do not govern countries, we do have the responsibility to make sure that our Union is financially able to work effectively now, and in future. The role of the trustee is partially explained in the name—to hold in trust and safeguard the property and finances of the UCU.  Although the trustee does not vote in the National Executive Committee, and financial professionals deal with daily business, the Trustees have the ultimate responsibility for the union's financial future.

My previous service as trustee for charitable organisations, an academic programme administrator, and as a principal investigator in charge of large grants gives me the experience to be an effective custodian of UCU's finances.  At the same time, my experience of being a UCU rep for my local branch gives me the perspective to work effectively for the benefit of all union members.

I am a Professor of the History of Science and Medicine at the University of Lincoln, now part-time as retirement approaches. In my thirty years in American and British higher education, I have had the privilege and honour to serve as a trustee and member of the Large Grants Committee for the Lincoln Record Society and as the trustee of the British Society for the History of Science. I have been a director of the Study in England Programme at the University of Minnesota, an interim director of the University of Minnesota Duluth's 'Honors Programme', and an assistant director of the 'Bellavance Honors Programme' at Salisbury University (Maryland) where I had overall budgetary responsibilities. I have been PI of American Federal Grants from the National Science Foundation, as well as grants from the AHRC, The Royal Society, and The British Academy in the UK in which my responsibilities included financial oversight. My administrative roles include my service as Editor-in-Chief for The Royal Society's journal in the history of science, and membership on its digitisation, publishing boards, and library boards where financial decisions are usual business.

Most importantly, I am a rep at my post-92 institution, witnessing first-hand the issues our members face regarding fair pay, equality, pensions and working conditions. Looking fellow members in the eye, empathising with their challenges, and helping them means I recall every day what UCU is about. It is imperative that UCU have a robust and resilient financial future to support our members in the struggles that they face by the most effective means. As your trustee, the buck (or the pound) stops here. I'm standing for election as a member of the UCU Commons slate of candidates.

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