May 28, 1993<p>
 
FOR RELEASE: Upon receipt  <br>        CONTACT: John Hedin<br>
 <strong>CHAVEZ PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF
MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS AT UVM</strong><hr size=5>

Anthony Chavez of Burlington is the new director of the University of
Vermont Office of Multicultural Affairs, filling the position he has held on an interim basis since the Rev. Rodney Patterson left in February.<p>

Paul Oliaro, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, announced the
appointment this week. Oliaro said Chavez will continue to work with and
support African American, Latino, Asian and Native American (ALANA)
students academically and personally.<p>

A liberal studies graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Chavez earned
an associate of applied science degree in agricultural mechanics from Rend Lake College, his master of science degree in education and mechanization from Southern Illinois University, and is a doctoral candidate in occupational education at Southern Illinois.<p>

Chavez came to UVM in September 1991 as assistant director of
Multicultural Affairs. Previously, he was assistant director of Career Services with Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.<p>
 
Along with managing the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Chavez plans
outreach activities for prospective ALANA students visiting campus and directs recruitment and retention programs for multiracial students. He also raises funds and writes grants for ALANA scholarships and multicultural enrichment programming.<p>

Co-chair of the Coalition for Institutional Diversity, along with Carlos
Velazequez and R. Deep Ford, Chavez also co-chaired the structure committee for the Commission on Racial Justice & Equality. He teaches an undergraduate course on Race & Culture, and instructs in the areas of race, class and gender; multicultural leadership; and academic survival.<p>
                                    
 &#34;Taking the Office of Multicultural Affairs to a new level of productivity and support for ALANA students is one of the most pressing challenges the campus faces today,&#34; Chavez said. &#34;I&#180;m looking forward to working with faculty and staff to build bridges and develop mechanisms to make matriculation easier and simpler for ALANA students, and help the general population of the university develop their skills to become allies of a very important student population of UVM,&#34; he added.<p>

The selection concluded a national search chaired by Pam Gardner of the
Center for Career Development. &#34;This is an especially challenging time (in the area of multicultural issues) for the university and in American history,&#34; Gardner said. &#34;I have the utmost respect in Chavez&#180;s ability to confront the tasks that lay ahead.&#34;<p>

Chavez chairs a committee appointed by the mayor of Burlington to design
an entity to address racism and oppression, and works with the Burlington
Ecumenical Action Ministry. He coordinates the Native People Solidarity Festival at UVM and the Abenaki/UVM Partnership.<p>
                 
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