No Slowdown for OMA While Search Continues

The College is searching for a permanent director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Several candidates visited campus and met with students and interested personnel in late November. In the meantime, associate professor and chair of sociology Héctor Vélez-Guadalupe has been interim director during the fall semester. Vélez, says assistant provost for special programs Tanya Saunders, "understands the complexities, challenges, and opportunities that race and ethnicity pose for a pluralistic society. He communicates well with both students and faculty, who respect and accept him."

Under the direction of Vélez, the OMA has been as busy as ever. The office sponsored the third annual Unity Relays in September to kick off the school year (photos), and together with first-year programs and orientation hosted a visit by Gregory Williams, author of Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black.

This fall OMA’s second annual Racial Awareness Series hosted Felipe Luciano, the first Puerto Rican news anchor on a network television show, and Cherokee storyteller Gayle Ross, who mesmerized a packed pub/coffeehouse during her visit (see more on page 6). Coming up next semester: Juan Williams, author of Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954–65 (January 21); and Vietnamese American author, editor, and television producer Nguyen Qui Duc (April 5).

Other upcoming programs include a new lecture series and more Express Yourself Forums

Photos by Cascadilla Photography