
The University of New Mexico
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Susan McKinsey, 277-1989, (cell) 362-5530
mckinsey@unm.edumckinsey@unm.edu
June 4, 2007
Education Dean Named Interim UNM ProvostUniversity of New Mexico President David J. Schmidly today named Viola E. Florez, dean of the UNM College of Education since July 1997, as interim UNM Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. The appointment takes place immediately.
Florez succeeds Reed Dasenbrock, who last month was named by Governor Bill Richardson as secretary-designate of the New Mexico Dept. of Higher Education.
“From the moment I was hired for this job, I made the commitment to increase gender and ethnic diversity in UNM’s administrative ranks,” said Schmidly. “I am delighted that Vi, who is a respected academic and a native New Mexican, is willing to step into this crucial role at the university.”
A native of Blanco, NM, Florez earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and humanities from Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, her masters in education from the University of Colorado and her doctorate in education from Texas A&M University- Kingsville.
At UNM, Florez has focused on diversity, faculty investment, improvement of undergraduate and graduate education, and P-20 education as her major priorities. Her major accomplishments have been achieving national rankings for the College in U.S. News and World Report, faculty diversity, securing funding for building renewal and new construction, increasing student diversity, and outreach with educational partners. Many of her efforts have concentrated on critical issues facing education in New Mexico and she has worked directly with school districts, community leaders, policymakers, other higher education institutions and state educational agencies to address student success.
Prior to the deanship in New Mexico, Florez served as Acting Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at Texas A&M University at Galveston, interim dean of the Texas A&M College of Education, executive assistant to the President of Texas A&M, associate department chair and professor of Curriculum & Instruction. She joined the Texas A&M University faculty from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1982.
Florez has dedicated her career to academic quality, and access and equity for all students, especially students pursuing higher education. She has published numerous articles, book chapters, monographs and other scholarly accomplishments in the field of teacher education, leadership, educational policy, reading/literacy with a major focus on multiculturalism and second language acquisition.
President Schmidly said a national search for a permanent provost would begin this fall.
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