The University of New Mexico NEWS RELEASE |
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Media Contact: Susan McKinsey, 505-277-1807 April 10, 2008 De León Named UNM Vice President for Equity and InclusionUniversity of New Mexico President David J. Schmidly has announced that Josephine (Jozi) De León has been selected as the university’s Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, a new position that provides strategic leadership on initiatives that increase and maintain diversity across all academic disciplines and units on campus. De León currently serves as the associate provost for Academic Affairs and Community Colleges at New Mexico State University. “We’re looking for a system-wide program that supports inclusion, equity and diversity of students, faculty and staff,” said Schmidly. “Jozi brings a wealth of experience to the position.” De León professional and academic experience focuses on addressing educational needs of underrepresented groups. She earned a bachelor’s in early childhood education from Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a master’s in educational psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. De León earned her doctorate from New Mexico State University in curriculum and instruction with a special emphasis in bilingual special education. During her career at New Mexico State University she has served as academic department head, associate dean, and most recently as associate provost. De León also served as an assistant professor and director of Bilingual Special Education Training at UNM from 1987 – 1992. De León worked as deputy secretary for Academic Affairs, Research and Planning for the newly created New Mexico Higher Education Department in 2005. She completed her temporary appointment with the Higher Education Department and returned to NMSU in May 2007. De León is nationally recognized for her contributions to special education in addressing the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse exceptional students. She has written many articles and chapters on the subject and has presented and consulted nationally and internationally. Among several board and association appointments, De León is a former Minority Serving Institution/Kellogg Leadership Fellow and former Governor of the Division for Diverse Exceptional Learners of the Council for Exceptional Children. She has also served on the Board of Directors of New Mexico MESA and as chair of NMSU’s Diversity Council. De León will begin her duties at UNM on July 1, 2008.### |
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| The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation. | |
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