Contact:	Frank D. Martinez, 277-1811
May 24, 2002 TERESITA AGUILAR NAMED UNM DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES University of New Mexico Provost Brian L. Foster today announced the appointment of Teresita E. Aguilar as dean of Graduate Studies, effective Sept. 1, 2002. She will succeed Professor of Communication and Journalism Kenneth D. Frandsen, former associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who has held the position on an interim basis since Oct. 16, 2000. For the past two years, Aguilar has been associate dean of the College of Education and Integrative Studies and a professor in the Department of Ethnic and Women 's Studies at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA. "Professor Aguilar has an impressive record of experience in academic administrative positions. She has been on the faculty and active in graduate education at two peer research universities. She also brings significant strengths in the areas of diversity, teacher and multicultural education and understanding race and ethnicity. We look forward to working with her," Foster said. "I am very pleased to have been selected for this leadership position. Graduate study, by design, should be the most rewarding educational experience in higher education. I look forward to collaborating with and supporting the UNM graduate faculty and students within and across colleges. I also look forward to working with my new administrative colleagues and with the staff in the Office of Graduate Studies as we seek ways to enhance our resource base, external visibility and internal operations," Aguilar said. The UNM dean of Graduate Studies works with graduate faculty, Faculty Senate Committees, academic deans, the provost's staff and upper administration to provide high quality graduate education. Among other duties, the dean also works to increase graduate student recruitment and to enhance graduate student funding and research productivity through good use of graduate students. Prior to her current position, Aguilar held various positions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, since 1991, including chair of the Graduate Program and professor in the Center for Curriculum and Instruction. In 1993-94, she served in an administrative internship as faculty associate to the chancellor. She also served as coordinator of the Multicultural Education Program from 1991 to 2000. She was a member of the Academic Senate, and served on the Executive Committee for three years. Aguilar also previously served as assistant professor of Leisure Services and research associate in the Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, 1989-91; assistant professor in the Recreation and Leisure Studies Program and the Institute for Ethnic Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1985-89; teaching fellow/associate in the Division of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of North Texas, 1984-85; visiting lecturer in Recreation, UNM, 1982-84; and research associate in the Division of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of North Texas, 1980-82. She is the author of numerous scholarly publications, the recipient of several grant awards as well as the recipient of various other honors and recognition awards. She recently was selected to participate in the 2002 Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education at Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA. Aguilar earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977 from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, TX; her Master of Science degree in 1981 and her doctorate in 1985, both from the University of North Texas, Denton. ###

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