Thomasine P. Ross, first of four Office of Equal Opportunity director candidates, presented her qualifications, including discrimination investigation, mediation and human resource management, to University officials and students at a forum Thursday.
Ross answered audience questions, outlined some of her plans and gave her agenda if selected for the position.
"One of the key points that I would like to implement would be a way of dealing with problems before they happened. Training is an important element," Ross said.
Ross is one of four finalists for the director position selected by a 13-member committee, which began searching for finalists in March.
Ross said her qualifications include human resource management, administration investigation of discrimination allegations, mediation, employee and labor relations, negotiation and administration of labor union contracts.
Ross is currently the coordinator for the Civil Rights Division of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. She has previously worked in UNM's Office of Equal Opportunity as a senior investigator, serving from 1992 through 1998.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
During her time at UNM, she investigated nearly 100 cases of discrimination. At that time, the office's staff consisted of 10 individuals. Ross said that now the office has eight individuals and, if selected, she said she would hire more people to handle the office's workload.
"Returning to UNM would give me an opportunity to work with different constituent groups, this is highly attractive to me," Ross said
The opportunity office monitors University activities to ensure compliance with local, state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination. The office is currently headed by Interim Director Theresa V. Ramos.
The OEO director will be responsible for developing and directing a comprehensive affirmative actions plan, serving as the coordinator for Americans with Disabilities Act and Title IX, of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and managing the investigation of complaints of alleged discrimination and sexual harassment.
The individual selected as head of the office will report directly to the president of the University.
"I have the experience with administrations," she said.
Ross expressed interest in a plan to involve and inform students about the proper procedures in determining if taking advantage of the office is in their best interest.
Each candidate will be allowed to make a presentation to the University at individual forums.
The next candidate forum will be 2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19, in the Roberts Room at Scholes Hall.
