by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
Barbara Lofton wants diversity to be a bigger focus at UNM.
She is one of three final candidates for a new position, called associate vice president for student affairs/diversity.
"This position would bring some centralization and consistency to issues of diversity on campus," she said.
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Lofton spoke at a public forum Monday in the Student Services Center.
She is the director of minority affairs at the business school at the University of Arkansas.
The position at UNM appeals to her because it will deal with the entire University instead of just one department, she said.
"I want to reach beyond what I currently do," she said. "I would like to use my experience to reach beyond just one part of the school."
The position will be filled around May 15, said Kim Henson, fiscal and planning director of Student Affairs, although there is no set date.
Salary will depend on Student Services' budget and the person's individual credentials, Henson said.
The person chosen for the position will report directly to Eliseo "Cheo" Torres, vice president of student affairs, said Walt Miller, associate vice president for student development.
Miller said the position is not just about increasing the diversity of the student body. The person chosen for the job will also be expected to increase the diversity of UNM's faculty and to provide leadership to student services.
The person who gets the job will have to be good at dealing with issues of diversity and be a good manager, he said.
"Your toolbox has to be pretty full to get this position," he said.
However, diversity was the focus of the discussion.
Terry Babbit, director of recruitment services, told Lofton that although the position is in the Student Services department, the person chosen will work with many people at the University, such as provosts and faculty.
"It really is supposed to have a strong academic side," he said. "We need a champion of diversity. It really sounds like a tough job."
About 10 people attended the forum, but none were students.
Lofton said diversity is important for any higher education system.
"How can you create an educated population and you're leaving the history of a whole group of people out, or when a whole group of people isn't getting a good education?" she said. "The answer is you can't."
She said one way she might go about recruiting more minority students to UNM and also making sure they graduate is by establishing relationships with high school guidance counselors, which she has already done in Arkansas.
She said it is important for high school counselors to prepare students and families for college.
"Kids don't go to college. Families go to college," she said. "If you can find a student who pays their tuition, pays their fees, pays for books, pays for all of that, show them to me."
She said one weakness she might have at UNM is her lack of experience with a large American-Indian population.
"What I know, I can put in a teaspoon," she said. "When it comes to American Indians, I know very little about the customs and traditions and how those relate to higher education."
Tim Gutierrez, the next candidate, will have his public forum today from 11:15 a.m.-noon. The final candidate, Francis Becenti, will have his forum on May 8 from 4:15 p.m.-5 p.m. Both forums will be held in the Dean of Students Office Conference Room, room 280 in the Student Services Center.
