Administrators said they have narrowed down the search for a new assistant director of Hispanic Student Affairs after a two-month search.
According to Director of Multicultural Student Affairs Rod Bradley, the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity has entered the second phase of the hiring process where candidates can meet with students and faculty members.
Students have the opportunity to meet with the candidates everyday through Dec. 5. The open forums will be held from 2-2:45 p.m. and students-only sessions will take place 2:45-3:15 p.m. Both meetings will take place in Witherspoon Student Center room 356.
Students are welcome to attend a portion of these meetings where they can simply “drop-in” as their schedules allow, Bradley said. Students are invited to hear the candidate presentations, ask questions and provide feedback. Résumés and evaluations for candidates will be available to students prior to each meeting.
The search began when the former HSA assistant director, Abraham Dones, left N.C. State earlier this semester. University administrators were not legally obligated to disclose the nature of Donez’ departure.
Cristal Vivanco, president of Mi Familia and a junior in international studies, said students are involved in the process to make sure university administrators were looking for Dones’ replacement in a timely manner.
“[Hispanic and Latino students] don’t have a very long presence with the University, and we’re still trying to accomplish so much,” Vivanco said. “We still need that guidance in order to stay strong and accomplish what we want to set up this year, so we’re here to make sure [the assistant director] spot doesn’t stay vacant for long.”
To address these concerns, Bradley said students will be “100 percent a part of the search process.”
Bradley also said the University conducted a regional and national search, and the new assistant director for Hispanic Student Affairs will be named no later than Jan. 2014.
“We are glad students can participate and contribute their voice to search process,” Bradley said. “We’re excited for [students’] continued support, and MSA is working diligently to make our students continue to be supported.”
Joanne Woodard, Vice Provost for OIED assured students that a timely decision will be made to fill Dones’ vacancy.
“Unfortunately, in a personnel situation, we can never talk fully and freely what may have precipitated someone’s departure or where someone might have gone,” Woodard said. “But our point is we want students to know is that [the OID] is still very supportive of Hispanic-Latino students on campus. In that respect we’re moving in a fairly timely manner to get a new staff member in who can be in charge of that area.”
