April 16, 2003

Contact: Lynn Bretz, University Relations, (785) 864-8866.

KU official to help unveil Cesar E. Chavez postage stamp April 17

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor for university relations at the University of Kansas, will introduce Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers, and participate in the unveiling of the Cesar E. Chavez commemorative postage stamp at a ceremony at 7 p.m. April 17 at the Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway, in Kansas City, Mo. A program begins at 7:40 p.m.

The stamp, which will be available for public purchase beginning April 24, honors Chavez for his dedication to farm workers' rights. Chavez, who founded the United Farm Workers organization and spent most of his life fighting for fair wages and benefits for agricultural workers, died in 1993 after serving as the leader of the UFW for 31 years.

Rodriguez, who is the special guest for the 2003 Cesar E. Chavez Celebration, began his work with the UFW in 1969, organizing support for farm worker boycotts. He met Linda Chavez, Cesar Chavez's daughter, in 1973, and they were married in 1974. Rodriguez worked on organizing boycotts, unionizing farm workers for the UFW and pushing through legislation to protect farm workers. After Chavez's death, Rodriguez became president of the UFW.

In May 2002, Murguia was elected to the board of directors for La Raza, the nation's leading Hispanic advocacy organization. La Raza's board is composed of 32 representatives from community-based organizations, the corporate sector and academia. In October 2002, Murguia was named to Hispanic Business magazine's list of the nation's "100 Most Influential Hispanics."

Murguia oversees the university's internal and external relations with the public, including governmental and public affairs. She is responsible for KU's public relations offices on its various campuses, the public radio station, visitor services and special events, and trademark licensing office. She also coordinates the university's strategic planning and marketing efforts with those of the KU Alumni Association and the KU Athletics Corporation and works closely with the KU Endowment Association.

A Kansas City, Kan., native, Murguia earned three degrees from KU: a juris doctorate from the law school in 1985 and bachelor's degrees in journalism and Spanish in 1982.

Before coming to KU in 2001, Murguia served as deputy campaign manager and director of constituency outreach for the Gore/Lieberman presidential campaign. Before the campaign, she worked at the White House in various capacities beginning in 1994. She was deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of legislative affairs, serving as the senior White House liaison to Congress.