KU News Release

KU taps leaders across Kansas for first meeting of Latino Vision Council

Members of the Latino Vision Council

LAWRENCE — At the invitation of University of Kansas Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere, Latino community leaders from across the state have formed the Latino Vision Council. The group held its first meeting April 4 on the KU campus.

Members of the Latino Vision Council will share their valuable insights and experiences with KU officials on the many challenges faced by Latino and Hispanic youths and their families as they contemplate KU and higher education.

Members of the council have a history of leadership in their respective communities. The nearly two dozen council members include public school officials, state officials and leaders of community, religious, media and social service organizations. Four KU students will also serve on the council.

“As the Latino population in Kansas continues to grow, our state and our university must find ways to encourage talented Latino and Hispanic Kansans to pursue higher education,” Lariviere said. “The council members are action-oriented people from across Kansas who understand the value of higher education to our state’s future and its importance to their communities. We will look to them to advise us on the issues and challenges KU must overcome to better serve the talented students of this growing community of Kansans.”

Since 2001, census data shows that Hispanics exceed African-Americans as the largest minority group in both Kansas and the United States. Recent KU outreach efforts include hosting a League of United Latin American Citizens Summer Leadership Academy, a Latino Leadership Summit for high school students and bilingual college preparation seminars in Kansas City, Kan., Garden City and Dodge City.

Members of the Latino Vision Council are:

Betsy Copeland, Riley senior and president of KU’s chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma, the largest Latina-based sorority in the United States

Ruben Font, KU Medical Center student from Miami, Fla., and president-elect of the National Network of Latin American Medical Students

Stephanie Gómez, Newton senior and 2007-08 president of the university chapter of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization

Christopher Muñoz, a recent KU graduate from Newton and president of the Mu Beta chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta, the largest Latino-based fraternity in the United States

Miguel Bañuelos of Wichita, founder and director of Tiempos newspaper and La Fiesta radio

Leo Casados of Wichita, former assistant director of admissions at Wichita State University. Casados has retired but still works part time as an admissions administrator at Butler County Community College. He is a longtime community activist.

Gilbert Cruz of Topeka, executive director of the Kansas Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen. Cruz has longtime personal and business ties to Garden City. Cruz received a bachelor’s from the KU Medical Center in respiratory therapy. He also holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Elías García of Topeka, director of diversity recruitment for the Kansas Department of Corrections

Sabina Gonzales-Hacker of Kansas City, Kan., director of the English as a Second Language program for Kansas City, Kan., public schools

Nicole Guerrero of Girard, English to Speakers of Other Languages specialist at Greenbush, the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center

Mary Lou Jaramillo of Kansas City, Kan., executive director of El Centro Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to address the needs and improve the lives of Kansas City’s Hispanic residents. She is a longtime community leader.

Cruz Jasso of Emporia, principal of Emporia High School. Jasso is active in promoting educational attainment as well as organizing and coordinating activities for Latino students.

Lydia Leon of Lawrence, founder and director of Servicios Hispanos de Lawrence. Leon is in the master’s of social welfare program at KU and is a driving force behind immigrant programming in Lawrence.

Dolores Morales of Garden City, community organizer

Dana Nannina of Garden City, community organizer. A KU alumna, Nannina has worked in the Garden City area to assist Latino students learn about and enter college.

Arturo Ponce of Liberal, field organizer, United Methodist Mex-Am Ministries. Ponce is a longstanding and active member of the Southwest Kansas community.

Leo Prieto of Leawood, director of Latino relations for the Kansas City Wizards soccer team. Prieto is a 2007 graduate of the KU School of Law and is active in national Latino organizations.

Stacie Valdez of Wichita, AVID coordinator, Wichita North High School. Valdez has been a teacher for 30 years, including 20 at Wichita North. She is a finalist for the 2008 Kansas teacher of the year.

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