KU News Release

LAWRENCE — To help recruit and retain Hispanic students at the University of Kansas and connect nearly 2,500 Hispanic KU degree holders, the KU Alumni Association has formed the KU Hispanic Alumni Chapter.

The group’s executive committee met with alumni association staff members Feb. 12-13 at the Adams Alumni Center in Lawrence to approve bylaws and plan inaugural events.

Fred Rodriguez is president of the chapter. He is the university’s interim associate vice provost for diversity and equity and executive director of the Multicultural Scholars Program.

To organize the chapter, Rodriguez worked with alumni association staff members Mike Davis, senior vice president for alumni and membership programs; Stefani Gerson, coordinator for student programs; and Anne Culnane, coordinator for alumni programs.

“The energy and excitement that permeated the executive committee during the weekend was so refreshing,” Rodriquez said. “As a result, we left our meeting with not only a sense of accomplishment but also a uniform agreement on our short-term and long-term direction and plans. Our goal is to make this chapter one that will serve and support all Hispanic alumni for many years to come.”

The chapter will host a banquet for 2010 Hispanic graduates at 5:30 p.m. April 30 at the Adams Alumni Center. The group also is planning a reunion weekend Sept. 24-25 in Lawrence, in conjunction with the KU-New Mexico State football game, Family Day and Band Day.

In addition to Rodriguez, the chapter’s executive officers are

— Monique Garcia, Wichita, vice president
—Philip Orlando, Wichita, treasurer
—Camille Bribiesca Platz, Dallas, recording secretary (Platz also is a member of the KU Alumni Association’s national board of directors)
—David Ochoa, Lawrence, communications secretary

The following KU staff and alumni are members of the chapter executive committee

— Toni Casados, recruitment support coordinator, Office of the Provost, Garden City
— Sonia Garcia, New York, N.Y.
— Octavio Hinojosa, Vienna, Va.
— Juan Izaguirre, assistant director, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Lawrence
— Alfred Murguia, Kansas City, Kan.
— Greg Valdovino, assistant director, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, Lawrence

Alumni and friends who would like to become involved in the KU Hispanic Alumni Chapter can contact the alumni association at kualumni@kualumni.org or (800) 584-2957. For more information on the chapter, go to www.kualumni.org/kuhispanicalumni.

Since 1883, the KU Alumni Association has helped strengthen the university by informing, engaging and mobilizing the KU community. The association has more than 45,000 members.