Published: Aug. 13, 2000

Ofelia Miramontes, interim associate vice chancellor for diversity and equity at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has been appointed to the position on a permanent basis, according to Phil DiStefano, vice chancellor for academic affairs.

The appointment was approved by the Board of Regents on Aug. 3. Her salary will be $101,260.

Miramontes had held the position on an interim basis since the Office of Diversity and Equity was formed in 1998 to provide dedicated leadership for campus diversity. The position reports to both the chancellor and the vice chancellor for academic affairs.

DiStefano said his decision to make the position a permanent one was based on campus-wide support for the office. He cited MiramontesÂ’ successful leadership in coordinating diversity programs and services, in addition to increasing scholarship funding for students, as important components of the campus diversity plan.

"I received many letters from faculty, staff and administrators supporting OfeliaÂ’s appointment to the permanent position," DiStefano said. "They cited her knowledge of diversity issues and the many programs she has supported and implemented to recruit and retain a diverse faculty, staff and student body."

Miramontes is also an associate professor in the School of Education, where she served as chair of the schoolÂ’s Equity, Educational and Cultural Diversity Program Group. She remains actively involved in the development of programs for language minority students in public schools.

Her research and teaching focus on linguistic diversity and first and second language acquisition. She is the co-author of two books, "Ethics of Special Education" with Ken Howe, and "Linguistic Diversity and Effective School Reform" with Adel Nadeau and Nancy Commins.

Miramontes holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish from San Diego State University, a master's degree in social science from the United States International University in San Diego and a doctorate in education from Claremont Graduate School.

In her permanent role as leader of the Office of Diversity and Equity, Miramontes will continue to focus on fostering, developing and supporting programs and policies related to diversity on campus, monitoring and evaluating campus diversity efforts and supporting faculty, staff and students through the Department of Equal Opportunity.

For more information on the CU-Boulder Office of Diversity and Equity visit the Web site at .