Antonio Flores speaks during Hispanic Heritage Month
Oct. 3, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- Dr. Antonio Flores, president and chief executive officer of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, will present a talk on "Latinos in Higher Education" from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in Rooms 208-09 of Western Michigan University's Bernhard Center.
The presentation is free and open to the public. It is being offered as part of WMU's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, a national observance that runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 14 and recognizes Hispanic culture and contributions to American society.
Flores of San Antonio, Texas, will receive a 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award from WMU at a recognition dinner Friday, Oct. 10. The event will mark the 40th anniversary of the award, which is the WMU Alumni Association's most prestigious honor.
He also has received numerous other awards and honors, including being named one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States" by the editors of Hispanic Business Magazine.
As HACU's president and CEO, Flores represents 340 colleges and universities serving more than three-fourths of the United States' 1.6 million Hispanic college students.
Prior to assuming his current post in 1996, the Mexico native worked with the Michigan Department of Education, starting in 1978 and most recently serving as director of support services and programs for the Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority and the Michigan Higher Education Student Loan Authority.
In addition, Flores has been a program administrator at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Hope College and an instructor at Grand Valley State University.
He earned two bachelor's degrees from Mexican institutions as well as a master's degree in counseling and personnel from WMU in 1977 and a doctor of philosophy in higher education administration from the University of Michigan in 1990.
Flores' appearance is being sponsored by the Division of Multicultural Affairs, Latino Employees Association, Latino Student Alliance, Sigma Lambda Beta and Sigma Lambda Gamma.
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Media note: To arrange an interview with Dr. Antonio Flores, contact Miguel Ramirez in WMU's Division of Multicultural Affairs at (269) 387-3329 or <miguel.ramirez@wmich.edu>.
Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 269 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu