Director Sought for New UW Social Justice Research Center |  
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May 2, 2007 -- A search is underway for a director of a new Social Justice Research Center at the University of Wyoming.
The center will emphasize academic research focused on producing and disseminating social justice-related information to resolve issues and promote opportunities to make a positive impact in the world, says Francisco Rios, UW College of Education professor of educational studies.
The director will be selected from the UW faculty for a two-year period with the opportunity for one additional two-year appointment. Deadline to apply is May 15.
"This is an especially exciting opportunity since the first director will have a chance to shape the way this center comes together," Rios says.
The idea for the center stemmed from a directive of the President's Advisory Council for Minority and Women's Affairs (PACMWA) to make recommendations on how to best use a Social Justice Endowment Fund. Council members desired an "academic" activity consistent with the UW president's recommendation to strengthen campus diversity efforts. Rios is PACMWA's chairman.
Among the director's duties would be developing a shared vision for the center; fostering research by UW faculty, students and staff on social justice issues; grant development and/or fundraising to advance the center's goals; and sponsoring academic activities for scholars and the public.
Funding to establish the center and to create the director's position comes from the Social Justice Endowment Fund. Funding also will support eight scholars selected from the UW faculty who will be required to attend monthly meetings and to offer statewide presentations to community colleges and community groups.
"All faculty, staff and students at UW will be invited to attend any of the center's activities," Rios adds. "In our view the center would have multiple purposes."
Among the center's goals are to develop meaningful solutions to identified problems; serve as a catalyst for grant funding; develop an outreach program to create and present research; and strengthen existing UW academic programs that have a social justice focus, such as Women's Studies, African American Studies, American Indian Studies, Chicano Studies and other programs.
"There are several important benefits that would come with the establishment of the center," Rios says. "The colleges would have more ability to recruit and retain faculty whose research rests within a diversity or social justice framework, especially faculty of color."
He says the university and state would benefit as well.
"To the University of Wyoming comes greater academic standing for relevant scholarship and research, stronger reputation as a national player in issues of social justice, and with successful grant applications, greater external funding," he says. "A social justice center will contribute to finding solutions to critical problems throughout the state, especially to underserved populations."
For more information, call Rios at (307) 766-4055. Posted on Wednesday, May 02, 2007
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