An 18-year University of Memphis employee has been named the newhead of the Minority Affairs Office.
Lonnie Latham has been with The U of M since 1985 and has servedas interim associate dean since last August and assistant directorof the University Center before being appointed to his new positionwith the office.
He has supported students in their activity programming needsand has been an adviser for several minority organizations.
Latham has been a consultant to University administrators on avariety of minority issues.
"I have a comprehensive plan to seek to nurture the academic,cultural and social needs of the minority students," Lathamsaid.
Latham said his mission is to promote and advance personaldevelopment in the academic success of minority students.
"He has a good feel for the students, a good feel for minorityaffairs and a good feel for diversity," said Jay Andersen, directorof the University Center. "This is a good, positive, professionalmove for him."
Andersen said Latham has much experience within The Universityand is very familiar with the policies and procedures of thescheduling of events.
He was an integral part in the successful events of BlackHistory Month this year at The U of M, according to Andersen.
Latham's career began in higher education at Shelby StateCommunity College, where he served as academic counselor, jobplacement coordinator and student activities coordinator.
"I hate to see him go, but he will be a good addition to theminority affairs department," Andersen said. "We'll have to go outand find someone to fill his shoes."
Latham said part of his mission is to support the commitment todiversity in the student population.
He would like students to know that he is committed to theirneeds.
"I have an open-door policy," Latham said. "Students who haveany problems or need any information can come in and I will stopwhat I am doing to listen."
Andersen said he has extreme confidence in Latham because of hisyears with The University.
"Latham knows The U of M, its operation policy and theprocedures of the administration," Andersen said. "Students knowhim, and they know they can depend on him."
