Davis to serve as dean for Latinos at U. Virginia

Patrick Walters
University Wire
12-10-1998
(Cavalier Daily) (U-WIRE) CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Following the completion of a second search after an initial committee found no suitable candidates, the Office of the Dean of Students has selected an assistant dean of students for Hispanic and Latino students.

Members of the committee announced the appointment of Pablo J. Davis, a former Latin American History professor from Franklin and Marshall College Dec. 7.

Davis has been working in Washington D.C. as a free-lance editor since the summer.

Dean of Students Robert T. Canevari said Davis received strong and unanimous approval from the search committee.

"We feel he is the right person," Canevari said. "I think there was an overall feeling he would be the best fit here--there was a feeling that this is the guy."

He said he hopes the transition process works as well with Davis as it did with Asst. Dean of Students Glenna C. Chang, hired last summer to work with Asian students.

"If the process works as well with Dean Davis as it did with Dean Chang, we have a double bingo," Canevari said.

Davis said he looks forward to getting to know the students and administrators at the University and establishing a good network within the Hispanic/Latino community at the University, around the country and around the world on the Internet.

"My first task will be to learn the map of the organizations, the people and the initiatives" at the University, Davis said. "I'd also definitely like to establish a good Web presence--I'd like to establish a Web page out of my position."

He also said he hopes to establish a peer advising program similar to the existing one in the Office of African American Affairs, a system where in-coming students are paired with older black students.

He added that he looks forward to working with and meeting members of the community and the existing ethnic and cultural organizations like the OAAA.

"My most important idea is to make the first 90 days the time when I'm a student and others are teachers," Davis said. Because he has no predecessor, "There is no script."

La Sociedad Latina President Sam Eder, a member of the search committee who will be working directly with Davis, said he was enthusiastic about Davis' selection.

Eder said he felt Davis was unconditionally the best candidate.

"This one just kind of blew everyone away," he said. "He kind of combines his experience as a Latino in a predominantly white institution with an amazing knowledge of the issues on a theoretical basis."

He added that he was confident that Davis would not try to take away power from Hispanic and Latino students or try to make decisions for them.

"He wouldn't be the kind to impose a decision," Eder said.

He also said he looks forward to working on projects including a Latino leadership conference and improving faculty retention and Hispanic/Latino recruitment at the University.

"We have a great [student] retention rate, but our recruitment rates are pretty low," he added. "Faculty recruitment is also less than 1 percent --we'll be pushing for more Latino faculty to be hired."

Chang could not be reached for comment.



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