SUBJECT:

Edward Lopez Named UCSD Outreach Coordinator

I am pleased to announce that Edward Lopez, currently director of
student affirmative action and human relations programs, has been
appointed K-12 Outreach Coordinator for UCSD. This is a new position
developed in response to a recommendation of the 1997 Task Force that
led to the recent formation of CREATE, the Center for Research in
Educational Equity, Assessment, and Teaching Excellence.

Lopez, who is a member of the San Diego Unified School District School
Board, will be responsible for improving communication and cooperation
among UCSD's existing outreach programs, which number over 60. He
will help promote these programs to schools throughout the San Diego
and Imperial counties, facilitate access to the programs, and
coordinate collaborative projects between UCSD and K-12 schools,
including school partnerships, professional development and teacher
education. With the establishment of CREATE, recently approved by
UCSD's Academic Senate, Lopez will become its chief staff person and
will serve as a primary point of contact and information for the
public to access UCSD programs. For the time being, he will report
through Paul Drake, Dean of the Division of Social Sciences to me.

Lopez is a UCSD graduate with a B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning.
He earned his law degree from Boalt Hall at UC Berkeley in 1991. He
has served as a counselor in UCSD's Early Academic Outreach Program;
practiced governmental affairs for the firm Jennings, Engstrand &
Henrikson; and practiced civil litigation and non-profit corporate
formation for the firm Castillo and Guevara. His community activities
have included service on the boards of the Chicano Federation, Labor's
Community Service Agency and the Centre City Development Corporation.
He is currently on the board of Community Schools Innovation, Inc. and
president of the UCSD Chicano/Latino Alumni Council.

"I am excited about this opportunity to be a part of UCSD's bold new
outreach initiative," said Lopez. "I look forward working with our
successful existing outreach programs and to helping increase UCSD's
involvement with K-12 institutions throughout the region. An
important goal is increasing the number of socioeconomically
disadvantaged students who become eligible for and enroll at UC
campuses as a result of outreach programs, which will help ensure
diversity throughout our system," he said. "I feel I can also
contribute to improved understanding among our institutions about the
vital issues in education today and the role the university can play
in addressing some of the needs of K-12 schools, through research and
education."

This important appointment adds to the momentum of our K-12 outreach
effort. We are fortunate to have an individual with Ed Lopez's
background in education and community leadership assume the position
of outreach coordinator at this pivotal time. We will benefit from Ed
Lopez's experience and leadership as we improve access to UCSD's
outreach programs, and work with our colleagues in the community to
create new opportunities for young people throughout San Diego to
succeed in education. I urge you to work with him in every way
possible to achieve these goals and to join me in welcoming him to his
new position.

Robert C. Dynes Chancellor