SUBJECT:   Appointment of Acting Dean of Students for
                    Thurgood Marshall College

As you know, Rafael Hernendez has resigned as Dean of Students at Thurgood Marshall College, having served in this capacity since 1995, and has accepted the appointment of Director of the UCSD Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP).

In both his capacities as Dean of the College and as Lecturer in the Teacher Education Program here at UCSD, Mr. Hernandez continually showed an enviable concern for the intellectual and social welfare of our students. This evidenced itself in his thoroughly professional dispatch of our student leadership program, supervision of residential life staff, as well as his leadership in numerous Marshall College, campuswide, and national initiatives aimed at demonstrating that high academic achievement and cultural diversity are not competing virtues.

I am also pleased to announce that our current Assistant Dean, Ms. Ashanti Houston-Hands, will serve as Acting Dean of Students for Thurgood Marshall College while we conduct a national search. Ms. Houston-Hands began her UCSD career as Student Activities Coordinator and was chosen to become Assistant Dean in 1998. Among her accomplishments has been advising a variety of student leadership committees, establishing the very successful Thurgood Marshall College Parent's Weekend each fall, and advising in the planning of campuswide student recruitment activities.

I am sure that you join us in congratulating Director Rafael Hernandez on his extremely important new assignment and in welcoming Acting Dean Ashanti Houston-Hands to her new duties. Also during this time of transition, Assistant Dean of Residential Life, Ms. Diane Rouda, has agreed to temporarily join the Thurgood Marshall College Dean's staff as Acting Assistant Dean. We are extremely confident that these appointees will continue the high degree of professionalism and energy of the Dean's Office at Thurgood Marshall College.