11-24-98
	
OHIO STATE NAMES INTERIM AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DIRECTOR

	COLUMBUS -- Olga Esquivel-Gonzalez, an Ohio State University 
staff member since October 1994, has been named interim director 
of affirmative action at the university.  Her appointment in the 
Office of Human Resources takes effect immediately.

	At the same time, Ohio State has announced it is reopening 
the search for a permanent director of affirmative action.  A 
search committee will be formed and the search is expected to 
begin within 60 days. 

	Larry Lewellen, associate vice president for human 
resources, and Nancy Rudd, vice provost for academic policy and 
human resources, will direct the search.

	Two previous searches to fill the position have been 
unsuccessful, and the position has remained vacant for 3 1/2 
years.  The search was delayed in the past year as other campus 
leadership transitions were completed, including naming a new 
president and provost.

	The affirmative action director is responsible for 
coordinating affirmative action planning for faculty and 
staff; meeting diversity goals of the university; tracking 
regulations and achieving university compliance; and providing 
training and communications to faculty and staff on affirmative 
action.
	
	Lewellen, who has supervisory responsibility for the 
position, said he expects Esquivel-Gonzalez to serve in the 
interim post until at least June 30, when a permanent director 
should be named.
	
	Esquivel-Gonzalez currently is a consultant and team project 
leader in the Office of Human Resources’ Consulting Services, and 
she also has worked at Ohio State as an employee relations 
specialist. 
	
	Lewellen said she is knowledgeable about diversity and 
affirmative action planning and issues at Ohio State and other 
institutions.  Since Aug. 1, she has performed several functions 
of the vacant director’s position, Lewellen said, including 
working on discrimination complaints and investigations and 
affirmative action planning.
	
	Esquivel-Gonzalez earned a bachelor’s degree in history and 
Latin American Studies from the University of Massachusetts at 
Amherst in 1982 and a law degree from the University of 
Connecticut Law School in Hartford in 1986.
	
	She practiced immigration law and workers’ compensation and 
personal injury law in Connecticut prior to working at Ohio 
State.

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Contact:  Larry Lewellen, associate vice president for human 	
	  resources, (614) 292-3456