Newly named director knows all facets of Office of University Resources for Latinos

by Tom Parisi

It's safe to say that Sylvia Fuentes has a full understanding of the Latino experience at Northern Illinois University. After all, she lived it. After a long hiatus in her own college career, the mother of two returned to her studies in 1981 at NIU, earning her bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as her doctorate in adult continuing education. Her dissertation examined the educational experience of women of Mexican origin living in the Midwest.

Sylvia Fuentes

She spent eight years teaching, creating two new NIU courses, including one on the Latina identity. She has mentored dozens of Latino undergraduates over the years. And for the past four years, she has served as associate director of CHANCE, NIU's alternative admissions program.

Now Fuentes is entering a new chapter of her life at NIU. She has been named director of the Office of University Resources for Latinos (URL), effective July 1.

Fuentes will replace 15-year URL Director George Gutierrez, who is taking a special recruitment assignment for the admissions office through December, at which time he plans to retire.

The URL focuses on recruitment, retention and cultural and educational programming for Latino students. It should be a perfect fit for Fuentes. She first became familiar with URL as a student seeking assistance on campus and later as a volunteer who helped other Latinos navigate college life. Her work with students in recent years has earned her two advisor-of-the-year awards.

During a four-month search, NIU received a dozen applications for the URL's top post. Fuentes was selected from a field of four finalists.

"I'm excited about this appointment," said Admasu Zike, associate vice provost for academic support services. "I'm confident that Dr. Fuentes is up to the challenge of meeting the needs of our Latino population.

"I also am impressed with Dr. Fuentes' work with students, particularly those who need academic support," Zike added. "Additionally, she has administrative experience and has the preferred credential of a doctorate, which gives her office academic credibility in the university community."

More than 1,100 Latino students attend NIU. The university has consistently been named among the nation's top 100 colleges and universities in conferring academic degrees to Latinos. Still, across the country, the growing ethnic group is underrepresented in the college ranks.

"I have been researching Latinos and Latinas for about 25 years, and one of my main interests is retention," said Fuentes, who is fluent in Spanish. "As a student, I went through the same emotional, financial and cultural struggles that today's Latino students experience. I think my background provides me with a unique understanding of their journey.

"I also know from experience that the resources needed to succeed are here on campus," she added. "NIU has so many caring people."

Fuentes is a firm believer in mentoring, having been co-creator of an NIU course on mentoring and leadership development for students from ethnic groups.

"While I was a student here, Professor Phyllis Cunningham was my mentor. She is the one who encouraged me to pursue my master's and doctorate," Fuentes said. In her professional life, Fuentes said she continued to benefit from the mentorship of LaVerne Gyant, director of the Center for Black Studies, and Leroy Mitchell, director of the CHANCE Program.

"Mentoring and positive role modeling are crucial aspects of our work with Latinos," Fuentes said. "It's important to show students how to get beyond the obvious. As somebody once told me, `Why walk when you can fly?' Our students need to understand this, that they're capable of realizing their dreams."

Fuentes and her family have lived in DeKalb since 1989. Her son and daughter are both NIU graduates.