In 12th year at Western and fourth as faculty athletics representative ... Completing first year as Dean of College of the Humanities and Social Sciences after serving one year as interim dean ... Also was chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages for nine years and served as interim chair of Department of English during 2005-06 school year ... Professor of Spanish for 10 years ... Specialist on Latin American literature ... Promoted to Associate Professor in 2000 and Full Professor in 2005 ... Spent seven years prior to coming to Western at Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogoches, TX), the first six as Assistant Professor of Spanish and one as Associate Professor ... Director of Latin American Studies Program there ... Received doctor's degree in 1993 and master's degree in 1986, both at University of Washington ... Earned bachelor's degree in 1984 at Lewis & Clark College (Portland, OR) ... Four-year letter winner in track and field for Pioneers ... Has authored two books.