University of Phoenix Academic Leaders Appointed to Association of Latino Professionals For America Phoenix Chapter

Dean of Operations John Ramirez and Assistant Dean of Community Outreach and Inclusion Saray Lopez appointments reaffirm University’s commitment to workforce and student diversity

PHOENIX, June 22, 2016 — University of Phoenix today announced the appointment of two of its leaders to the Phoenix Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA). John Ramirez, dean of Operations for the School of Advanced Studies, will serve as chairman of the Phoenix corporate advisory board, and Saray Lopez, assistant dean of Community Outreach and Inclusion, will act as vice president of corporate development. Ramirez and Lopez join the organization’s ranks of senior leaders from academia, private industry, government and regulatory bodies who share a passion for empowering Latinos in every sector of the global economy.

“The Association of Latino Professionals For America is delighted to have John and Saray join us in our quest to connect Latino men and women with professional careers, leadership development opportunities and mentorships,” said Alain Monroy, president, Association of Latino Professionals For America Phoenix Chapter. “We will look to their experiences as academic leaders to guide us in these efforts.”

Throughout its history, University of Phoenix has worked to provide underserved populations with access to higher education, and has been recognized for graduating more underrepresented students with master’s degrees in business, health care and education than any other university in the nation¹. It also has a diverse student and faculty population, with 45 percent of students belonging to a minority group and 34 percent of faculty².

“I am honored to serve in the Association of Latino Professionals For America because they understand the strength that a diverse workforce can contribute to the economy,” said John Ramirez, Command Sergeant Major (ret.) and dean of Operations for University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies. “Increasing opportunities for minority scholars has been an impetus to my career in academia, and I look forward to working with the Association of Latino Professionals For America to further promote developing future generations of Latino leaders in the workforce.”
Despite being the second fastest-growing population in the country, Latinos are largely underrepresented in leadership roles³. The appointment of University of Phoenix academic leaders to an organization focused on connecting Latino talent with leaders from organizations that span multiple industries complements the University’s commitment to providing career-relevant education to students while meeting the needs of today’s employers.

“University of Phoenix not only recognizes and embraces the diversity of its students, staff and faculty, we understand the importance of diverse perspectives, whether in the classroom or in the workforce,” said Saray Lopez, assistant dean of community Outreach and Inclusion for University of Phoenix. “Throughout our history, we’ve worked to provide underserved populations with access to higher education and are proud of the contributions our minority students and faculty have made in their fields of study across multiple sectors of the economy.”

The Association of Latino Professionals For America is the longest-standing Latino organization with more than 72,000 members assembled in 44 professional groups and more than 160 student chapters across America. Its vision is to be the premier business organization for expanding opportunities for Latino leadership in the global market.

“We are proud to be a university led by individuals who align with professional organizations with a shared desire to promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of diversity in today’s workforce,” said Angie Williams, Ed.D., dean of multicultural affairs and diversity for University of Phoenix. “John and Saray’s appointments to the Association of Latino Professionals For America is a testament to University of Phoenix leading by example in its commitment to building a diverse and inclusive teaching and learning environment that can serve as a strong foundation to build a diverse workforce. I look forward to them championing this vision on behalf of the University in their newfound leadership roles with this organization.”

About the Association of Latino Professionals For America
The Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA)’s mission is to empower and develop Latino men and women as leaders of character for the nation, in every sector of the global economy. ALPFA supports over 72,000 Latino students, professionals, and entrepreneurs through more than 40 professional chapters and 160 student chapters at major colleges and universities nationwide.

About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.

[1] http://diverseeducation.com/article/12914/

[2] University of Phoenix: 2014 Academic Annual Report

[3] Center for American Progress: The State of Latinos in the United States