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St. Olaf to host MN Network of Latinos in Higher Ed

By Tom Vogel
April 23, 2007

The Minnesota Network of Latinos in Higher Education (MNLHE) will hold its first southeast regional meeting at St. Olaf College on April 23 at 3:30 p.m. in Buntrock Commons.

The MNLHE is an organization founded by and for students, faculty, staff and administrators across colleges and universities in Minnesota. The network's primary goal is to support the success of Latinos in higher education in Minnesota.

Eida Berrio, dean of Community Life and Diversity, says the network aims to help Latinos and their families fully partake of and contribute to society.

"We have a growing Latino population in Northfield, in Minnesota and in the nation," Berrio says. "For many of these people, the goal is to have a better life. That means better education and higher education. The network asks: how can we make this possible?"

Berrio says she sees St. Olaf's hosting of the network meeting as another way in which the college reaffirms its commitment to being an inclusive community.

"The goal of the network is the goal of St. Olaf College, which was founded to provide an education for the children of immigrants," Berrio says. "We're continuing to support the founding principals of the college. This is a great collaboration."

The MNLHE celebrated its launch last December at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Groups of students, faculty, staff and administrators were in attendance to elect representatives to a steering committee and discuss the future goals of the network.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.