September 1, 2021
Director of diversity and multicultural student life hired to lead Morris Family Multicultural Student Center
The Department of Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs in the Division of Student Life announces Kevin Santos Flores has been hired as the director of diversity and multicultural student life. In this role, he will oversee the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center and help promote student engagement on our campus.
Flores has served as an assistant director at the Diversity and Cultural Engagement Center at Oregon State University Corvallis. In this universitywide role, he advised and collaborated with student organizations on cultural, educational and social programs. To meet the center's mission and goals, he worked closely with the Office of Admissions, the Educational Opportunities Program, and the Distinguished Scholars Initiative to help improve the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of first-generation, historically underrepresented, and/or low-income undergraduate students.
"I am excited to have a new member join DMSA, and particularly that Kevin is coming to K-State with previous experience leading various Cultural Centers," said Mirta Chavez, interim associate vice president for student life of diversity and multicultural student affairs and director of multicultural programs and services. "Now that we are back on campus, I am looking forward to Kevin implementing some creative engagement programs that were discussed during his interview with our student groups."
Flores also served as director and academic advisor to the Talent Search Trio at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. In this role, he led and managed the administration, curriculum development and the delivery of services at 12 districtwide schools in Humboldt County.
Flores also has experienced the academic affairs side of the university. At Humboldt State, he taught Global Economics and Politics. The topics in the course included the theories of International Political Economy, the socioeconomic issues facing developing countries, trade and currency policies, and the international knowledge structures. Flores also taught International Relations, U.S.-Latin American Foreign Relations, and Middle Eastern Politics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
He received his Bachelor of Arts in political science and Latin American studies from California State University, Fullerton and Master of Arts in international affairs from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Santos is fluent in Spanish, as well as also certified in Portuguese language from the Centro Universitário UNA Belo Horizonte, in Brasil.
Flores will officially begin his new role on Sept. 13. Everyone is invited to attend a welcome reception from 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, in the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center.