GRANVILLE -- The Denison University Lecture Series will host civil rights expert and lobbyist Linda Chavez as its opening speaker for the fall semester. Chavez will discuss bilingual education and its role in Hispanic assimilation in the United States. Set for 7:30 p.m., Thursday (Sept. 19) in Slayter Auditorium, this event is free and open to the public.

Linda Chavez

A graduate of the University of Colorado, Chavez is the president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, a non-profit public policy research organization and was President George W. Bush's first nominee for secretary of labor, withdrawing as controversy developed. President of "U.S. English" from 1987 to 1988, Chavez served as White House director of public liaison and as staff director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights during the Reagan administration. She was appointed to the Administrative Conference of the United States and was a delegate to the United Nations Conference on Women in Nairobi. Chavez also was chairman of the National Commission on Migrant Education in 1988 and served as an expert on the United Nations' sub-commission on discrimination from 1992 to 1996.

Chavez chronicled the untold story of Hispanic progress and achievement in her bookOut of the Barrio: Toward a New Politics of Hispanic Assimilation, and addressed the implications of bilingual education, voting rights, immigration and affirmative action. She writes a weekly syndicated column and is a contributor to numerous other publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New Republic and Reader's Digest. She is a political analyst for FOX News Channel and makes regular appearances on programs such as the "McLaughlin Group" and "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."

Chavez currently sits on the board of directors for several non-profit organizations, including the Foundation for Teaching Economics and the Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. She also has served as the co-chair of the Council of Foreign Relations committee on diversity and is a director of ABM Industries, Inc. Chavez was honored in 2000 by the Library of Congress for her contributions to America's cultural and historical legacy.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575