University President Bob Bruininks on Wednesday appointed Nancy “Rusty” Barceló as the first Vice President for Access, Equity and Multicultural Affairs.

The new position came from the president’s original suggestions in his spring 2005 University realignment plan.

Pending approval from the Board of Regents, Barceló’s appointment will become effective May 15. She will oversee a number of offices within the Office of Multicultural and Academic Affairs.

Barceló is the Vice President and Vice Provost for Minority Affairs and Diversity at the University of Washington. She is not entirely new to the University of Minnesota, having served as the associate vice president for multicultural and academic affairs five years ago.

Barceló said she is excited to return to the University and is happy to see the inclusion of diversity in its realignment plan.

“I was pleased the president saw diversity as an important ingredient,” she said.

In the new position Barceló will be on Bruininks’ executive leadership team.

She will be responsible for overseeing offices within the Office for Multicultural and Academic Affairs including the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence, the Office for University Women and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Programs Office.

Anne Phibbs, systemwide director of the GLBT Programs Office, said the creation of the new position reflects positively on the University’s realignment plan.

“(The position) speaks to the University of Minnesota’s commitment to putting diversity at the center of its strategic positioning,” she said.

Patrick Troup, director of the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence, said he thinks Barceló will create a dialogue with students.

“Her personality is such that she’s really going to engage students in a process of developing and transforming the University into a place that values difference,” he said.