Hispanic leader Mickey Ibarra donates papers to University of Utah

The University of Utah next week will honor Mickey Ibarra, a one-time Utah County educator who rose to national prominence as a voice for the Hispanic community in government.

The Salt Lake City native has donated his papers to the U., where he attended graduate school in the 1970s, chronicling his public service and years in the Clinton White House.

Next Wednesday at noon, Ibarra will give the Hinckley Institute Forum keynote. Then, on Thursday, U. officials will hold a public reception at the Marriott Library at 5:30 p.m. in recognition of "The Mickey Ibarra Papers: A Utah Journey to the White House." The U. awarded Ibarra an honorary doctorate of humane letters five years ago. The son of a Mexican immigrant, he graduated from BYU.

After working with the National Education Association, Ibarra served in the Clinton administration as an assistant to the president and director of intergovernmental affairs. In that capacity, he was the president's liaison to the nation's mayors and governors during Clinton's second term. Later, he started the Ibarra Strategy Group, a public affairs firm based in Washington, D.C., and the nonprofit Latino Leaders Network.