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Theresa A. Martinez, University of Utah associate professor of sociology, has been named associate dean of undergraduate studies for outreach - a new position.
Over the past two years, Martinez has served as special assistant to David Pershing, senior vice president for academic affairs.
In that role, she worked on issues affecting transfer students, who comprise 60 percent of the university's student body.
As associate dean, Martinez will lead a university-wide effort to recruit first-generation students. She also will work to strengthen retention of first-year and transfer students.
Martinez has received numerous academic honors, including the ASUU Students Choice Award (twice), the College Superior Teaching Award, the Presidential Teaching Scholar Award and the Distinguished University Teaching Award.
She earned a doctorate from the University of New Mexico. Her research specialties include racial and ethnic relations, race, class and gender, deviant behavior and juvenile delinquency.