Scott Whiteford, previously professor of anthropology and director of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Michigan State University, is the appointed director of the Center for Latin American Studies at the UA.

"I am delighted to join the distinguished faculty of the University of Arizona. Arizona is a gateway between Latin America and the United States," Whiteford said. "Based on scholarship and research, the University of Arizona has the potential to be among the top three or four best programs on Latin America in the United States. I look forward to helping the University of Arizona establish this ranking. There is already a first-class M.A. and undergraduate program in place."

Brian Seastone, University of Arizona Police Department commander - appointed as manager of UA Emergency Preparedness. Seastone's duties will include coordinating building, department, college and area emergency response plans and assimilating them into the university-wide Campus Emergency Response Plan and the Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan. He also will plan, coordinate and oversee emergency exercises, both "table-top" and full-scenario drills.

Five UA Latina students from the College of Public Health have been selected as scholarship winners for demonstrating academic prowess and a commitment to serving the state's Latino population.

The recipients are Sonia Aguila, a pre-health education sophomore; public health graduate students Lourdes Barrera, Olga Felix and Christine Armenta; and Melisa Celaya, an epidemiology graduate student.

Each winner will receive $4,000, funded by Canyon Ranch Health Resort and the Hispanic Women's Corp., and will attend the Scholarship Benefit Luncheon at the 20th National Hispanic Women's Conference in Phoenix on Friday.