DR. ENRIQUE E. FIGUEROA

 

Director Bolton Hall 183 phone: (414) 229-3651 email: figueroa@uwm.edu

 

As Director of the Roberto Hernandez Center (RHC), Dr. Figueroa is the chief executive and administrative officer of the Center. Responsibilities include overall management and planning, including personnel, budget administration, and program development and implementation. In addition, Dr. Figueroa is expected to promote campus affirmative action and equal opportunity goals and to make progress toward achieving the goals and actions of the UW system 2008 Plan, the Milwaukee Commitment, the OFCCP conciliation agreement, and provide support in areas of engagement with the community and implementation of commitments made by Chancellor and Vice Chancellor. As Assistant to the Provost for Latino Affairs, Dr. Figueroa assists the Provost in efforts to promote the hiring of Latino faculty and staff as well as represent UWM before the greater Milwaukee Latino community. Dr. Figueroa works extensively with the Latino community of Greater Milwaukee in areas of program development, research, outreach, and community empowerment through education. He serves on the Board of Directors of Milwaukee's oldest community based organization serving the Latino community and has developed a communications protocol with the region's Latino leadership.

Dr. Figueroa was born in Uvalde , TX and lived there until the age of twelve, when his family moved to Modesto , CA . His formal schooling includes an A.S degree in Animal Science from Modesto Junior College , a B.S. in Agricultural Education from Fresno State University , an M.S. in Horticulture from U.C.-Davis, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from U.C.-Davis. After his first Masters, Dr. Figueroa was an Instructor of Ornamental Horticulture at Modesto Junior College and then worked for the California Conservation Corps for the State of California . While in graduate school, Dr. Figueroa was selected as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Fellow and worked for the House Committee on Agriculture in the U.S. Congress. Upon completing his doctorate, Dr. Figueroa was appointed Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at Cornell University and was subsequently promoted to Associate Professor. Dr. Figueroa was appointed as Administrator of Agricultural Marketing Service by the Clinton Administration and subsequently was promoted to Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, both at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In both capacities, Dr. Figueroa played a key role in national policy affecting the marketing of agricultural products. He was responsible for a 2 billion dollar budget and a workforce of nearly 15,000. Dr. Figueroa serves on the Boards of national philanthropic organizations and on local community based organization Boards. He is a recognized national scholar, administrator, and Latino community leader.