As a first-year dean, Luis Miron of the College of Social Sciences has faced many challenges since his arrival, but he is swiftly pioneering changes with designed accuracy.

A New Orleans native born in Guatemala, he is dedicated to the city’s success. Miron received a doctorate in Latin American Studies from Tulane University with an emphasis on education.

He has also taught at many universities including the University of California in Irvine and Berkley, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans in the 1980s and most recently, Florida International University.

Miron wanted to return to New Orleans because he “wants to help renew the city as higher education is being redefined.”

Upon arrival, Miron was faced with the development a newly established college that mostly split City College with the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences, and he has encountered several issues along the way.

A major problem exists as the colleges’ departments are located in five buildings, making it difficult to maintain contacts with faculty and students, he said. Another of Miron’s concerns is that in order for the common curriculum to expand the colleges’ influence, it is important for all students to not only know about current issues, but also how to deal with, and possibly solve, those issues.

“You can make an impact in any field if you are creative and innovative,” he said.
The colleges’ newest initiatives are big, and several projects are already in the works.
 
A Center for the Study of New Orleans is being planned; it will be the first center of its kind, run by several professors of mass communication, and will offer an undergraduate minor in New Orleans Studies. It plans to bring important speakers to the school on the topic.

The college is also setting up the New Orleans Institute for Quality and Equity in Public Education, a center focused on the study of charter schools, and their infrastructures, in New Orleans.

Miron is planning a lot for the graduate school as well, especially for the Nursing program, which brings huge revenue to the school.

Already facing approval is a program for a Doctorate for Nurse Practitioners, which will be completely online and the first in the state.

“The future of graduate studies, not only in this college, but in the entire university, is something that should be considered because of the high potential for innovative programs,” said Miron.

He also stressed the need for a permanent Office of Graduate Studies.

For the future, Miron plans for smart growth and sustainability. He says the college is currently searching for a new Director of Mass Communications, and although he doesn’t see a return of the School of Education (though Certificates of Education can be earned in certain fields), he can see a return of the broadcast journalism major that focuses more on digital and other forms of modern media.

As the college gains stability, more events and speakers are going to be invited: Miron is planning to bring in a speaker to analyze the first 100 days of President Barack Obama’s term, and he welcomes everyone to attend a symposium at the School of Law on March 27 to focus on the needs of special education students in New Orleans.

Garrett Cleland can be reached at
[email protected].