Center for Human Rights appoints Raul Sánchez
Washington State University officials did not have to look far to find the next leader for the Center for Human Rights. Raúl Sánchez has accepted an 18-month interim appointment to direct the office, which monitors the university’s hiring practices and affirmative-action efforts. His appointment began Jan. 3.
His previous experience includes four years as the special assistant to the president for diversity and human rights at the University of Idaho. That position was eliminated in 2003 due to budget cuts. He maintained an adjunct faculty appointment at UI’s School of Law and last fall began working part-time in WSU’s Center for Human Rights (CHR).
Sánchez is a graduate of Harvard Law School and also holds degrees from Stanford and Princeton.
In taking this position, he said he brings a lot of passion for human rights to WSU.
“The work that CHR does is very important, in and of itself, but to be part of a bigger evolving effort around institutional equity and diversity is very gratifying,” Sánchez said.
His short-term plan is to make sure CHR is performing at the highest professional level and working effectively with other university offices and the broader community. Eventually he would like people to see CHR as more than an office that conducts investigations and monitors search processes.
“That traditional work will continue to be important; however, through much expanded training, educational and promotional work, I think (the office) can become more of a resource for improving human rights practices and environments at WSU,” said Sánchez.
