Meet Our Staff

Joe Muñoz
Senior Executive Assistant to the President & Assistant to the President for Multicultural Initiatives

Joe Muñoz holds a B.S. in education from Angelo State University and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He has been at ASU since 1993 and is the assistant to the president for multicultural initiatives. He is also a lecturer in the College of Business.

Flor Leos Madero

Associate Director for Diversity Initiatives

Flor Leos Madero received her B.A. and M.A. in communication from Angelo State University and is currently a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin seeking a Ph.D. in communication studies. She joined ASU in 2001 and has worked in various capacities throughout the university. She is currently the Multicultural Center Associate Director, providing leadership for the center and working to develop and implement innovative programs and services for traditionally under-represented students.

Adriana Balcorta
Program Specialist

Adriana Balcorta received her B.B.A. and M.B.A. in finance and international business from Angelo State University. She is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, and has worked with several Multicultural Center programs since 2006. She conducts research and aids in the development of student programs that foster recruitment, enrollment and retention activities for under-represented student populations.

Melissa Brackett
Program Specialist

Melissa Brackett received her B.A. in History from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA and her M. Ed. from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. She joins the Multicultural Center staff as a Program Specialist after teaching Middle School for two years and working as the Campus Activities Coordinator at Sul Ross State University for nearly three years. A First Generation student herself, Melissa takes great pleasure in helping ASU students build positive relationships and leadership skills through the First Generation RAMS Mentor Program. Melissa and her husband live in Ballinger, where they have a small zoo of 4-legged children.

Lorina Soza-Klingemann
Office Coordinator

Lorina Soza-Klingemann received a B.F.A in art with a minor in communication from Sul Ross State University. Prior to her employment in the Multicultural Center, she served as the Office Coordinator for the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Arizona.  Currently, she serves as the coordinator of the First-Generation Host Family Program, a program designed to assist first generation students who have entered their first year of university studies. She and her spouse also volunteer as a host parents for the program. 

Hope Garza
Educational Guidance Counselor

Hope Garza joined the Multicultural Center in September 2008 as an education guidance counselor for the Up & Coming Scholars Program. She received a B.A. in elementary education from the University of Denver and a master’s degree in psychology counseling from ASU. She has taught 17 years in the San Angelo Independent School District and is currently at ASU serving students who are part of the center’s various scholarship programs. 

Clayton Banister
Student Assistant

Clayton Banister is a Junior transfer student from El Paso and joined the Multicultural Center staff in August 2011. He is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Communications. Clayton enjoys working in the Multicultural Center because it is a great environment for students and an easy way to meet different people.

Charity Benford
Graduate Assistant

Charity Benford received a BA in Communication from Angelo State University in December 2009. She has joined the Multicultural Center in March 2010 as a graduate assistant. Charity is working on her Master’s of Education in Student Development and Leadership in Higher Education. Because of her active involvement on campus, she helps with many programs that the Multicultural Center sponsors.

Jose Cano
Student Assistant

Jose Cano is originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, and joined the Multicultural Center staff in August 2010. Jose is a freshman pursuing a degree in business, while also keeping his options open. He feels the Multicultural Center is a great place to work and to meet people from other cultures. In addition to working at the center, Jose is actively involved on campus as a mentor in the First Generation RAMS program, participant in the Host Family Program, and a member of AMAS.

Mario “Rio” Velasquez
Student Assistant

Rio Velasquez is a freshman from Menard, Texas, and joined the Multicultural Center Staff in January 2011. Rio’s current major is Psychology and he is also pursuing a minor in Art to specialize in Art Therapy. Rio enjoys being at the Multicultural Center, whether he’s working or not, and likes to get involved with student activities. Rio is active across campus, participating in intramurals, talent shows and AMAS.