Linda Daniels, a long-time student affairs administrator, began her term as director of OU's Office of Multicultural Programs yesterday.

As director she will serve as adviser to the Black Cultural Programming Board and OU's National Panhellenic Council, the governing body for the university's nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities.

The Office of Multicultural Programs plans various social, educational, recreational and cultural events for African-American, Native American, Asian-American and Hispanic/Latino students. The office coordinates celebrations such as Kwanzaa and Black History Month, and supervises the Blackburn-Spencer Scholarship program, which traditionally assists African-American students.

"We feel she will bring strong leadership to the Office of Multicultural Programs and will be committed to OU students," said Patti McSteen, associate dean of students. "We hope she will work collaboratively with the Student Affairs office and OU students."

Daniels worked as assistant vice president for student affairs at the University of Pittsburgh in Johnstown. She has 14 years of experience working as assistant to the dean of student life, assistant dean of students and associate dean of students.

She was responsible for new student orientation, student unions, Greek affairs, activities and management, and minority programming in these positions.

At Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Daniels earned a bachelor's degree in journalism/communications and a master's degree in higher education administration at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.