July 23, 2004

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Patricia Telles-Irvin has been named the University of Florida’s next vice president for student affairs, UF President Bernie Machen announced today.

Telles-Irvin (pronounced TAY-yes) currently is the senior vice president for student affairs and human resources at Florida International University in Miami, a position she has held since 2002, after serving as vice president of the same position since 1998. She will begin her new duties at UF on Oct. 1.

“Patricia Telles-Irvin is the best person to lead the University of Florida’s division of student affairs,” Machen said. “A nationwide search led to her selection, and she has won wide support among faculty, staff, students and administrators. I am delighted she will be joining the senior leadership team at the University of Florida.”

A counseling psychologist, Telles-Irvin, 48, has been at FIU since 1993. She became director of FIU’s Counseling and Psychological Services Center in 1994, and served as assistant vice president for student affairs and associate vice president for student affairs in 1997 and 1998, respectively.

“I welcome the opportunity to join the University of Florida and look forward to working with the faculty, staff and students to advance the institution’s vision,” Telles-Irvin said. “I also want to thank the individuals who supported my candidacy.”

From 1988 to 1992, Telles-Irvin was a psychologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and an assistant professor in the school’s department of psychiatry. Before that, she was a psychologist and counselor at the University of Texas at El Paso and a psychologist in private practice in Massachusetts.

A native of Texas, Telles-Irvin received her master’s and doctoral degrees in counseling, both from Boston University in 1978 and 1983, respectively. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Duke University in 1977 and attended the Universidad de Madrid in 1976 as part of her degree program.

Telles-Irvin’s recent honors include membership in the National Society for Collegiate Scholars and the Order of Omega Honor Society. Her professional affiliations include the National Hispanic Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association and the national Association of Student Personnel Administrators. She is fluent in Spanish.

Telles-Irvin succeeds J. Michael Rollo, who was appointed interim vice president for student affairs in spring 2003 upon the death of then-Vice President for Student Affairs James E. Scott.