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ABOUT

Ricardo Nazario y Colón is:

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-An accomplished Higher Education Administrator with over twenty years of experience in various industries including the U.S. Military, Colleges & Universities, Corporate Banking and State Government. Possesses a high level of independence, organizational loyalty and self-discipline. A critical analyst with the ability to transfer ideas into practice.

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- Experienced in managing diverse groups of people at various stages of their career ladder. Adept at developing a streamline budget during times of financial exigency. 

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- A team leader with strong interpersonal skills. Possess the ability to build "esprit de corps" within a task force and other special units of service. Skilled in client service, mentoring and staff development.

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- Proficient in English and Spanish with good organizational, verbal, written, multi-tasking and communication skills.

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Specialties: Diversity and leadership for the corporate professional and higher education. Student leadership development. Multicultural and African-American Culture Center development. Underrepresented student development at predominantly white institutions. Problem solving. Performance evaluation. Management. Lean processes. Town and Gown engagement.

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As a student at the University of Kentucky Nazario y Colón became a co-founder of the Affrilachian Poets. In 2001 he was featured in the PBS documentary Coal Black Voices produced by the Media Working Group. Featuring 2011 National Book Award Winner Nikky Finney, 2005 Lanaan Fellowship Award Winner Frank X Walker, Crystal WilkinsonKelly Norman EllisPaul C. TaylorBernard ClayMitchell L.H. DouglassDaundra Scisney, and Shanna Smith. In addition, commentary was provided by Gurney Norman (2009 KY Poet Laureate) and C. Daniel Dawson, African Art Historian. His work has been featured on the Bob Edwards show, and the Kentucky NPR Affiliates WFPL and WUKY as well as in the program Casting the Dye: a Reading with the Affrilachian Poets, recorded Thursday, February 12, 2009, at The Art Institute of Chicago. Speakers included: Mitchell L. H. Douglas, Parneshia Jones, Kelly Norman Ellis, Ricardo Nazario Colon, Ellen Hagan, Frank X Walker, and Stephanie Pruitt, with a special guest reading by National Book Award nominee Patricia Smith on Chicago's WEBZ.

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For the last 20 years Nazario y Colón has been traveling the Appalachian Region and other parts of the United States consulting on diversity, leadership development and working with community groups and universities. As a member of the Affrilachian Poets he is particularly engaged in the fight against mountaintop removal mining and works to educate individuals outside the Appalachian region.

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