elping students succeed is Maritza Martinez�s priority as the assistant dean for Academic Affairs in the Office of Academic Support Services. Martinez understands the student experience, having received her master�s degree from the University herself in 1985. She left the University to become director of the EOP/Multi-Cultural Student Affairs office at Schenectady County Community College, but she returned in 1995 to the position she now holds. One of Martinez�s goals is to catch problems, especially those of first-year students, before they become worse. She has been instrumental in supervising many academic support services, such as a Study Group Plan, which involves small group study sessions for 28 freshman courses. Martinez communicates with professors about students at risk, and she both organizes study workshops and manages a faculty-mentoring program. Martinez also excels in her leadership role. She chaired the Women�s Concerns Committee, the Council of Women�s Groups, and Alianza Latina. Other committee memberships of note include the Diversity Task Force, Faculty Senate�s Undergraduate Academic Council, Initiatives For Women, and National Coalition Building Institute. Known as a superb student advocate, Martinez�s commitment and service have been recognized through a number of awards and honors, including the Bread and Roses Award, YMCA Woman of the �90s, the Governor�s Hispanic-American Medal of Distinction, and the Outstanding EOP Director Award. Recently, she was nominated for the National 2000 Student Advocate Award.

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