Raymond A. Dalton, executive director of Cornell's Office of Minority Educational Affairs (OMEA) for 14 years, will step down June 30. He previously directed minority educational affairs in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning and was a senior lecturer from 1989 to 1994.

It was announced last week that Dalton received the William H. Myers Multicultural Professional Service Award for his work in multicultural affairs at Cornell.

Prior to his planned retirement next year, Dalton will be a special assistant to Michele Moody-Adams, vice provost for undergraduate education, to help develop initiatives aimed at enhancing diversity at Cornell and promoting the academic success of underrepresented students. A national search will begin soon for his successor at OMEA.

Dalton helped develop programs and services to support recruitment and retention of underrepresented students. He served as chair of the former Minority Student Affairs Council and led community meetings of the Committee on Special Educational Projects (COSEP). He helped develop and expand partnerships between COSEP and other student support services, as well as with Gannett Health Services, Campus Life and Cornell's ethnic studies programs. He was instrumental in implementing the COSEP work-study program and summer programs for high school students.

Dalton also collaborated on a number of initiatives at Cornell, including Teagle Foundation research on minority student achievement with Deputy Provost David Harris; development of the Cornell alumni mentoring student program with Isaac Kramnick, the R.J. Schwartz Professor of Government; and the Prefreshmen Summer Program, which he co-directed with Elise West, associate director, Learning Strategies Center, and Cal Walker, Cornell's liaison to the Ithaca City School District.