LEWISTON, Idaho – Erika Allen, Lewis-Clark State College’s director of College Advancement and executive director of the LCSC Foundation, has been elected vice chair of the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs, the state agency has announced.
Allen was appointed to the commission in 2016 by Idaho Gov. Butch Otter. She has been at LCSC since December of 2014 where she oversees fundraising efforts and alumni relations.
As vice chair, she will fill in and fulfill the duties of the chair when the chair is unavailable.
Allen has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, a master’s degree from the University of La Verne, and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in higher education administration from Idaho State University. Allen has extensive fundraising, marketing and community outreach experience in a community based organization setting and higher education. She came to LCSC after serving as the director of development at the Northwest Children’s Home in Lewiston.
“It is an honor to serve the state of Idaho through the Commission on Hispanic Affairs,” Allen said. “During our site visits to communities across the state, we have highlighted positive trends among Hispanic youth in Idaho as the next generation are becoming leaders in their schools and are the first in their families to attend college. These are strengths upon which to build and I look forward to working with the commission in empowering Idaho’s next generation of Hispanic Americans.“
The Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs is a non-partisan state agency which provides services to the Hispanic Community and serves as a liaison between the community and government entities. It lists its mission statement as: “Working toward economic, educational, and social equality, the Commission identifies and monitors programs and legislation, and researches problems and issues facing Idaho's Hispanic community. The Commission identifies solutions and provides recommendations to the governor, legislature, and other organizations concerning issues facing the State's Hispanic population.”
The commission has nine board members, of which two are appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Idaho Senate and two are appointed by the Speaker of the House. The other five members are selected from the Hispanic community or appointed by the governor.