Long-time West Virginia University employee Margaret Lopez has been elected to serve a one-year term on the WVU Board of Advisors, following a classified staff election that began late last month.

“As a 48-year employee of WVU , Mrs. Lopez knows well the concerns of classified staff,”said Staff Council President Terry Nebel.”I am confident that she will be an excellent ombudsman, representing with the integrity the concerns of WVU employees.”

In her new position, Lopez hopes to improve employee salaries and overall morale.”I want staff to feel that this is a good place to work,”she said.

During her WVU tenure, Lopez has been active in Staff CouncilWVUs classified staff advisory boardfor more than 16 years and is currently serving as its full-time secretary.

She is credited with beginning the WVU Employee Recognition Program and for making significant improvements in the annual employee retirement dinner, among other accomplishments.

The WVU Board of Advisors consists of 15 members, including the local superintendent of schools and several non-residents of West Virginia.

This Board will eventually handle most matters of institutional governance and will become the Board of Governors on July 1, 2001.

Lopez won the contest against Dixie Martinelli by a slim margin.