Aguirre takes position as public relations director for Goshen College

GOSHEN, Ind. – An Oregon journalist with 11 years of management experience is the new director of public relations for Goshen College.

Richard R. Aguirre, 50, of Salem, Ore., said he is looking forward to working for the college after many years as a newspaper reporter, columnist, editor and senior manager.

“Throughout my career, I have reported on government, politics, education and minority affairs in hopes that increased exposure to such topics would increase public understanding and promote fairness and equality. I look forward to taking on a more direct role of making a positive difference for and at Goshen College,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre, who has been a professional journalist since 1979, most recently was the senior editor for metro and sports at the Salem Statesman Journal. Besides helping direct news coverage, Aguirre supervised 35 full- and part-time employees and wrote a weekly column, “Capitol Watch,” on state issues. Aguirre also has been a reporter and editor for the Visalia  (California) Times-Delta and reported for the Dallas (Texas) Times Herald and the Santa Barbara (California) News-Press. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, with an emphasis in public relations, from California State University, Fresno.

Aguirre is married to Judy Weaver Aguirre, a 1981 graduate of Goshen College. They have two children – Richard, a senior at Oregon State University in Corvallis, and Annie, a first-year student at Willamette University in Salem. The Aguirre family lived in Goshen in 1990-91, while Judy worked for Goshen College’s publications department.

Aguirre, who began work on Dec. 1, succeeds Rachel Lapp, who resigned as director of public relations to pursue a graduate degree. Jodi H. Beyeler, director of the campus news bureau, served as interim director of the P.R. office.

The Goshen College Public Relations Office provides advising and project management, graphic design, media relations, photography, promotional items, public relations, Web design and writing. The office is under the Institutional Advancement Division, headed by Vice President Will Jones.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.