Assistant Provost Andy S. Gomez, who has led the University of Miami’s reaccreditation process since 2005, has been named special assistant for international affairs. In his new role, Gomez will assist UM President Donna E. Shalala and Vice President for Government Relations Rudy Fernandez in establishing closer ties with the Consular Corps of Miami and the international community.

Gomez, who has stepped down from his assistant provost duties, will continue to serve as senior fellow at UM’s Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies, teaching, conducting research, and writing. Recently, Gomez was named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in South Florida.

For the past six years, Gomez was responsible for leading the University’s reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)—efforts that resulted in UM receiving full accreditation of its programs through 2018.

Following the 2008 SACS reaccreditation process, Gomez developed a structure of continuous improvement for evaluating all academic and non-academic programs, including documenting student performance. Efforts are well under way in preparation for the mid-accreditation report, which is due in 2014, and the next accreditation in 2018. Gomez currently serves on the SACS Board of Trustees