An NIU faculty member and administrator were named to the national board of minority higher education.

Walt Owens, assistant professor of physical education, who is also chairman of NIU’s Commission on the Status of Minorities; and Marilyn Monteiro, Affirmative Action director, have been named to the 18-member board.

Owens and Monteiro could not be reached for comment Thursday.

In January, the board will discuss national problems such as discrimination against, recruitment, retention and tenure of minority faculty members of the country’s colleges and universities.

Jerry Augsburger, director of student financial aid, said Owens recently met with Augsburger and Student Housing Director Don Buckner to discuss concerns about minority financial aid and minority student housing.

The commission meetings are the third Thursday of every month from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the third floor conference room of Lowden Hall. Jon Dalton, vice president for Student Affairs, and Tom Montiegel, vice president of development and university relations, are scheduled guest speakers at the January commission meeting.