Jun 16, 2025 The Rural CTE Alliance The Rural CTE (Career & Technical Education) Alliance for our future workforce held a think tank event at Northern New Mexico College on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The Rural CTE Alliance is a collaborative effort to address the unique challenges and opportunities in Career and Technical Education for rural communities. Dr. Kurt Steinhaus, former Secretary of the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) served as master of ceremonies. He stressed that the focus of the think tank was on the stakeholders and that the goal was to learn more about their needs and gather their ideas. Several dignitaries and leaders from education, government,...

Jun 10, 2025 Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Memorial Foundation donates $50,000 for Endowment Scholarship On May 17, 2025, Ben Trujillo, president of the Dr. Karen M Trujillo Memorial Foundation, presented a $50,000 check to The Northern Foundation. The donation establishes a new endowed scholarship for Northern New Mexico College students seeking an educational degree called the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Jun 08, 2023 Pueblo of Pojoaque Governor Jenelle Roybal Focuses on Community Wellbeing Being the only woman Pueblo governor presents unique challenges, and Pueblo of Pojoaque Gov. Jenelle Roybal meets those head on. “You have to stand even stronger and taller because you’re a female,” Roybal said. When one tribal official told her women should be in the kitchen and raising kids, she replied, “You know what? I’m a cook in the kitchen, I raise my kids, I have two degrees and I’m a tribal official. So you really underestimate us, because I can do all that and then some.” This is Roybal’s eighth year as a tribal official. She has worked for the Pueblo since she was 15 years old, with only a brief...

May 31, 2023 NNMC Board of Regents Vice President Erica Rita Velarde Celebrates her daughter’s graduation from her Alma Mater Twenty years after earning her associate degree from Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) in May 2003, Board of Regents Vice President Erica Rita Velarde, PE, presented her daughter Devina Gonzales with her Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts degree at Northern’s Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 13. They are the first two women in their family to earn a college degree. “I’m so blessed to be able to give Devina her degree. That’s like the coolest memory,” Velarde said. Velarde’s role as regent was an influence on Gonzales’ choice of Northern. “I would hear her talking to the president and think, ‘This is really...

May 22, 2025 Northern Honors Ralph E. “Butch” Clark, III On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) honored Ralph E. “Butch” Clark, III, for his generous support of Northern’s Technical Trades programs. Despite being a resident of Gunnison, Colo., Clark has taken a keen interest in Northern’s trades programs. His donations have allowed the Department of Technical Trades to revamp classrooms and purchase electrical training equipment and a van for off-site training at regional school districts. He has recently designated money to cover faculty salary for Northern’s new Carpentry Program for two years and to purchase HVAC and plumbing training equipment. ...