NM Land Grant Commission Meeting

We were so happy to welcome the New Mexico Land Grant Commission to Northern New Mexico College Thursday, June 25, 2024. President Hector Balderas gave a progress report on Northern’s recent successes, such as a clean audit for the first time in 10 years and enrollment increases of 12 percent in Fall 2023, 19 percent in Spring 2024 and 31 percent in Summer 2024. He told the commissioners, “What you’re about to discuss here today has so much to do with Northern New Mexico College’s identity. Most of our students are deeply impacted in their developmental years by their culture and their identity and their dreams go to their connection to the land and their family. We want to continue to build on that strength at Northern. We are a special institution because we are a cultural community and we are a land-based, regional community.

 

Interim Provost Larry Guerrero, along with Teacher Education Chair Dr. Sandra Rodriguez, Business Administration Chair Lori Baca, Technical Trades Chair Joe Padilla and CTE Director Frank Loera updated the Commission on the success of their programs and how they are benefitting our rural communities.

 

The day ended with a police-escorted cruise through Española with the Española Lowrider Association, arranged by Senator Leo Jaramillo (District 5), who said, “I’m proud to represent the Low Rider Capitol of the world, where we’re brown, we’re down and we’re low to the ground. There’s so much culture and history right here.”

 

Land Grant Commission members from left: Mark Edwards (Legislative Council Service), Chair Sen. Leo Jaramillo (District 5), Vice Chair Rep. Kristina Ortez (District 42).