Hispanic Faculty/Staff Caucus
December 2021
Academic/Leadership Recipients of Leadership Stoles
¡Felicidades!
Each graduate that you see below was nominated to receive a graduation stole in recognition of his/her academic and or leadership achievements. Each nomination was then reviewed and approved by a selection committee of the Hispanic Faculty/Staff Caucus (HFSC) at NMSU. To receive an HFSC graduation stole is a great honor. Being of Hispanic-Latino origin is not a requirement to receive an HFSC stole. ¡Congratulations to these honored graduates!
Cada graduado que usted ve abajo fue nominada/o a recibir una estola de graduación en reconocimiento de sus logros académicos o/y de liderazgo y servicio a la comunidad. Cada nominación fue revisada y aprobada por un comité de selección del Caucus de catedráticos y personal hispano de NMSU. Recibir una de estas estolas de graduación es un gran honor. Ser de origen hispano o latino no es requisito para recibir una estola de esta organización
¡Felicidades a nuestros graduados recipientes de este honor!
Alicia Gomez
I am humbled and honored to receive the NMSU HFSC academic/leadership stole. It is a privilege to wear the colors that represent my Hispanic culture. I started the graduate program reluctantly and worried about what to expect. However, I had a fantastic experience at NMSU. I want to give a heartwarming thank you to the professors that have challenged my thinking and helped me see a new perspective. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Anita Hernandez for nominating me. Your guidance and support have been instrumental in my success at NMSU and as an educator. You have opened my eyes to improve my student’s learning experience and help transform the learning community in which I work.
Additionally, I would like to thank my husband and four children. I could not have been successful without your love and support. I am eager and look forward to supporting my student’s learning and helping to transform education so that all students can become lifelong learners. Throughout, my education I have had teachers and professors that have believed in me. I want to be a positive inspiration for my students and help them reach their dreams.
Leticia Rubio
Being a recipient for the HFSC Leadership & Academic Excellence stole is something that I am extremely proud to receive. Usually being Hispanic is immediately described as being a minority, but instead, being Hispanic should be recognized as the gift that it really is. A gift that comes with admirable qualities and characteristics that I am more than privileged to represent. As I wore this stole at graduation, I was honored to be representing family history and culture. My grandparents and parents have continuously shown me what it is to work hard for what I want, how to get up when I fall, and how to love selflessly and unconditionally. With these qualities and the many more they have instilled in me; I intend to move forward in life and embody the Hispanic men and women who have persevered to earn a place in our society. With this, I’d like to thank Dr. Araujo for being an inspiration to me and for giving me the opportunity to express my gratitude to the family culture through the wearing of this stole. To my parents and sister, thank you for the never-ending support and love you show me every day. The success that comes with obtaining a B.S. in Civil Engineering is not only a triumph for myself, but also for La Familia Araujo y La Familia Rubio.
Jonathan Bailon-Valdez
“I am beyond grateful for the mentorship and guidance I received from the Educational Leadership and Administration faculty and staff these past 4.5 years. Also, to my amazing cohort members who became my academic family during my time at NMSU. Our collaboration was invaluable. More importantly, I want to thank mi familia for their incredible love and support. I want to thank my mom. Ama…gracias por todo su cariño y apoyo. Siempre a sido una gran inspiración para mí y estoy más de agradecido de tenerla en mi vida. La quiero mucho. To my sisters, Angie, Susie, Jenny and Merary. I love you all very much and I am fortunate to be your brother. To my nieces and nephews, Joyleen, Abbey, Madeleine, Mateo, Elias and Milo Jacob. This is for you, kiddos. I hope my journey inspires you to be the change in this world. A special thank you to my dogs, past and present, Bruce, Charlie, Cypher and Teddy. Your unconditional love does not go unrecognized. I can’t repay you enough. Overall, my experience at NMSU has made me a more resilient person, a social justice scholar and a life-long learner.”
Jessica Lopez-Harder
“As a three-time NMSU alumni, but first-time recipient of the NMSU Hispanic Faculty/Staff Caucus
academic/leadership stole, I am grateful and humbled to receive this honor. This stole was an incredibly touching way to honor my mother, family, and culture. I am grateful for all the faculty and staff at NMSU who made my time there special and memorable. I am forever indebted to those who supported me through this journey. My hope is to be a practicing psychologist that works in an interdisciplinary medical setting, providing a variety of clinical services in English and Spanish. Growing up in the region, I recognize the importance of accessible, culturally sensitive mental health services and wish to serve underserved communities in the U.S-Mexico borderland region as a result. Finally, I would also enjoy to working in some teaching capacity (whether in an academic health center or university setting) to impart on others the invaluable training that I received through NMSU."
Daniel Alejandro Gonzalez
It was very exciting to get hooded wearing the academic/leadership stole from the HFSC! This honor added to the fantastic guidance Dr. Flores Carmona provided me during this adventurous doctoral journey. I am very grateful for being included and excited to contribute to the HFSC community in the future!
Cynthia Wise
I was blessed to connect with two HFSC members early on in my doctoral journey, Doctoras Judith Flores Carmona and Dulcinea Lara. They helped me hone my passion for equity in education, especially at what bills itself as a “Hispanic” Serving Institution. They pushed me to get involved with the Southern New Mexico Equity Forum and Transform Education New Mexico. They guided me, scolded me, consoled me, and supported me through the PhD program and helped me cross the stage as one of the first of my cohort to graduate. I couldn’t have done it without them.
