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鈥檚 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, 鈥淲hat you鈥檙e about to discuss
here today has so much to do with Northern New Mexico College鈥檚 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 Espa帽ola with the Espa帽ola Lowrider
Association, arranged by Senator Leo Jaramillo (District 5), who said, 鈥淚鈥檓 proud
to represent the Low Rider Capitol of the world, where we鈥檙e brown, we鈥檙e down and
we鈥檙e low to the ground. There鈥檚 so much culture and history right here.鈥�
Land Grant Commission members from left: Mark Edwards (Legislative Council Service),
Chair Sen. Leo Jaramillo (District 5), Vice Chair Rep. Kristina Ortez (District 42).
