Las Vegas, N.M. – The Director of Service Learning at Central New Mexico Community College will address students at the Highlands University Albuquerque/Rio Rancho commencement ceremony May 10 about the importance of persistence and service.
Sharon Gordon-Moffett is a national leader in career and technical education as well as service learning. She is also the project director for the Carl D. Perkins Federal Grant for Career and Technical Education at CNMCC and directed other programs at the college since 2003.
The Highlands commencement ceremony is at 6 p.m. at the Santa Ana Star Center at 3001 Civic Center in Rio Rancho.
“I believe education is a lifelong process and I think as leaders in education, we need to lead by example, ensuring that we walk the walk and talk the talk,” Gordon-Moffett said. “One of my most important goals is connecting leadership development with service and community involvement.”
Gordon-Moffett has devoted numerous hours to volunteer service in Albuquerque over the last 35 years. She received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Service Award in 2007 for accumulating more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service at organizations such as SkillsUSA, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and March of Dimes.
“In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to encourage the ethic of service,” Gordon-Moffett said.
Gordon-Moffett said leaders in education need to provide direction, purpose and motivation to students, sometimes using their own personal experiences to influence others.
“I’ve had a wide-ranging career beginning with nursing for 20-plus years in Albuquerque before returning to school as a single mom to become a welder and then worked as a machinist,” said Gordon-Moffett, who went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology from the College of Santa Fe and completed her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Lewis University in 2017.
“I’m an example of persistence and what can happen when you don’t give up, even when facing struggles such as juggling family, work and finances,” Gordon-Moffett said.
She said leaders can demonstrate other useful qualities.
“As leaders, it’s important to enjoy what we do and project a positive attitude to help those we lead enjoy their work as well. We need to celebrate more when students succeed,” Gordon-Moffett.
Gordon-Moffett has earned a number of awards and holds national leadership positions. In 2017, she received the CTE Champion of the Year Award from the New Mexico Association of Career and Technical Education.
In 2007, Gordon-Moffett received the Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women, which honored 20 women from across the state.
She serves on the board of directors for a national career and technical education professional organization called NCLA.
“At NCLA, we work to provide information, professional development networking to career and technical education administrators that result in excellence and innovation, Gordon-Moffett said.