** 2024 Commencement Updates **

** 2024 Commencement Updates **

About our Faculty

New Mexico Highlands University – All Faculty – Fall 2022

Lauren Addario. M.A., B.F.A., New Mexico Highlands University. Instructor of Media Arts and Technology.

Jennifer Aldred.  Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Charlotte; M.S., Ohio University; B.S., Muskingum University.  Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Geology.

Rebecca Alvarez.  Ph.D., M. A., B. S., University of California, Riverside.  Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Studies/Sociology.

Heath Anderson.  M.B.A., New Mexico Highlands University; B.S., University of Georgia.  Instructor of Business.

Nariman Arfai.  Ph.D., M. S., University of New Mexico; B. A. University of California, Los Angeles. Instructor of Psychology.

Ali Arshad.  Ph.D., University of Connecticut; M.A., Atlanta University; B.A., University of Karachi. Professor of Economics & Finance.

Jacob Avery.  Ph.D., M.A., University of Pennsylvania; B.A., Texas Lutheran University. Assistant Professor of Sociology.

Jeannette Baca.  D.S.W., University of St Thomas; M.S.W., B.S.W., New Mexico Highlands University.  Assistant Professor of Social Work.

Morgan Barnard.  M.P.S. New York University Tisch School of the Arts; B.F.A., California College of the Arts.  Associate Professor of Media Arts and Technology.

Judith Barnstone.  Ph.D., University of Maryland; M.S.W., University of Washington; B.A., Cornell University.  Associate Professor of Social Work.

Ben Bencomo.  D.S.W, University of St. Thomas. M.S.W., B.A., New Mexico Highlands University.  Assistant Professor of Social Work.

Muhammad Bhutta.  M.S., New Mexico Highlands University; M.B.A., DeVry University; B.E.E., Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi.  Instructor of Computer Science.

James Biggs.  Ph.D., M.S., B.S., New Mexico State University.  Instructor of Forestry.

Kristin Bogda.  Ph.D., University of Oklahoma; M.S., University of Central Oklahoma; B.S., University of Central Missouri.  Assistant Professor of Health.

Lewis Borck.  Ph.D., M.A, University of Arizona; B.A., University of New Mexico.  Assistant Professor of Archaeology/Physical Anthropology.

Thomas Brooks III.  Ph.D., M.S., Texas A&M University, Commerce; B.A., University of Texas, Arlington; Weatherford College, A.A.  Assistant Professor of Psychology.

Peter Buchanan.  Ph.D., University of Toronto; M.A., University of Toronto; B.A., University of Kansas.  Associate Professor of English.

Melani Buchanan-Farmer.  Ph.D., California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco; M.A., University of New Mexico.  Assistant Professor of Teacher Education.

Luis Castaneda Perea.  Ph.D., University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; M.S., New Mexico Highlands University; B.S., Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, Mexico.  Visiting Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry.

Blanca Céspedes.  Ph.D., M. Sc. University of Castilla La Mancha, Toledo, Spain; M. Sc. University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.  Associate Professor of Forestry.

Daniel Chadborn.  Ph.D., Texas A & M University, Commerce; M.A., Southeastern Louisiana University; B.S., University of New Orleans.  Assistant Professor of Psychology.

Sreyashi Chakravarty.  Ph.D., Social Work, University of Albany; M.A. Communication, University of Albany; M.H.R.M., Human Resources, University of Calcutta; B.A., History, University of Calcutta.

Todd Christensen.  M.F.A., University of Arizona; B.S., Southern Utah University.  Professor of Art.

Sarah Corey-Rivas.  Ph.D., B.S., Ohio State University.  Associate Professor of Biology.

Caroline Dailey. M.S.W, B.S.W. New Mexico State University. Instructor of Social Work.

Erika Derkas. M.A., University of New Mexico; B.A., Humboldt State University. Professor of Sociology.

Aalap Dixit. Ph.D., Northern Arizona University; M.Sc., TERI University; B.Sc., The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Instructor of Forestry.

Kevin Ensor. Ph.D., University of Maryland at College Park. M. Ed., Loyola College Baltimore. Assistant Professor of School Counseling.

Donald Evans. M.A., University of Arizona; B.A., Southern Illinois University. Instructor of Speech and Theater.

Tomasz Falkowski.  Ph.D., M.S., State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry; B.S., Binghamton University.  Assistant Professor of Forestry.

Lauren Fath.  Ph.D., M.A., University of Missouri; M.F.A., Oregon State University; B.S., Northwestern University.  Associate Professor of English.

Rosemary Fessinger.  Ph.D., M.A., University of New Mexico.  Instructor of Teacher Education.

Jeanie Flood.  Ph.D., University of Hawaii; M.S.N., University of Phoenix; B.S.N., California State University.  Associate Professor of Nursing and Director of the Nursing Program.

Gloria Gadsden.  Ph.D., M.A., University of Pennsylvania; A.B., Columbia University.  Professor of Criminal Justice.

Gil Gallegos.  Ph.D., M.S., B.S., New Mexico State University.  Professor of Engineering and Computer Science.

Juan Gallegos.  Ph.D., University of Arizona; M.A., New Mexico Highlands University; M.A., B.A., New Mexico State University.  Associate Professor of English.

Justine Garcia. Ph.D., Emory University; B.S., B.A., University of New Mexico.  Assistant Professor of Biology.

Andre Garcia-Nuthmann. Ph.D., University of Arizona; M.M., University of New Mexico; B.M., Southwestern University.  Professor of Music.

Sandra Gardner. Ed. D., University of Missouri-St. Louis; M.S.N., Arizona State University; M.A., B.S.N., New Mexico State University.  Associate Professor of Nursing.

Geri Glover. Ph.D., University of North Texas, Denton; M.A., Appalachian State University; B.S., University of New Mexico; B.A., St. John’s College.  Professor of Counseling.

Elias Gonzales.  M.A., B.A., New Mexico Highlands University.  Instructor of Media Arts/Videography.

Mario Gonzales.  Ph.D., Washington State University; M.A., New Mexico Highlands University; B.A., California State University.  Assistant Professor of Anthropology.

Maria Haase.  Ed. D., Texas A & M University; M.A., B.S., Eastern New Mexico University.  Assistant Professor of Teacher Education (Bilingual/TESOL).

Edward Harrington.  Ph.D., University of Phoenix; M.A., Bowling Green State University; B.A., Heidelberg College.  Associate Professor of Music Education and Technology.

Mariah Fox Hausman.  M.F.A., B.F.A., University of Miami.  Associate Professor of Media Arts.

William Hayward.  Ph.D., University of New Mexico; M.S., Loughborough University, England; B.A., Carnegie College, England.  Associate Professor of Exercise and Sports Sciences.

Lara Heflin.  Ph.D., M.A., University of Southern California; B.S., Florida State University.  Associate Professor of Psychology.

Beatrice Hurtado.  M.S.N., B.S.N., University of New Mexico.  Instructor of Nursing.

Karol Ibarra Zetter.  A.B.D., University of New Mexico; M.A., M.A., University of New Mexico; B.A., ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara, México.  Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics.

William Jaremko-Wright.  M.S., B.S., New Mexico Highlands University.  Instructor of Geology and Biology.

Sheree Jederberg.  Ed.D., M.A., M.A./B.A., University of Southern California; B.S., University of California, San Diego.  Associate Professor of Educational Leadership.

John J. Jeffries.  Ph.D., M.A., University of California, San Diego; B.A., University of California, Los Angeles.  Associate Professor of Mathematics.

Miwako Jeffries.  MACCT, University of New Mexico; B.A., University of California, San Diego; A.S., San Diego Mesa College. Instructor of Mathematics.

Kathy Jenkins.  Ph.D., M.S., B.A., University of New Mexico.  Professor of Exercise Physiology.

Jessica Johnsen.  M.S., New Mexico Highlands University; B.A., New Mexico State University.  Instructor of Computer Science.

Robert Karaba.  Ph.D., B.S., Miami University of Ohio; M.A., Colorado State University.  Associate Professor of Educational Leadership.

Siri Khalsa.  B.S.N., M.S.N., University of New Mexico.  Instructor of Nursing.

Taikhee Kim.  Ph.D., M.S., University of Cincinnati; M.S., B.S., SungkyunKwan University, Korea. Associate Professor of Mathematics Education and Mathematics.

Yongseek Kim.  Ph.D., M.B.A., University of New Mexico; Master of Health and Sport Science, University of Tsukuba; B.A., Kyung-Hee University.  Associate Professor of Sports Administration.

Anna Koch.  Ph.D., University of Iowa, Iowa City; M.S., University of Nebraska-Kearney; B.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling.

Miriam Langer.  M.F.A., Tisch School of Fine Arts, New York University; B.F.A., B.A, Cornell University.  Professor of Media Arts.

Jay Lee.  Ph.D., M.Ed., B.S., University of Houston.  Associate Professor of Exercise Science/Kinesiology/Motor Behavior.

Jonathan Lee.  M.A., New Mexico Highlands University; B.A., University of North Texas.  Instructor of Software Systems Design.

Peter Linder.  Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin; M.A., University of New Mexico; B.A., University of New Mexico.  Professor of History and Political Science.

Jennifer Lindline.  Ph.D., M.A., Bryn Mawr College; B.S., Temple University.  Professor of Geology.

Carol Litherland.  M.A., New Mexico Highlands University; B.S., University of New Mexico. Instructor of American Sign Language.

David M. Lobdell.  M.F.A., University of Notre Dame; B.F.A., University of Southwestern Louisiana. Professor of Art.

Shereen Lobdell.  M.A., B.F.A., University of New Mexico.  Instructor of Art.

George Lyon.  M.A., Walden University; M.I.S, University of Texas, El Paso; B.A., Adams State University.  Instructor of Political Science.

Emet Ma’ayan.  M.A., New Mexico Highlands University; M.A., Brandeis University; B.A., State University of New York.  Instructor of Social Work.

Douglas Main.  Ph.D., University of Arkansas; M.S., Fort Hays State University; M.R.E., Nazarene Theological Seminary; B.A., Mid-America Nazarene College.  Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling.

Carlos Martinez.  M.S., University of New Mexico; B.S., New Mexico Highlands University. Instructor of Mathematics.

Lorraine Martinez.  M.A. (2), B.A., New Mexico Highlands University.  Instructor of Early Childhood Education.

Rey Martinez.  Ph.D., Florida State University; M.S.W., Boston University; B.A., University of Hawaii.  Professor of Social Work.

Amanda May.  Ph.D., Florida State University; M.A., Central Michigan University; B.A., Lourdes University.  Assistant Professor of English/Director of the Writing Center.

Shirley Meckes. Ph.D., Salve Regina University; M.Ed., B.A., Rhode Island College.  Associate Professor of Early Childhood/Elementary Education.

Sebastian Medina.  Ph.D., The University of New Mexico; M.S., B.S., New Mexico Highlands University.  Assistant Professor of Biology.

Amy Messex.  M.S.W., University of Michigan School of Social Work; B.A., University of Michigan. Instructor of Social Work.

Rebecca Moore. Ph.D. Cornell University; M.S.W., B.S., University of Utah.  Professor of Social Work.

Gerardo Moreira. Ph.D., M.B.A., B.B.A., The University of Texas at El Paso. Assistant Professor of Marketing.

Ben Nelson.  D.V.M., B.A., Texas A&M University.  Instructor of Biology.

Emmanuel Nkwenti-Zamcho.  D.B.A., US International University, San Diego; M.B.A., University of South Dakota.  Associate Professor of International Business.

Sara L. Olivares.  Ph.D., B.A., Western Michigan University; MFA, Texas State University. Assistant Professor of English/Creative Writing Poetry.

Daniel Olufemi.  Ph.D., University of New Mexico; M.A., Long Island University, Brooklyn; M.S., Adelphi University, Garden City, New York; B.A., Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. Assistant Professor of Literacy.

Dolores Ortega.  Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University; M.S.W., B.S.W., B.A., New Mexico Highlands University.  Associate Professor of Social Work.

Frances Ortega.  Ph.D., M.A., University of New Mexico; B.S., New Mexico Highlands University.  Instructor of Social Work.

Stephen Owusu-Ansah. Ph.D., Middlesex University, London, U.K.; M.Sc. The University of York, York, U.K.; B.Sc. University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana. Associate Professor of Accounting

David Pan.  Ph.D., M.A., University of Southern California; B.A., Stanford University.  Associate Professor of Psychology.

KwangJong Park.  Ph.D., M.Ed., University of New Mexico; B.S. Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea.  Assistant Professor of Literacy and Alternative Teacher Certification.

Seonsook Park.  Ph.D., M.A., University of New Mexico; B.A., Mokpo National University.  Professor of Education.

Sulema Perales.  Ph.D., University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley; M.S., B.S., California State University, Fresno.  Assistant Professor of Counseling.

Luis Raul Castaneda Perea.  Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Ottowa; M.S., Chemistry, New Mexico Highlands University; B.S., Chemical Engineering, Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, Mexico.

Michael Petronis.  Ph.D., M.S., University of New Mexico; B.S., Kent State University.  Professor of Geology.

Luke Ritter.  Ph.D., M.A., Saint Louis University.  Assistant Professor of American History.

Jesus Rivas.  Ph.D., University of Tennessee; Licenciatura in Biology, Universidad Central de Venezuela.  Professor of Biology.

Raeann Rivera.  M.S.W., University of California, Berkeley; B.A., University of California, San Diego.  Instructor of Social Work

Rodney Rock.  Ed. D., M.A., Central Michigan University; B. A., Aquinas College.  Associate Professor of Educational Leadership.

Elaine Rodriquez.  Ph.D., Northern Arizona University; M.A., New Mexico Highlands University; B.A., Mesa State College.  Associate Professor of Political Science.

Erik B. Rolstad.  Ph.D. Social Work, University of Utah; M.S. Social Work, New Mexico State University; B.A. Liberal Arts, Concordia College, Moohead, MN.

Eric Romero. Ph.D., University of Arizona; M.A., Escuela Nacional de Antropología E Historia, México City; B.A., University of Colorado Boulder. ­­­­­­­­ Instructor of Native American/Hispano Studies.

Maureen Romine. Ph.D., M.S., B.S., Colorado State University.  Professor of Biology.

Lori Rudolph.  Ph.D., M.A., University of New Mexico; B.S.W., University of Wisconsin.  Professor Counseling and Guidance.

Joseph Sabutis.  Ph.D., M.S., University of Pittsburgh; M.S., University of California, Los Angeles; B.A., University of Nebraska, Omaha.  Professor of Physics.

Nabanita Saikia.  Ph.D., Theoretical Chemistry, Tezpur University, India; M.S., Physical Chemistry, Dibrugarh University, India; B.S., Chemistry, Dibrugarh University, India.

David Sammeth.  B.S., Ph.D., Montana State University.  Professor of Chemistry.

Rodney Sanchez.  Ph.D., Indiana University/Walden Institute; B.S., University of New Mexico.  Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Project Management.

Paul “PJ” Sedillo.  Ph.D., M.A., University of New Mexico; B.A., New Mexico Highlands University.  Associate Professor of Special Education.

Naveen Singh.  Ph.D., New Mexico State University; M.S., B.S., Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntar, AP, India.  Assistant Professor of Chemistry.

Joshua Sloan.  Ph.D., B.S., Purdue University.  Associate Professor of Forestry.

Heather Smith.  Ph.D., University of Central Florida; M.S., University of North Carolina, Greensboro; B.S., New Mexico State University.  Associate Professor of Counseling.

Matthew Staples.  Ph.D., M.A., Philosophy in Physical Education, Leeds Beckett University, UK; B.S., Sports Coaching and Performance, University of Hull, U.K.

Mathias Stricherz.  Ed.D., Texas Tech University; M.Ed., University of Guam; B.A., Huron College.  Instructor of Psychology.

Charles Swim.  D.B.A., United States International University; M.B.A., University of Nevada, Las Vegas; M.S., B.A., Eastern Montana College.  Associate Professor of Management.

Janis Taback-Keene.  Ed. S., M.S., University of New Mexico; B.A., Queens College.  Instructor of Education and Field Services Coordinator.

Eduardo Tafoya.  Ph.D., Binghamton University; M.A., B.A., University of New Mexico.  Professor of English.

Alan Thomas.  Ph.D., B.A., University of New Mexico.  Instructor of Physical Chemistry.

Tatiana Timofeeva.   Ph.D., Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Science; M.S., B.S., Moscow State University.  Professor of Chemistry.

John Tourangeau.  Ph.D., Benedictine University; M.B.A., University of Phoenix; M.S.W., New Mexico Highlands University; B.A., St. Norbert College.  Instructor of Social Work.

Sarah Tracy.  Ph.D., New Mexico State University; M.A., Pepperdine University; B.S., James Madison University.  Assistant Professor of Psychology.

Rianne Trujillo.  M.A., B.F.A., New Mexico Highlands University.  Instructor of Media Arts and Technology.

Julie Tsatsaros.  Ph.D., James Cook University, Australia; M. Sc., Michigan State; B.E.S., University of Waterloo, Canada.  Instructor of Forestry.

Kent Tucker.  D.B.A., M.B.A., United States International University; B.A., California State University, Fullerton.  Associate Professor of Finance.

Gregg Turner.  Ph.D., M.A., Claremont Graduate School; B.A., California State University.  Instructor of Mathematics.

Mariana Ulibarri-Horan.  Ph.D., M.A., Texas Tech University; M.A., New Mexico Highlands University; B.A., Colorado State University.  Assistant Professor of Special Education.

Elisabeth Valenzuela.  Ph.D., M.A., B.A., University of New Mexico.  Assistant Professor of Teacher Education (Bilingual Ed/TESOL).

Deanna Valdez.  Ph.D., Oregon State University; M.A., B.A., University of New Mexico.  Assistant Professor of Counseling.

Norma Valenzuela.  Ph.D., M.A., Arizona State University; B.A., University of New Mexico. Assistant Professor of Spanish.

Chia Vang.  A.B.D., University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley; M.S., B.S. University of California, Fresno.  Instructor of Counseling.

Benjamin Vickers.  Ph.D., M.S., B.A., Texas State University, San Marcos.  Assistant Professor of Health Promotion.

Benjamin Villarreal.  Ed. D., Columbia University; M.A., New Mexico Highlands University; B.A., University of Memphis.  Assistant Professor of English/Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence.

Steven Williams.  Ph.D., Northwestern University; B.A., Rutgers College.  Professor of History.

Ann Wolf.  Ed. D., University of Northern Colorado; M.S., Syracuse University; B.A., Rutgers University.  Associate Professor of Reading Education.

Donna Woodford-Gormley.  Ph.D., M.A., Washington University; B.A., California State University.  Professor of English.

Donald Woodlee.  B.A., New Mexico Highlands University.  Instructor of Mathematics.

Melanie Zollner.  Ph.D., University of N Mexico; M.B.A., B.B.A., New Mexico Highlands University.  Assistant Professor of Management.

 

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