Las Vegas, New Mexico – The New Mexico Council of University Presidents is hosting a free screening of the documentary “Unlikely,” which investigates the nation’s college dropout problem and explores the barriers students face in their pursuit of a college education and a meaningful career. The film will show May 30 at 1 p.m. at the Flix Brewhouse, 3236 La Orilla Road N.W., Building B1, in Albuquerque.
The schedule for the event includes registration from 12:30 to 1 p.m.; screening of “Unlikely” from 1 to 3 p.m.; from 3:15 to 3:30 a talk, “Campus Matters: The Promise of Big Data,” by Tim Renick, Georgia State University’s vice president of student success; and from 3:30 to 5 p.m. a panel discussion with presidents from each of New Mexico’s public universities as well as New Mexico Higher Education Cabinet Secretary Kate O’Neill.
New Mexico Highlands President Sam Minner will participate in the panel discussion, which will focus upon strategies to improve student success.
Husband-and-wife filmmakers Adam Fenderson and Jaye Fenderson directed “Unlikely.” Adam Fenderson has more than a decade of experience in film and television, with credits that include work produced by NBC, MTV, ABC Family and Discovery. Jaye Fenderson is a former senior admissions officer at Columbia University and launched her career in television in 2004 as the co-creator of ABC’s docudrama “The Scholar.” Her writing has been published in the College Access and Opportunity Guide, among other publications.
The world premiere of “Unlikely” was in 2018 at the Napa Valley Film Festival. The film was honored by South by Southwest® Conference & Festivals’ SXSW® Edu as a 2019 Film Selection.
While attendance is free for the “Unlikely” screening and discussions, seating is limited. Those interested in attending must register by May 1 with Therese Graham at therese@nmcup.us or Yvonne Quintana at ymquintana@nmhu.edu.