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.