Facundo Valdez School of Social Work
The professional social worker makes a difference in improving the lives of others. NMHU’s focus on multicultural practice provides a deep understanding of cultural and ethnic differences and the way they influence the social worker’s role.
New Mexico Highlands University’s B.S.W. program was first accredited by the Council on Social Work Education in 1974. Our curriculum prepares students for entry-level generalist practice.
NMHU’s alumni are successfully working in a variety of settings: mental health and health care, substance abuse programs, schools, child welfare, hospice, gerontology and many other fields of practice. 448 hours of field practicum in social work is required during the senior year. This experience lets students gain direct work experience with a specific target population, while integrating and applying their classroom knowledge.
Students who achieve high academic standards are eligible to apply to the school’s advanced standing M.S.W. honors program, which allows completion of the M.S.W. degree in two to three academic semesters.
Useful links
Learning outcomes data
NMHU BSW Program Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes, 2024-25
NMHU MSW Program Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes, 2024-25
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Social Work Licensure Information: State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Alumni Occupations
Graduates of the Facundo Valdez School of Social Work can be found in the following occupations:
- Mental health and behavioral health social worker
- Clinical social worker
- Community health workers and administrators
- School social worker
- Social and community service manager
- Research social worker
- Hospice social worker
- Direct services practice
- Forensic social work
- Marriage and family therapist
- Public policy social worker
- Case manager
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Administration
John M. Tourangeau, Ph.D, MDIV, MBA, LADAC, LCSW
INTERIM DEAN
Judy Barnstone, MSW, Ph.D
PROFESSOR & MSW COORDINATOR
Anna Nelson, Ph.D, LCSW
DIRECTOR, CENTER FåOR EXCELLENCE IN SOCIAL WORK
Benjamin Bencomo, DSW, LISW/LCSW
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK & BSW COORDINATOR
Rachell Tenorio, MSW, Ph.D
DIRECTOR, NATIVE AMERICAN SOCIAL WORK STUDIES INSTITUTE
LouAnn Romero, MSW
DIRECTOR, SWEEP RAÍCES
Janice Dowsett
ONLINE COORDINATOR
Faculty
Emet Ma'ayan, MSW, LCSW
FULL-TIME CONTINGENT PROFESSOR
Rachell Tenorio, Ph.D., MSW
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
John Tourangeau, Ph.D., LADAC, LCSW
TENURE TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Rey Martinez, Ph.D.
PROFESSOR
Cesar Abarca, Ph.D., MSW
PROFESSOR
Judy Barnstone, Ph.D., MSW
PROFESSOR/ MSW PROG. COORDINATOR
Eric Rolstad, Ph.D., LCSW
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Benjamin Bencomo, DSW, LCSW
BSW PROGRAM COORDINATOR/ ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Craig Stern, Ph.D.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Sreyashi Chakravarty, Ph.D.
TENURE TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Caroline Dailey, MSW, LCSW
FULL-TIME TERM PROFESSOR
Jedediah Bragg, Ph.D., LMSW, ACSW
TENURE TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Jeanette Baca, DSW, LCSW/LISW
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Frances Ortega, Ph.D.
FULL-TIME TERM PROFESSOR
Reyna Rivera, MSW, LCSW
FULL-TIME CONTINGENT PROFESSOR
Annie Allen, Ph.D, LCSW
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
annie@nmhu.edu
Dolores Ortega, Ph.D., MSW
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Rebecca Moore, Ph.D., LMSW
PROFESSOR
Staff
Amber Vilas
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, CESW
Brandon Sedillo
IT TECH SUPPORT (ABQ/RIO)
Patricia Miera
MSW ONLINE INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER
Sharen Maldonado
FIELD EDUCATION SR. ADMIN. ASSISTANT
Summer Charley
SOCIAL WORK ADMIN ASSISTANT
Ashlynn Trujillo
SR. ADMIN. ASSISTANT
Yesenia Alvarado, LMSW
FIELD EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Faith Eldridge, MSW, LCSW
MSW ONLINE FIELD EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Melissa Williamson, MSW, LCSW
FIELD EDUCATION COORDINATOR (LV/SF)
Krystal C'deBaca
STUDENT SUCCESS COACH (HUMANITIES)
Marian Vargas, MSW
FIELD COORDINATOR
Alycia Nabours, MSW
SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR, CESW
Janice Dowsett
MSW ONLINE PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Nicole DeHerrera, MSW, LCSW
FIELD EDUCATION COORDINATOR (FARM)
Joey Jimenez Jr., MSW
SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, CESW
Ruth Sandoval
MSW ONLINE INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER
Lawrence M. Montaño, MSW
STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Fidel Curtis
STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Sharon Terry-Doom
STUDENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST/ SW PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Mission Statement
The mission of the Facundo Valdez School of Social Work is to educate students to practice social work competently with the diverse, multicultural populations of New Mexico and the Southwest. This context of cultural and regional responsiveness informs the School’s creation and implementation of all its educational programs. The School has a primary commitment to Hispanic and Native American people. Our curriculum grounds students in core professional social work values, skills and ethical principles, and provides a focused awareness and respect for cultural differences and how poverty affects the well-being of people in the region.