April 27, 2020
Henrietta Romero
Las Vegas, N.M. – Henrietta Romero is the new registrar at New Mexico Highlands University, bringing more than 16 years of higher education work experience to her new position.
Most recently, Romero was the registrar at Luna Community College from 2016 to 2020. Previously, she worked at Highlands University in a number of positions in the Registrar’s Office such as center student specialist from 2012 to 2016.
“My top goal is to focus upon the efficiency of processes in the Registrar’s Office,” Romero said. “This is important because many of our students are not traditional, for instance, they are first-generation college students and need more navigational support. I’m passionate about giving them the opportunity to attend college and achieve the dreams they strive for.”
Romero said another important goal of the Highlands Registrar’s Office is to continue to provide outstanding customer service to the university community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Romero said she had excellent mentors during her 13-year tenure at Highlands who encouraged her to aspire to be the registrar.
“The rewarding part of the registrar’s job comes with the students’ graduation. Along the way, we help guide the student to completion,” Romero said.
Romero has extensive experience in the daily functions of a Registrar’s Office as well as broad experience in records management and compliance with state, federal and accreditation standards.
The Registrar’s Office at Highlands provides leadership in all registration-related functions and creates, maintains, and protects student academic records for accuracy, integrity and security.
“I wanted to return to Highlands because I think it is a gem tucked away in Northern New Mexico that offers outstanding academics, and also provides an environment that promotes social and academic integration,” Romero said.
At Luna Community College, Romero was responsible for managing all student records at the institution. While at Luna, she served on various campus committees and initiatives to promote student success. Romero also held leadership roles in Luna’s accreditation process.
Romero is active in leadership roles in professional organizations such as the New Mexico Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Romero is on track to complete her Ph.D. in spring 2021 from New Mexico State University in the Department of Educational Leadership and Administration.
“I’m a first-generation college student myself and earning a Ph.D. has always been a personal goal. I have young children at home. By watching me work full time and pursue a doctorate, I’m teaching them that anything is possible. As the Highlands registrar, I want college students to believe in themselves when no one else does,” Romero said.
Romero is a Highlands alumna. She earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from Highlands in 2013 and her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Highlands with cum laude honors in 2011.
Earlier in her work tenure at Highlands, Romero was a student transcript specialist and transfer admissions specialist.
“Working for 13 years at Highlands makes me feel like I belong and can make a difference because I understand the student populations we work with,” Romero said