Recently members of the New Mexico Highlands [NMHU] University Society for Human Resources Management [SHRM] Chapter represented and attended the 2026 SHRM NM State Conference held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 20 – 21 at Isleta Resort & Casino.
The participating students included three students from main campus, Lydia Okojie, Chansline Kurbueh, and Preston Tom, as well as two online students, Micaela Lechuga-Delgado and Francelia Leyba.
The purpose of the NMHU Chapter is to provide students with the opportunity to gain knowledge and insight into effective HR management, through professional experiences such as speaker events, forums, and conferences. The goal is to expose business students to opportunities beyond the classroom. Attending the SHRM NM Conference enables students to make connections with people in the HR industry and build their social capital. It must be noted, NMHU SHRM Chapter is affiliated with the Society for Human Resources Management [SHRM], a world-wide organization and a trusted authority in Human Resources.
Micaela Lechuga-Delgado, Chapter President, reflects on her experience at the conference, “representing NMHU at the SHRM NM Conference and participating in the student case competition was a fun and insightful experience. I love the community SHRM creates for HR professionals, encouraging support for each other.”
For Preston Tom, “seeing HR professionals from all of New Mexico come together as one community, learning from one another, sharing awareness, and creating genuine relationships” was inspiring. SHRM offers valuable opportunities for students that are transitioning into the HR profession. Preston, a prospective graduate, sees value in what SHRM has to offer students as “they invest in the next generation of HR leaders by offering guidance, support, and opportunity to grow.”
For Francelia Leyba attending the conference and connecting with HR professionals helped her realize she is close to the finish line, “I realized I’m closer to the next level than I thought—the work now is aligning my presence with my capability.”
Chansline Kurbueh expressed, “I had the opportunity to attend this year’s SHRM NM State Conference, where I was reminded that I am my own CEO. This emphasized my accountability for my personal growth, results, and leadership development. The conference was a valuable experience, offering insights into HR responsibilities and opportunities to network with professionals in the field.”
This year, three graduate students had the opportunity to participate in a Human Resources Management competition, held prior to the conference.
The students competed with students from New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico. The graduate students did a fantastic job representing NMHU. “From start to finish, we worked as a team. We learned and presented our thoughts on the case to the audience,” graduate student, Lydia Okojie. Micaela Lechuga-Delgado was “grateful to be able to attend, learn, and be a part of the team.”
This year’s graduating students were recognized at the conference, “we received beautiful graduation sashes,” graduate student, Micaela Lechuga-Delgado.
For these five students attending the conference and participating in the competition offered a wealth of knowledge and prospects. Engaging with HR professionals helped bridge the gap between the theory learned in the classroom and the application.