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Thomasinia Ortiz-Gallegos Awarded Scholarship for Academic Advising Institute in Philadelphia

Thomasinia Ortiz-Gallegos, director of Academic Support Services for New Mexico Highlands University, received a scholarship to attend the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Summer Institute in Philadelphia June 27 — July 2.
Ortiz-Gallegos competed with applicants nationwide for the scholarship and was one of only 11 selected for the honor.
The NACADA is the only national association for academic advisement in higher education. This year’s summer institute focuses on retention.
“At this institute, we’ll be trained by the most knowledgeable academic advisement experts from across the nation who will guide us in the latest strategic planning practices,” Ortiz-Gallegos said. “They’ll help us mold and tighten what we already have in place to address current needs of our student population.
“This conference will help enhance and strengthen our academic advisement processes at Highlands. Our goal is always to provide better services to our students, which leads to stronger retention,” Ortiz-Gallegos said.
She said the NACADA summer institute is a working conference where participants will develop new academic advisement policies, guidelines and manuals that they will bring back to their universities for possible adoption and implementation.
Since 2007, Ortiz-Gallegos has served as the director of Academic Support Services. The department oversees academic and career advisement, academic student success and retention/intervention programs, testing, new student orientation, and accessibility services.
 “As the director for Academic Support Services, Thomasinia has spent countless hours re-engineering the department to improve services on campus,” said Judy Cordova-Romero, vice president for student affairs.  “Thomasinia is highly professional, and always strives to implement the latest best practices into the services she and her staff provide to our students.”
Ortiz-Gallegos earned her M.B.A. from Highlands University, and is also an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business, teaching introduction to management and human resources management.
Ortiz-Gallegos began her career at Highlands University in 1996 and has broad-based experience in advisement and retention. During her tenure, she has served as new student orientation and academic adviser coordinator; career services and placement coordinator/adviser; financial aid adviser/processor; program officer for financial aid and outreach, and more.