Fiscal Year 2018 

Point of Contact: Hector Sanchez hecsanch@nmsu.edu 

Established Date: 08/2013

Authorizing Body or Offical: President

Type of Board: Standing

Scope of Impact: System

Purpose:

The NMSU System Diversity Council is a standing advisory body to the Chancellor of NMSU.

Authority:

The NMSU System Diversity Council is authorized to serve the following functions:
a. To examine structural issues and policies to provide advice to the NMSU President relating to
discrimination, diversity, and inclusion throughout the NMSU system. These issues include and are not
limited to: the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, faculty and staff at all NMSU
campuses, and the systematic development and maintenance of equity and inclusion throughout the
NMSU system. The creation of this system-wide diversity council does not preclude the individual
campuses from appointing a campus-based group, ad hoc or standing, to address diversity issues.
Advice and recommendations from such campus groups to central administration shall be brought to
the NMSU System Diversity Council through each campus' member representative on the NMSU System
Diversity Council.
b. To provide informed advice on equity and access as well as actively participate in university process to
assist in development, assessing and achieving Vision 2020 Diversity Goals and supporting planning
documents that will be developed by our units and community colleges.

Chair: Hector Sanchez hecsanch@nmsu.edu 

Position appointment description: 

a-j. the Director or equivalent head
k-n. through its Chair or President
o-v. through its Dean, Vice President or equivalent
w-z. President of the respective campus
aa. Director of OIE of their designee

How are the chair and members appointed? Combination

Members:

 Hector Sanchez, Director Military and Verterans Programs

Laura Gutierrez Spencer, Director, Chicano Programs

Michael Ray, Director, American Indian Program

Festus Addo-Yobo, Director Black Programs

Zooey Sophia Pook, Director, LGBT+ Programs

Cynthia Bejarano, Professor

Carol Fonseca, Counseling Psychologist

Trudy Luken, Director, Student Accessibility Services

Lauri Millot, Director, AA/Equal Employment

Kevin Prieto, ASNMSU President

Maria Rocha-Hall, Assistant, Special/Executive

John Idowu, Ext. Specialist

Laura Lujan (Williams), Associate Professor

Carol Flinchbaugh, Associate Professor

Dana Christman, Associate Professor

Abby Nayra, Student Program Coodinator

Keith Mandabach, Professor

Loui Reyes, Dean, Graduate School

Juan Garcia, Director, Public Relations, Development & Events

Rebecca Silva, Business Manager

Hiranya Roychowdhury, Professor

Elan Delgadillo, Library Specialist

Carol B. Hicks, Program Manager

Marielena De La Rosa, Assistant Professor 

What university function/office is responsible for future appointments? 

a. Americain Indian Program
b. Black Programs
c. Chicano Programs
d. Indian Resource Development Program
e. LGBT+ Program
f. Military and Veterans Programs
g. Student Accessibility Services
h. Hispanic Faculty Staff Caucus
i. Tribal Voice Working Group
j. HSI Working Group
k. Collge Assistance Migrant Program
l. Faculty Senate
m. ASNMSU
n. Graduate Student Council
o. NMSU Employee Council
p. College of Ag
q. College of Arts and Sciences
r. College of Business
s. College of Education
t. College of Health and Services
u. University Library
v. Athletics Department
w. Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
x. Alamogordo Community College
y. Carlsbad Community College
z. Dona Ana Community College
aa. Grants Community College
ab. Office of Institutional Equity, ex officio

What university office/function provides administrative support to this board or committee? Administrative support shall be provided from among council members.

How often will this board or committee meet? 6

Was the requirement for the number of meetings met? Yes

In the past fiscal year, what accomplishments have been made (if applicable)?  

Discussed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy and how federal administration
changes would impact our students.
The Diversity Council was presented with a plan from the Provost’s office concerning the hiring of a
potential Diversity Chief for the NMSU System. Feedback for this proposal was requested by the
administration on position title and overall responsibilities.
Discussed the Chancellor Search 2018 and the role of the Diversity Council. Diversity Council sent memo
to the Board of Regents requesting the “search council reflect the composition of the State of New
Mexico in race, ethnicity, gender and sexual identity”.
Discussed the importance of creating a Diversity Council web site to post information about events and
activates concerning our organizations. Council worked with Adam Cavotta from the Provost’s office to
create a website that was completed in April 2018.
Discussed NMSU hiring policy concerning staff and faculty at all level of employment and how NMSU can
create more diversity in faculty, staff and upper management. Also discussed ways to work with the
incoming administration on matters of diversity in the workplace.