Fiscal Year 2019 

Point of Contact: Laura Gutierrez-Specer lgutzspc@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 regarding issues of diversity and inclusion to the
Chancellor and President 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: Laura Gurierrez-Spencer lgutspc@nmsu.edu 

Position appointment description: 

The directors of the diversity offices, have permanent seats on
the council Academic deans and community college presidents
designate their representatives. The President of ASNMSU
Graduate Student Council either sits on this board or sends
her/his representative. The VP or Chair of a specific
department, division or university group (i.e. C.A.M.P.,
Athletics, Tribal Voices Working Group, Athletics, etc) either
sits on Diversity Council or sends a representative.

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

Martha Estrada, Program Manager

Dulcinea Lara, Associate Professor

Claucia Trueblood, Director, Indian Resource Development

Zooey Sophia Pook, Director, LGBT+ Programs

Trudy Luken, Director, Student Accessibility Services

Laura Castille, Director, AA/Equal Employment OIE

Emerson Morrow, President of ASNMSU

Luis Vazquez, Associate VP for Research Integrity, Repr for Graduate School

Emily Creegan, Graduate Student and Student Aide

Maria Rocha-Hall, Assistant, Special/Executive

John Idowu, Ext. Specialist

Laura Lujan (Williams), Associate Professor

Carol Flinchbaugh, Associate Professor

Ivelisse Torrez-Fernandez, Assistant Professor

Martha Mitchell, Professor, College of Engineering

Stephanie Lynch, Assistant Professor

Abby Nayra, Student Program Coodinator

Keith Mandabach, Professor

Shadai Martin, Assistant Professor

Juan Garcia, Director, Public Relations, Development & Events

Rebecca Silva, Business Manager

Tara Rooff, Assistant Professor, DACC Nursing

Elan Delgadillo, Library Specialist

Carol B. Hicks, Program Manager

Marielena De La Rosa, Assistant Professor 

What university function/office is responsible for future appointments? 

Administrative support is provided from among the members
of the council.

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)?  

During the summer of 2018, a Diversity Council Subcommittee
of approximately six members met to prepare to meet with
the new Chancellor and President of NMSU. With the new
division of the positions of President and Chancellor, the
members of Diversity Council had many questions about how
we would interact with and operate under the new
administration. In November, the Chancellor, President and
Acting Provost attended our meeting and answered many
questions. In the spring semester, President Floros attended
Diversity Council and engaged in a wide ranging discussion.
The administration committed to attend the NMSU System
Diversity Council at least once a semester.
There was a significant amount of discussion with the
administration about a new Chief Diversity Officer with ideas
on how that office could be organized and at what level it
should be placed. There was concern regarding a lack of a
cohesive recruitment and retention plan for many years in
terms of underrepresented and female faculty and upper level
administrators. Diversity Council asked the administration if
they will commit to publicly announcing openings in their
administration so that interested applicants may compete in a
transparent fashion. The administration responded in the
affirmative. There was discussion of the new Ethnic and
Border Studies Program and the possibility of creating more
courses on diversity and inclusion within the new guidelines
for General Education.