Five candidates for the chief executive officer role are visiting the UNM-Gallup branch starting this week, the UNM search committee has announced.
The open forums are opportunities faculty, staff, and students to interact with the candidates.
“During our search for a CEO we had a 12 percent variation on our survey forms,” UNM-G search committee chair Ralph Richards said. “That is very good. It means we are singing from the same music sheet. In the past we have had variations as high as 45 percent.”
The five finalists are:
Dr. Andrew Nwanne
Dr. Glenda Balas
Dr. Richard Fleming
Dr. James Malm
Dr. Carlos Ayala
Two candidates appeared this week. Doctors Andrew Nwanne and Glenda Balas.
On Oct. 11, Dr. Balas opened her address in sharing her background as a professor at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The Sun attended the meeting with Balas.
“I have served as an assistant professor, associate professor, professor, and chair of journalism program,” said Balas, who served at the main campus for 13 years.
Balas spoke on challenges with students at the University of North Texas in Dallas where she serves as a communications professor and dean of liberal arts.
“So many of our students come to us with 180 hours,” she said. “They have been going to this Community College and doing the same thing. They use up time, but more importantly they use up their federal aid.”
Solid pathways is her idea of directing students to making early choices in finding a major and degree completion.
“We want our students to have a successful life,” she said.
Fielding questions from students, Percy B. Anderson said, “I believe the UNM campus has the potential in being the hub and the center that all these programs resonate not only here in Gallup, and throughout the communities.”
Anderson, a returning adult student who holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in business, asked for more local degree programs.
“I think that the campus needs to reach out more to the students who are wanting to stay in the area,” he said, advocating for students traveling from the Gallup to the main campus.
Students expressed concerns over the loss of programs at the Gallup campus. And student Jamie Malone asked about providing more options for students.
“I travel back and forth to Albuquerque. How would you bring BA programs back to this campus,” asked Malone, “for students who cannot leave their home?”
Responding, Balas said, “I would have to do research on this.”
At her current position in Texas, she implemented a child development center through the state legislature as one way to build more four-year degree programs.
“We see no reason that this should be the case,” she said. “It started with an advocate. I would have to research the New Mexico rule.”
There are 995 full time students enrolled for the Fall semester, and 1,219 part-time. The are an estimate of 69 faculty at the Gallup campus.
Balas said her vision for Gallup is to grow and extend its reach to the reservation areas and high schools.
By Deswood Tome
Sun Correspondent