2024 Outreach Conference

 

 

November 19, 2024

Las Cruces Convention Center
680 East University
Las Cruces, NM 88001

New Mexico State University will host the 2024 Outreach Conference, “Cultivating Solutions: Collaborating for Southern New Mexico,” from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave.

The conference, which highlights partnerships between NMSU and Southern New Mexico, is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

“The Outreach Conference is an excellent opportunity for NMSU to meet with Southern New Mexico partners to celebrate past accomplishments working together for our community and more importantly to develop new collaborations moving forward,” said Jon Boren, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences associate dean and Cooperative Extension Service director.

This year’s event will include a fireside chat, panel discussion, luncheon, award presentation and workshop sessions on topics such as collaborations between NMSU and community partners; community coalitions and resources; partnerships in education, health, economic development and social transformation; and building strong community partnerships.

“The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico is honored to support this year’s Outreach Conference. With a focus on current New Mexico based collaborations, this year’s conference will focus on collaborative work that has been impactful, assistance in expanding research and driving change in our communities. The importance of building new collaborations will also weave throughout the day, while focusing on the NMSU mission and the needs of our communities,” said Terra Winter, Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico president and CEO.

NMSU outreach extends knowledge beyond the university, drives integration of activities and supports student learning experiences and success. NMSU outreach activities include research, connections with communities and families, multigenerational engagement, economic development and entrepreneurship, and collaborative efforts with industry, corporations and government entities.

 

Agenda

November 19

8 to 8:30 a.m. Registration & Networking

 

8:30 to 8:45 a.m. Welcome & Introductions

Valerio Ferme, President-designate, New Mexico State University
Jon Boren, ACES Associate Dean & Director, Cooperative Extension Service
Terra Winter, President and Chief Executive Officer, Community Foundation of Southern NM

 

8:45 to 9:30 a.m. Education Session

 

9:30 to 10:45 a.m. 

Panel Discussion: Building Strong Community Partnerships

Community Partnerships in Education | Strategies for enhancing educational outcomes through collaboration

Speakers
Susan Brown, Interim Director, NMSU STEM+ Education Research Institute, Panel Facilitator
Stephanie Bestelmeyer, Asombro Institute for Science Education
Wanda Bulger-Tamez, NMSU STEM+ Outreach Center
Liz Anachini, La Semilla Food Center
Lori Martinez, Ngage New Mexico
Traci Curry, NM Agriculture in the Classroom, NM Farm & Livestock Bureau
Cheryl Carreon, Cruces Creatives
Mario Garcia, STEM Program Specialist, NMSU College of Engineering

Health | Improving community health outcomes through joint initiatives

Speakers
Becky Pearson, Department Head, NMSU Public Health Sciences, Panel Facilitator
Becky Corran, DACC Professor, Public Health, Las Cruces City Councilor
Ryan Duran and Al Na’ir Lara, Big Moon Mercadito
Monica Montoya, College Associate Professor, Director, NMSU Child Welfare Scholar Program
Michelle Rivera, Registered Nurse, integrating traditional healing work
Maribel Tellez, College Assistant Professor, Field/Practice Coordinator, NMSU School of Social Work
Janelle Valentine, Founder and President of FiredUp Partners, NMSU MPH Student
Nai Walter, Program Manager, Naloxone Saturation Strategy; Seconded to the New Mexico Health Care Authority

Economic Development | Collaborating to support economic development

Speakers
Davin Lopez, Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, Panel Facilitator
Jerry Pacheco, President of the Border Industrial Association (Manufacturing and Logistics)
Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director, Spaceport America (Aerospace)
John Munoz, Chief Experience Officer, Electronic Caregiver (High Tech)
Sylvia Acosta, CEO, NMSU Foundation

 

2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions

Transforming our Communities in Innovative Ways 

Speakers
Julie Steinkopf, NMSU Department of Sociology, Panel Facilitator
Papen-Aprendamos Autism Diagnostic Center – Outreach Services

• Heike Lehnert-LeHouillier, NMSU Department of Communication Disorders
• Abel Covarrubias – Chief Executive Officer, Aprendamos Family of Services
• Anette Sophia Pettes, Graduate Assistant

La Pinon Supervision

• Sarah Ramos, NMSU Department of Counseling & Educational Psychology
• Gretchen Bolsins, La Pinon Rural Advocate
• Jacob Claeps, La Pinon Campus Advocate

Educators Rising New Mexico

• Melissa Warr, NMSU School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership (TPAL)
• Christine Reyes, State Director, Educators Rising
• Ben Trujillo, Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Memorial Foundation
• Sarah Randall, Undergraduate President, NMSU Educators Rising Chapter

 

 

12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Luncheon and Award Presentation

Keynote: Jon Barela, Chief Executive Office, The Borderplex Alliance, 2023 Boberg Award Recipient “Importance of Community Engagement & Relationships between NMSU and Business Development”

Boberg Award Presentations for Outstanding Community Partnership

 

1:30-2:45 p.m. Panel Discussion

Case Studies in Successful Partnerships

Speakers
Dana Catron, Interim Director and CEO, NMSU Arrowhead Center, Panel Facilitator
College Assistance Migrant Program

• Cynthia Bejarano, CAMP Principal Investigator, Professor, NMSU College of Arts and
  Sciences
• Martha Estrada, CAMP Program Director

Certified Butcher Training Program with Stampede Culinary Partners

• Paola Rojas Miranda, Stampede Culinary Partners
• Jacob Painter, NMSU Meats Lab Manager

NMSU Physical Science Laboratory Student Programs

• Marcella Shelby, DED; Strategic Initiatives Officer, NMSU Physical Science Laboratory
• Dawson Drake, Electrical Engineer, Assoc. NMSU Physical Science Lab, CREW Grad

 

2:45-3 p.m. Refreshment Break

 

3 to 4 p.m. Panel Discussion

Community Coalitions & Resources

Speakers
Melanie Goodman, Field Representative, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, Panel Facilitator
Jamie Michael, Director, Doña Ana County Health and Human Services
LC3 Behavioral Health Collaborative, Families & Youth Innovations Plus

• Tenika Sosa-Gonzalez, Director of Community Solutions and Impact
• Logan Howard, Manager of Community Impact

Kasandra Grandara, Founder Doña Ana Resilience Leaders
The Success Partnership, Ngage New Mexico

• Marisa DeWolf, Kinder-Career Coalition Coordinator
• Alejandra Montelongo, Early Childhood Education Coalition Lead Coordinator