Two from UNM selected as fellows of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

Two University of New Mexico academic leaders have been selected as fellows for the 2024-25 cohort of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo.

Barbara Rodriguez, senior vice provost for academic affairs at UNM-Albuquerque, and Alejandra "Ale" Villalobos Meléndez, director of strategic initiatives and research at UNM-Taos, are two of 45 fellows selected nationwide.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges (HACU) Leadership Academy is designed to increase diverse representation in executive and senior-level positions in higher education. Fellows participate in an array of leadership development activities preparing them for leadership roles in higher education, with an emphasis on Hispanic-Serving Institutions and emerging HSIs.

The one-year fellowship program includes webinars and three seminars, with the first seminar held this month in conjunction with HACU's 38th Annual Conference in Aurora, Colo.

Rodriguez joined UNM in 1999 as a faculty member in the Department of Speech and Learning Sciences. Her research and teaching interests are in cultural competence, humility, bilingual language acquisition, and bilingual language assessment.

She has been senior vice provost since 2018, where she is the leading UNM administrator on faculty matters, including hiring, tenure and promotion. She oversees the Office for Academic Personnel and works in close partnership with deans and department chairs to support recruitment and retention of faculty, overseeing faculty personnel matters, faculty labor relations, and academic policies and procedures.

"It is an incredible honor to be included in this distinguished cohort of leaders, including a colleague from UNM," Rodriguez said. "HACU has been instrumental in shaping some of the finest leaders in higher education, and I am eager to gain new insights and forge valuable connections through the fellowship program."

Meléndez was honored as a Capital One Fellowship recipient and leads institutional research and a variety of campus-wide initiatives at the Taos campus, including strategic planning, guided pathways implementation, and strategic program development, including outreach to pre- K-12 and Indigenous communities.

"I am deeply honored to be selected as a HACU fellow this year," Meléndez said. "Joining a cohort of 44 other Hispanic higher education leaders from across the nation is an exciting opportunity to learn from one another and foster meaningful connections.

She is most looking forward to developing lasting professional relationships and exploring new avenues for collaboration. "This fellowship's focus on financial management, fundraising, and advocacy will enhance my ability to support the chancellor and UNM-Taos in pursuing our strategic goals."

The HACU Leadership Academy faculty consists of current and former presidents, chancellors and senior administrators and brings over 100 years of combined experience in serving various sectors of higher education, including private/public universities, community colleges and faith-based institutions. Mentorship with a university president or senior-level administrator is a key component, as well as the development of a special project designed to have an impact at the fellow's current institution.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions.