One of the two regents Gov. Susana Martinez appointed to serve Northern New Mexico College has spent the majority of his career improving communities and the lives of the people who work and live in them. He now wants to use those skills to help Northern build a program that addresses the community’s needs.
Martinez named former New Mexico Junior College vice president Robert Rhodes on Oct. 13 to fill the regent seat left vacant when Donald Martinez stepped down in March 2015. She also reappointed Josh Martinez to serve as Northern’s student regent.
Rhodes is a resident of Alto, in Lincoln County, which is about 212 miles from Española. He is a native of Las Vegas, N.M.
“Something people don’t know, I am actually a homie,” he said. “Lots of people say, ‘You are from the south,’ but I grew up in Las Vegas.”
The Governor’s Office Public Information Officer Michael Lonergan did not return phone calls or respond to emails that asked why the governor chose a regent that lives so far away or if there were any other applicants.
Rhodes said he was pleased to learn of the appointment and looks forward to being a part of Northern President Richard Bailey’s and his staff’s efforts to address the issues the college faces.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with a good school,” he said. “I know there has (sic) been problems there but you got a good president in Dr. Bailey, who I really think is working to make the right changes. I want to be supportive.”
Critics in recent years, denounced the administration’s decision to reduce access, or eliminate altogether, many popular job readiness programs like auto mechanics and radiologic technologies. Many of those critics believe the programs were eliminated to get rid of staff members, such as the former union president Gilbert Sena, who were critical of the administration under former president Nancy Barceló. Sena ran the Automotive Technologies Department.
The programs were cut despite the outpouring of support from several members of the community that attended several Board meetings in the Spring of 2014, to speak out against the program closures and tuition increases.
Rhodes said he looks forward to working with his Board colleagues and the administration to build a program that is in tune with people’s most pressing needs.
“The other part is working with him (Bailey) and the school is to be reflexive of the community needs,” he said. “If you look at my background, it is in workforce development and community involvement. So, I very much like to see schools reach out to the community to help provide the young men and women and older men and women opportunities.”
Student regent
Although the Board has had student regents in the past, when Josh Martinez takes his seat, at the upcoming Nov. 3 meeting, he will be only the second student to hold the seat who will have a vote on the Board. New Mexico voters approved an amendment to the state’s Constitution during the 2014 General Election that mandated a student with full voting powers be appointed to Northern’s Board. Other colleges and universities already had that privilege.
Josh Martinez said he is pleased to be able to finally take his seat and looks forward to doing his part to improve the community in which he was born and raised.
“I am excited to be on the Board,” he said. “It was a long wait but it will be worth it. I will be a voice for the staff and the students. A lot of people I’ve talked to in the community don’t see Northern as having its best interest anymore.”
Josh Martinez was originally appointed in January, during the 2017 New Mexico Legislative Session, but never had a confirmation hearing, nor took his seat.
Northern Student Senate President Ariadne Bito said she is pleased that Josh Martinez will finally get a chance to serve the community. She and her senate colleagues sent Josh Martinez’s name forward to President Bailey, who sent it the governor after reviewing several applications.
“I think it’s great that the governor finally had time to appoint a new regent,” she said. “At a personal level, I know (former student regent) Melinda (DeHerrera) needed to leave, for a while now, because of her other responsibilities and other opportunities. Her term ended in the Spring 2017”
However Bito said, regardless of the time it took, she is pleased to have a student’s voice on the governing body.
“I’m just relieved Joshua was patient enough to wait, even though he was told he would be appointed as soon as Melinda’s term was over,” she said. “As the student Senate president, I can only feel grateful that we have a student regent —no matter how long the transition took.”
Josh Martinez said one of his main goals is to work to increase the community’s confidence in the school and change the perception.
“They (community members) exclaim to me that the, ‘College officials are corrupt, they cut programs, fire teachers and swindle money.. “ Josh Martinez said. “I will be an advocate on their behalf and hope to help change that narrative. I believe the best is yet to come.”
Bailey said he looks forward to working with the two new regents and is certain they will help move Northern forward.
“I am absolutely thrilled,” he said. “I am very excited and the College is very excited to be working with Dr. Rhodes and Mr. Martinez and we know they will serve this college and our community well.”
Board President Kevin Powers said he is pleased to finally have a full board and believes both men have existing knowledge that will “complement” the “core members.”
“They are great,” he said. “The experience, Dr. Rhodes has in higher education and Josh is a science major, from Northern New Mexico. Those are good perspectives that I think they bring.”
Powers said the most pressing issue the new regents will have to face will be to find a permanent programming solution for the El Rito campus and to maintain the enrollment growth Northern has experienced during the last two school years.