This week we as a nation will know who has won the election to lead our state and our country. As this sacred process comes to conclusion, we all welcome the end of the political campaigns. Regardless of who you supported it us now time to get to the work of moving forward towards the promise of our democracy. Maybe it was the negative ads or the vitriol that turned you off as it did me. Now we face a new day with the same challenges in front of us. It is time to put the nation’s interests and the “common good” as our priority.
As an educational institution, Northern has the distinct opportunity to lead the way, to demonstrate how we can engage in civil discourse rather than chaos, how we can listen respectfully to those opinions that may be different than ours. Our mission to serve our students and our community and promote the inherent value of a public education is authentic. We must embrace the impact of being a learning institution, where the free exchange of ideas is not only welcomed but nurtured.
In the past few weeks we have been hosts to a memorial service for a former Regent, a senior health fair, a lecture on our New Mexico history and social context, a Halloween costume pot- luck, basketball games, Art Association meetings and interviews for the next leadership of Northern. These events all contribute to our vibrant campus and community life.
There are some voiced opinions I hear that say we are a “Ghost Town.” That perception is perpetuated by interests that do not support and perhaps have never supported Northern New Mexico College. Those critics who never accepted our right to exist as a college. Those who fail to understand our mission and our students. Our students are not lounging on comfy couches as they sip a latte in between classes. They are working adults balancing work, family and their academic careers.
In the past 11 months I have fought for resources, celebrated when we get things right and worried about our viability as an institution when we are misunderstood and not equitably supported. Through all these months, what I have come to clearly see is that we do serve our students and our wider community. We do have engaged and very talented faculty. We do have hard working and dedicated staff. Our students are brilliant and hopeful that their education will propel them and their families to strong futures.
We not only deserve to exist, but we deserve to be understood as who we are. Northern is the great elevator, the promise of opportunity that will continue to serve and represent our beloved corner of the world.
I have learned that despite good and honest efforts, the black eye thrust upon us by bad actors in our past will weigh us down. Despite that, and despite Covid and the dangers of a world pandemic and the vagaries of financial support from our state coffers, we persist, and not only do we survive we work to thrive. We know a strong educational institution is in the best interest of all New Mexicans. Northern is a gem! It has been my privilege and honor to lead her to this next chapter. A strong Northern New Mexico College benefits us all.
Dr. Barbara Medina has been serving as the interim president of Northern New Mexico College since December.