Title with Advance at UNM:Leadership team memberYour background in academia:Dr. Melissa Emery Thompson received her PhD in Anthropology from Harvard University in 2005 and arrived at UNM as a postdoctoral fellow in 2008. She is currently Professor of Anthropology and Assistant Vice President for Research. In the Office of the VP for Research, Melissa focuses […] Read More
Title with Advance at UNM: Leadership team member Your background in academia: Dr. Hannah Torres holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Florida State University and had a career as a schoolteacher before earning an interdisciplinary Masters Degree from Duke University in Coastal Environmental Management. She earned a PhD in Geography and Environmental Science […] Read More
Teagan Mullins Title with Advance at UNM: Graduate research assistant Your background in academia: I am PhD student in the Cognition, Brain, and Behavior track of the psychology department. My research focuses on neuroimaging, developmental disorders, and transdiagnostic neurological markers. Previously, I worked as a research assistant in the UNM psychology department and I […] Read More
Sandy Rodrigue Title with Advance at UNM: Program Manager Your background in academia: Sandy Rodrigue has been a staff member at UNM since 2002, first serving as an administrative assistant to the Arts and Sciences Associate Deans. She spent 15 years serving two academic departments as their Department Administrators. It was during her time […] Read More
Jessica Martone Title with Advance at UNM: External Evaluator Your background in academia: Jessica is the Director of Research and Evaluation at SmartStart. She obtained her PhD in social work and has extensive experience conducting research and evaluation. Jessica currently oversees all teams and projects at SmartStart. Jessica has served as the lead evaluator for […] Read More
Marina Bernal Title with Advance at UNM: Communication Intern Your background: Marina is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in Film and Digital Media Arts with a minor in Arts Leadership and Business. She is also working as an associate producer intern for New Mexico PBS ¡COLORES! Why were you attracted to the project? Marina […] Read More
John Nieto-Phillips Title with Advance at UNM: member of the External Advisory Board Your background in academia: John Nieto-Phillips is an associate professor of history and Latino studies, and vice provost for Diversity and Inclusion at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He received his BA, MA, and PhD from UCLA. His research has focused on […] Read More
Title with Advance at UNM:Internal Advisory Board Member Your background in academia:Barbara Rodríguez earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New Mexico and her Ph.D. from the University of Washington in speech-language pathology. She serves as Interim Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and is Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences. Her research and […] Read More
Makayla Grijalva Title with Advance at UNM: Multimedia intern Your background: Makayla is an undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Multimedia Journalism and Political Science. She is also working as the multimedia editor at the Daily Lobo and as a student intern at the New Mexico News Port. Prior to working at Advance, she […] Read More
Kendra Koivu Title with Advance at UNM: Faculty Member Your background in academia: I am an assistant professor of political science at the University of New Mexico. I received my doctorate from Northwestern University where I studied comparative politics, qualitative methods, and international relations. My substantive research interests include organized crime, narcotics trafficking, early twentieth […] Read More
Ruth Juárez Title with Advance at UNM: Internal Evaluation Team member Your background in academia: Ruth works at both the University of New Mexico Cradle to Career Policy Institute (CCPI) and as part of the Mission: Graduate initiative of the United Way of Central New Mexico. At CCPI, her work is focused on data analysis […] Read More
Lynn Beene Title with Advance at UNM: Consultant Your background in academia: Dr. LynnDianne Beene earned a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Arkansas in English Literature and Rhetoric and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in Linguistics and Language Theory. As a faculty member, she is the author of several books including […] Read More
Title with Advance at UNM: Communication team member Your background: Felina recently graduated UNM with a degree in Interdisciplinary Film & Digital Media and a minor in Journalism. Currently, she is using these skills to help further the mission of Advance by sharing and promoting the stories of women in STEM on campus. Why were […] Read More
Jessica Davis Title with Advance at UNM: Communication Intern Your background: Jessica is currently majoring in Interdisciplinary Film & Digital Media and minoring in Arts Business & Management. She has work experience from creating independent films and cashiering at Home Depot. Why were you attracted to the project? Jessica was inspired to join Advance because […] Read More
Rebecca Rendón de Gonzales Title with Advance at UNM: Project manager Your background in academia: Rebecca, a native New Mexican, received her post-secondary training in accounting at what was then Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute. She received her B.U.S. in sociology and family studies from the University of New Mexico. She is pursuing an M.A. in counseling. […] Read More
Helene Walker Title with Advance at UNM: Communication Intern Your background: Helene is an undergraduate student pursuing degrees in chemical engineering and French. Prior to working for Advance, she was employed at the movie theater Century Rio 24 for two and a half years. Why were you attracted to the project? Advance first caught Helene’s […] Read More
Muntasir Al Kabir Title with Advance at UNM: Internal Evaluation Team Member Your background in academia: Muntasir Kabir moved from Bangladesh, in the southern part of Asia. He had studied engineering back in his country and served three multinational telecommunication companies for 6 years as a network data analyst. He has a track record of […] Read More
Karlyn A. Edwards Title with Advance at UNM: Graduate research assistant Your background in academia: I am graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Department pursuing my PhD. My research focuses in Behavioral Medicine, particularly examining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other psychological interventions in the treatment of chronic pain and opioid use. Previously to graduate […] Read More
Elizabeth E. Esterly Title with Advance at UNM: R consultant Your background in academia: Elizabeth E. Esterly is a Graduate student in Computer Science at the University of New Mexico. Originally from Chicago, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration with minors in French and Chinese/Japanese Studies from Northern Illinois University. For several […] Read More
Sarah East Title with Advance at UNM: Communication Intern Your background: Sarah East is a junior studying multimedia journalism with a minor in women’s studies at UNM. Born and raised in New Mexico, she has written for multiple online celebrity news and lifestyle websites. She is mainly interested in social justice issues. In her […] Read More
Title with Advance at UNM: Internal Advisory Board Your background in academia: Dr. David Hanson is a professor of biology at UNM. His main research focuses on physiological, ecological, and energy-related aspects of photosynthesis in plants and algae, particularly elements of the carbon reactions. He currently has funding from five major research grants: three from […] Read More
Beatriz Palacios Title with Advance at UNM: Communication Intern Your background in academia: Beatriz Palacios is a senior studying Computer Science and Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media at the University of New Mexico. Beatriz was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and moved to Albuquerque to attend UNM. Through her involvement with the local community, Beatriz […] Read More
Title with Advance at UNM: Director of communication and social media Your background in academia: Kate created the Advance at UNM multimedia communication internship program. She is a multimedia communication educator who loves all things technology related. Her bachelor’s degree is in journalism and Spanish and she has a master’s degree in digital journalism […] Read More
Adrian Abeyta Title with Advance at UNM: Communication Intern Your background: Adrian Abeyta is a third year student at the University of New Mexico majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in mathematics. Adrian has worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratories specializing in nuclear waste projects. As a former Youth Conservation Corps crew leader, Adrian has lead […] Read More
Cristina Takacs-Vesbach Title with Advance at UNM: Additional Faculty Member Team Your background in academia: Dr. Cristina Takacs-Vesbach earned a B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder and her Ph.D. from Montana State University in Biology in 1999. She is currently a Professor in the Department of Biology and the Director of the UNM MARC […] Read More
