The changing of the season not only brings crisp, autumn breezes and fire-roasted green chile, but, this year, it also brought the changing of staff positions at the University of New Mexico.
On Oct. 4, the Office of the Provost announced the appointment of Barbara Rodriguez, a professor from the UNM Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, to be the interim Senior Vice Provost.
It was reported by UNM Newsroom on Oct. 4 that Richard Wood, the interim provost, said Rodriguez has a lot to offer to the University.
“Her demonstrated leadership and capacity for teamwork; her intelligent and organized response to challenges; her sheer intellect and commitment to the academic mission; and her profound dedication to the diverse communities that make up New Mexico will make her an outstanding senior vice provost this year,” Wood said.
Rodriguez said this position strengthens the University.
“This position is largely focused on faculty issues,” Rodriguez said. “Faculty issues with respect to promotion, issue, tenure and disciplinary — ensuring that we provide faculty with a productive, positive work climate.”
While Rodriguez’s past experience in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences as department chair and program director is different from her role as interim Senior Vice Provost, she said some skills are transferable.
“Part of the skill set that I bring is one of building collaborative relationships, which I think is going to be key here,” Rodriguez said.
From her time working for the Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Rodriguez said she has been involved in faculty governance, but not on an administrative level.
“When (Wood) offered me the position, I was literally in shock,” Rodriguez said. “I thought, ‘I am such an unusual suspect in this — I don’t think most faculty know who I am.’”
By being an “unusual suspect,” Rodriguez said she hopes she can increase objectivity within the administration.
The hiring process, Rodriguez said, involved receiving a nomination for the position, submitting an application, then going before an eight-person panel and having a conversation with Wood, the previous interim Senior Vice provost.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
By Oct. 1, Rodriguez said she was offered the position.
Rodriguez was born in Española and received her Ph.D. in speech language pathology from the University of Washington, but came back to her home state to work at UNM.
“Our faculty is incredible — we have some of the best faculty on this campus and they do incredible work in the classroom, in their laboratories and they are a very giving group of individuals to the community,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said some of UNM’s main weaknesses come from changes that have had lasting impacts on the University
“We’re really looking forward to the stability that President (Garnett) Stokes brings and look forward to her filling in the last few slots to her team,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said there are three positions that are seeking permanent holders — the Vice President for Finance and Administration, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Provost.
“There are a lot of moving parts right now — we’re looking forward to that issue,” Rodriguez said.
But the biggest issue, Rodriguez said, is UNM’s declining enrollment.
In September, the Albuquerque Journal reported a 7.2 percent decrease in enrollment for the 2018 academic year.
“That has caused some concern and that adds to the challenges we all have ahead,” she said.
Rodriguez said some of her goals during her time in her interim position include increasing faculty diversity through hiring opportunities and examining faculty salaries.
Anthony Jackson is a freelance reporter with the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @TonyAnjackson.
