Cheo Torres found me wandering around the maze that is Scholes Hall trying to find him for our interview.
“Hello, can I help you with something?” he asked as he offered a friendly handshake.
Torres, who is vice president of Student Affairs and perhaps the campus’ most popular administrator, approaches all his interactions with the same helpful attitude and good spirit. He tells me his full name, but insists I call him “Cheo” like
everyone else.
Student Affairs is the umbrella organization for programs including Campus Office of Substance Abuse, College Enrichment Program, and Recreational Services. Torres oversees the 22 programs under the Student Affairs office. He said students are the driving force in the program.
“Students come first with us,” he said. “They need to advise us. We’re not going to do anything without their consent or approval. It’s for them, not for us.”
While waiting for a Student Affairs meeting to begin in Scholes Hall, he rolls his chair close to a person sitting next to him and whispers something I can’t catch. Both laugh, and before the smile has faded from his face he’s rolled around to someone else to tell another joke.
Once the dozen or so seats have filled up, Torres speaks from the head of the table and the meeting begins.
Torres introduces each person’s goal on the agenda, and then observes the presenters. He watches each presentation with interest and takes notes in his black binder, which is cluttered with Student Affair program notices.
His smile grows wider, his head nods faster, and he stops fiddling with his pen when student fellows — student members of the administration — present their ideas for future programs.
“I learn a lot from the fellows,” Torres said. “The world is changing. Generations are changing. By having a fellow, I at least understand what the students are thinking about, and what their lifestyle is like and what those changes are.”
After every presentation, he thanks the presenter by name and comments on the importance of the topic presented. He then asks the group:
“Any suggestions? We want your comments.”
Torres thanks everyone for their input before moving onto the next item in the agenda.
With every project, Torres gives credit to each person involved, often stalling the meeting for a minute or two trying to recall a name deserving of credit.
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When we sit down for an interview, Torres tells me about how he tries to connect with students in the higher education class he teaches.
“It’s important for me to teach and be with students,” Torres said. “It forces me to prepare and speak about different issues. You gotta be in tune with what’s happening.”
When he’s not in meetings or teaching his class, Torres visits Student Affairs offices — such as the Student Activities Center, Student Health and Counseling, or the ROTC programs — to check on their goals and see what they are accomplishing.
Torres’ love of students is made most obvious on his expeditions in and around the University. In his spare time, he walks around the plazas to speak with students. He said he tries to go to the SUB every day and eats in La Posada when he can.
Torres lived in Hokona Hall for six months when he first came to the University of New Mexico in 1996. While he’s participated in making a lot of improvements since then, Torres said some changes still need to be made.
“When I first came here, the first thing I realized is that we had an outdated student union building. It was in bad shape,” he said. “We made a major change there. Now it’s campus housing. We have outdated residence halls.”
Torres said the key to success in the Student Affairs program is to communicate with students and stay on the edge of development.
“I do meet with students, and have them in my office all the time,” he said. “Once they are here, I ask them questions, like, ‘How are things going?’ and, ‘What do you think?’ In interacting with the students, I learn a lot and some of the things they would like to see or ideas to improve the campus. We listen to them. They are the ones that live here.”
Torres said he never gets tired of his job.
“It’s fun to be able to always be doing something to improve the life of students,” Torres said. “Student lifestyles have changed. You’re constantly making changes to improve the lives of students. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of planning, a lot of input, and that’s what is nice about a university. Everybody has a say so.”
