Nasha Torrez will be the new Dean of Students at UNM, effective June 1.
Torrez said she had an excellent experience as an undergrad and graduate student at UNM and she hopes to replicate that experience for other students.
“I have a deep commitment and enthusiasm to not only the University but the state so I hope that’s something I can share with students.”
As Dean of Students, Torrez said she will work hard while being as accessible and transparent as possible to students.
“I came up through UNM as a student, and to have this opportunity is just unbelievably special. It’s a real honor,” she said.
Throughout her schooling and career, Torres said she was not aware you could have a career within student services. Once she realized that student services is a viable career path she knew that’s what she wanted to do.
“I’ve worked in different places but UNM has always been my home,” she said. “I love this place.”
Torrez said UNM has dedicated and compassionate faculty to make this University the best it can be and help students.
Aside from great faculty, UNM is also a beautiful campus aesthetically with a very special diversity, she said.
Torrez said over the past several years the Dean of Students office has done a lot of good for the University with hardworking staff, but it’s only the beginning.
“There’s a lot more we’re going to do,” she said. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity and really looking forward to it.”
Torrez said her strong people skills will be one of her biggest assets in the new position.
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“I think I have the ability to really connect with people, listen to people, try to find common ground to find creative solutions to problems instead of just looking at it one way,” she said. “I’m an extrovert so I love being around people. I get energy from that.”
Torrez is originally from Espanola, N.M. and went to high school in Santa Fe, she said.
She came to UNM as an undergrad where she started studying human resources at Anderson.
While at UNM, Torrez was a ASUNM Senator and very involved in the campus and the University, she said.
After graduation, Torrez said she moved to California where she was an advocate for people with disabilities, primarily those that were navigating educational systems.
Torrez then came back and attended Law School at UNM, where she worked as an attorney in private and mostly, public practice.
Six years ago Torrez said she started working in education law, which she enjoyed due to the fact that she got to help school districts, universities and students.
“One thing about the job that I was doing previously, was that it was really only the negative stuff and I’m super excited about doing positive things,” she said. “That’s the part that has me most energized.”
Torrez said some of the positive things she looks forward to doing as Dean of Students is prevention, outreach and helping people focus on positive aspects of the University community.
Torrez said mentorship work is a passion of hers that she thoroughly enjoys and helping students find a good profession is a fulfilling career. She said that her legal background gives her a good foundation for the job.
“I think it’s my heart that’s in the right place and my passion is really in helping all students navigate the University,” she said. “Turning this great big place into a small community because that’s what I was able to do when I was here and it was through the guidance of different mentors that I had, so I really want to give back that way in particular.”
Torrez said she views herself and the whole Dean of Students Office as a resource for students to help navigate UNM and be successful. She always wants students to graduate and move on with a positive impression of the university and to share it with everyone they meet, and that mission is her calling.
“I think it’s evolved over time but, in all honesty, I feel like everything I’ve ever done in my life has brought me to this job and this moment. Like it feels that good, it feels that ready,” she said.
Matthew Reisen is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Choposporvida.
