About Us

The Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EID) at NMSU is committed to fostering a systemwide environment that understands the importance of diversity, fosters inclusion, and promotes equity for all members of our community. Through various initiatives, the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity works towards centering servingness and creating a welcoming space where individuals of diverse backgrounds can thrive and contribute to the richness of our academic and social fabric.

MEET THE TEAM

The NMSU Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EID) is driven by a dynamic team committed to fostering a campus culture that promotes diversity and fosters inclusion. Our dedicated professionals work collaboratively to advance equity, ensuring that every member of our community has the opportunity to thrive and contribute. With a passion for creating a supportive and inclusive environment, the EID team actively engages in initiatives that promote cultural awareness, educational equity, and social justice. Together, we strive to cultivate an atmosphere where diverse perspectives are valued, and all individuals feel empowered to reach their full potential within the NMSU community.

 

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

 

Picture of Teresa Maria Linda Scholz, Vice President, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity The image portrays a smiling person with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing rectangular glasses with thin, dark frames. She is dressed in a dark magenta blazer over a white top. Around her neck, she wears a silver necklace with a pendant that appears to be a stylized number eight or an infinity symbol. The background is softly blurred and indistinct, focusing attention on her. The lighting is bright and natural, providing a clear and well-lit image of her face and attire.

TERESA MARIA LINDA SCHOLZ

VICE PRESIDENT

Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

 

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ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT

 

The image is a portrait of a woman smiling directly at the camera. She has long, curly dark hair that falls over her shoulders. She is dressed in a vibrant yellow blazer and underneath it, she is wearing a colorful striped top featuring vertical stripes in shades of blue, orange, pink, and white. The background of the image is blurred with tones of green and light brown, likely suggesting an outdoor setting. The woman's expression is joyful, and her smile is broad, showing her teeth.

MARIANA ORTEGA

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT

Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

 

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AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUITY OFFICERS



Picture of Gerard Nevarez. The image is a portrait of an older man with a neutral expression. He has short, neatly styled grey hair. He is wearing a light grey, checkered button-up shirt. The background is a solid, vibrant blue color which contrasts with his attire, bringing focus to his face. The lighting is even, highlighting details in his facial features and the texture of his shirt.

GERARD NEVAREZ

Equity Officer

Affirmative Action

 

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Picture of ANGELA VELASCO Equity Officer Affirmative Action

ANGELA VELASCO

Equity Officer

Affirmative Action

 

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DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAMS



Picture of Michael Ray Director of American Indian Program. The image depicts a person with long, dark hair pulled back, dressed in formal attire. The individual is wearing a dark suit jacket over a light blue button-up shirt. There are two pins on the lapel of the suit jacket; one appears to have a teal design, and the other is a maroon rectangular pin with unidentified white text. The person has a trimmed beard and is smiling slightly. The background is a mottled blue and teal texture, giving a slightly abstract feel to the image.

MICHAEL RAY

Director

American Indian Program

 

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Picture of Dr. Rio Lopez Director of Latin American Programs. The image is a headshot of a person smiling against a blue mottled backdrop. The person has short, curly dark hair and is wearing a light green, ribbed, knit collared shirt with a button-down front. There are three visible buttons on the shirt. The backdrop is a textured mix of darker and lighter shades of blue, adding depth to the background without distracting from the subject.

Dr. RIO LOPEZ

Director

Latin American Programs

 

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Picture of Cecil Rose, Director of Black Programs The image is a portrait of a person taken against a blue mottled background. He has a neutral expression and is wearing rectangular glasses with dark frames. His hair is short and he is dressed in a light gray polo shirt with a collar and short sleeves. The polo shirt features dark blue trim along the collar and sleeve edges, two buttons on the placket, and a small pocket on the left side of the chest with the same dark blue trim and a button. The background provides a soft contrast to the subject, allowing him to stand out clearly in the image.

CECIL ROSE

Director

Black Programs

 

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Picture of Dr. Sophia Sangwanthong Director of LGBT+ and Asian & Pacific Islander Program. The image shows a woman with long black hair, wearing a red long-sleeved shirt sitting on a chair at a table in front of a neutral-colored wall. She has one arm resting on the table in front of her and the other arm raised to touch the back of her neck. On the table in front of her is a piece of paper. Behind her, on a shelf attached to the wall, is a closed laptop. To the left of the laptop, some black cables are visible, hanging down. There is a projection screen in the background with faint, unreadable text on it. Surrounding the image is a border with a gradient of bright rainbow colors: red at the top, followed by orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple at the bottom.

Dr. SOPHIA SANGWANTHONG

Director

LGBT+ Programs and Asian & Pacific Islander Programs

 

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PROGRAM COORDINATORS



Picture of Lore Falls, Program Coordinator of LGBT+ Programs The image portrays a smiling individual with straight, shoulder-length hair that is dark at the roots and transitions into a shade of teal at the ends. She is wearing rectangular eyeglasses with black frames. She is dressed in a black top, which features sleeves adorned with a pattern of red and pink flowers and green leaves. Around her neck, she wears a black cord necklace with a round pendant that has a design in the center. The background is an evenly lit, textured blue backdrop, adding a neutral, non-distracting context to the portrait.

LORE FALLS

Program Coordinator

LGBT+ Programs

 

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Picture of Michelle Lonasee, Program Coordinator of American Indian Program. The image is a portrait of an individual facing the camera against a blue mottled background. The person has shoulder-length dark hair with bangs and wears rectangular glasses with black frames. They are dressed in a black blazer over a maroon blouse. Around their neck is a necklace composed of red, turquoise, and white beads. On the left lapel of their blazer, there is a small pin with white text on a red background.

MICHELLE LONASEE

Program Coordinator

American Indian Program

 

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Professional photo of a smiling Claudia Gonzalez Astorga wearing a colorful handmade cross-stich huipil, a vibrant yellow Mexican shawl braided in her long hair over her head, and wearing two small hand-woven silver earrings. Claudia is Mexican, have light brown skin, dark hair, brown eyes, and brown eyebrows.

CLAUDIA GONZALEZ ASTORGA

Program Coordinator

Latin American Programs

 

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Picture of Natalie Thomas, Program Coordinator of Black Programs. The image is a portrait of a person against a plain, light-colored background. They are wearing a dark grey headwrap that covers their hair and is wrapped in a knot at the front. The individual has light brown skin and is smiling. They are wearing a black top and several layered necklaces, one of which features a pendant with a circular design. The person has a septum piercing and their makeup includes red lipstick and visible eyeliner. The overall lighting of the image is bright and even.

NATALIE THOMAS

Program Coordinator

Black Programs

 

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ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS



Picture of SPRI AUBREY Administrative Assistant/Special Executive, Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. The image is a head-and-shoulders portrait of an individual against a mottled blue background. The person is facing the camera and smiling slightly. They have straight, short brown hair that is parted to one side. They are wearing a black blazer over a maroon collared shirt. The background has a textured, abstract pattern with various shades of blue and a slightly blurred appearance.

SPRI AUBREY

Administrative Assistant/Special Executive

Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

 

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Picture of Joseph Duran, Administrative Assistant, Chicano Program. The image is a portrait of a man from the chest up. He is facing the camera and smiling slightly. The man has short, dark hair that's neatly combed back and sports a short beard and mustache. He is wearing dark-rimmed glasses and a bright blue button-up shirt with the top button undone. The background is blurred, indicating it might have been taken outdoors, with greenery and sky elements vaguely visible.

JOSEPH DURAN

Administrative Assistant, Intermediate

Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

 

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Picture of Britney Stout,Administrative Assistant, Intermediate, American Indian Program, Asian and Pacific Islander Programs and LGBT+ Programs. The image is a professional portrait of a person with curly, shoulder-length hair. They are smiling gently and looking slightly to the right. The background of the image is a textured blue backdrop, giving a studio photo appearance. The person is wearing a black collared shirt that features an embroidered red and white logo on the left side. The logo has the text "NMSU" in the center, with additional text around it.

BRITNEY STOUT

Administrative Assistant, Intermediate

Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

 

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GRADUATE ASSISTANT


 

An image of Sarhan Osman Bhuiya, the Graduate Assistant for EID. The image is a head-and-shoulders portrait of a Sarhan against a textured blue background. The person has short, dark hair with a slight wave and a well-groomed beard and mustache. He is wearing rectangular glasses with brown frames and are gazing directly at the camera with a neutral expression. He is dressed in a black zip-up vest over a light gray turtleneck. The vest has an emblem on the left chest area with the text "NM STATE" in maroon and a small patch of additional text in white below it.

SARHAN OSMAN BHUIYA

Graduate Assistant

Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity

 

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