1950s

Don T. Gonzales (’56 BSCE) — The family of retired Lt. Col. Don T. Gonzales has donated an American Aviation Yankee aircraft to Nashua Community College’s aviation technology program. Gonzales, a decorated U.S. Air Force pilot who flew B-52 and FB-111A bombers and later served as a Strategic Air Command instructor, purchased the plane in the mid-1980s with fellow retired pilots Ed MacNeil and Robert Phoenix. United by their love of flying, the trio nicknamed the aircraft the “Blue Bomber.” Gonzales was raised in Albuquerque’s South Valley and was the eldest of 10 children.

Richard Ellis was named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame 64th Men’s Induction Class. Eighteen men are in the class, including Ellis, who played for the Indianapolis Crispus Attucks. The class was celebrated in ceremonies this past March by the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

1960s

Charles Lehman (’65 BA) — Economics alumnus Charles Lehman donated $30,000 to UNM for a campus-wide license of IMPLAN, the leading software for assessing economic impact. IMPLAN allows economists, geographers, planners, and other researchers to evaluate the economic and environmental impact of different economic development projects and policies. Lehman, who was an economist with the New Mexico Department for Workforce Solutions (formerly the Department of Labor) for over 30 years, graduated from UNM in 1965 with degrees in economics and mathematics.

Scott Childress (’67 BS) — Scott Childress, former second baseman for the UNM baseball team, played and coached for the Cleveland Indian baseball organization. He also coached two years at West Mesa High School and two years at Eastern New Mexico University. Five of his former players became head baseball coaches in New Mexico, winning 11 State High School baseball championships and producing five major league players.

Michael A. Mares (’67 BS) — The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History announced that Michael A. Mares has been welcomed into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s newest class. Michael A. Mares, a Norman resident and director emeritus at the University of Oklahoma’s Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, joined the 2025 class of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Mares is a biologist who helped establish the museum. He was honored at a ceremony last May recognizing his lifelong contributions to science, education and the preservation of natural and cultural history.

Bipin V. Vora (’66 BS, ’67 MS) — Illinois Tech Armour College of Engineering Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Adjunct Faculty Bipin V. Vora was selected by the American Chemical Society to receive its annual George A. Olah Award in Hydrocarbon or Petroleum Chemistry Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the 2025 Gulf Energy Information Excellence Awards®. Vora, who is retired from Honeywell, received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Mumbai in 1963 and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from The University of New Mexico in 1966 and 1967, respectively.

1970s

Come on 1970s alums, we want to hear from you!

1980s

Jaune Quick-to-see Smith (’80 MA, Visual Arts), a groundbreaking visual artist, curator, and activist, died on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at her home in Corrales, N.M., at the age of 85, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Smith was recognized as one of the first Distinguished Alumni of the UNM College of Fine Arts. She earned an M.A. in Visual Arts in 1980 and an honorary doctorate in 2008.

Norman D. Sedillo (’80 BA, ARCH) recently retired from Public Service Company of New Mexico after 44 years of dedicated service. Sedillo was twice elected to the Executive Committee for the American Wood Protection Association and was also given the 2025 Award of Merit after serving 40 years.

Melanie L. Mills (’83 BFA, ’92 MA), of Savannah, Ga., was selected to participate in a prestigious group exhibition at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. The show, titled “Art x Climate,” features a diverse collection of works from artists across the country exploring the profound impact of world climate change.

Bill Mickols (’84 Ph.D., Chemistry) was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in February 2025 for his work on next-generation desalination membranes and advanced water filtration systems. Election to the National Academy of Engineering is one of the profession’s highest honors. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from UNM in 1984 and later served as a visiting scientist at the University of California, Berkeley. Mickols went on to lead Mickols Consulting LLC and spent nearly 30 years in the water technology industry.

Andrew Megill (’87 BA, Music) was named as one of the UNM College of Fine Arts 2025 Distinguished Alumni. Megill is professor of conducting and director of choral organizations at the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, where he holds the Carol F. and Arthur L. Rice, Jr. University Professorship in Performance. He leads the choir of the Music of the Baroque, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Carmel Bach Festival Chorale and Fuma Sacra.

Eileen Higgins (’87 BSME) was sworn in as the first female mayor of Miami, Fla., on Dec. 18, 2025. She previously served as Miami-Dade County commissioner for District 5, where she championed affordable housing, transportation access, small businesses and environmental protection. Her priorities as mayor include affordability, effective government, resilient infrastructure and economic opportunity in every neighborhood of Miami.

Col. Jim R. Keene (’88 BM) received a Grammy for Best Immersive Audio Album for the recording Soundtrack of the American Soldier, on which he conducted The United States Army Field Band. Keene’s Grammy is the first for a military band and/or concert band. Born and raised in the Albuquerque South Valley, Keene played violin in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and graduated from UNM with a degree in piano performance. He performed in the UNM Symphony.

Renee M. Gilmore (’88 BUS), of Minneapolis, Minn., recently celebrated the publication of her debut full-length book, WAYFINDING: A Memoir (Trio House Press). WAYFINDING chronicles Gilmore’s explorations across seven continents—but the true journey has been finding resilience in a lifetime shaped by loss, betrayal, and sexual and domestic violence. Told through a series of car trips and postcards from the road, this powerful memoir maps a route toward healing, acceptance, joy and hope, with stops at Waffle House and the Monaco Grand Prix along the way.

Janice Honeycutt Hering (’88 BBA, ’08 MA) received her Ph.D. in Leadership from Anderson University in South Carolina on Dec. 12, 2025. Founder of Firecracker Leadership in Albuquerque, N.M., Dr. Hering serves small and mid-sized New Mexico companies, helping them improve culture and increase capacity. Her dissertation focused on Entrepreneurial Courage in High-Risk Uncertainty.

1990s

Mary Stiner (’90 Ph.D., Anthropology) was elected by the National Academy of Sciences to its newest class of members—an honor awarded through a highly competitive, member-driven nomination process. Stiner earned her Ph.D. in anthropology from UNM’s College of Arts and Sciences in 1990 and is recognized for advancing innovative scholarship in her field. Established by Congress in 1863, the National Academy of Sciences is a nonprofit organization that advises the U.S. government on scientific and technological matters.

Rob Black (’92 BA) was confirmed by the New Mexico Senate as cabinet secretary for the Economic Development Department. Born and raised in Lovington, N.M., Black graduated from The University of New Mexico and the University of California College of the Law in San Francisco. Most recently, Black served as president and CEO of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, where he led the statewide business leadership and advocacy organization of more than 500 members.

Michelle Coons (’93 BBA) was promoted by WaFd Bank New Mexico to executive director of Business Banking for New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Idaho, Nevada and Utah. Coons will be responsible for all business banking across six states to drive regional growth and profitability, represent WaFd in regional communities, champion team development and collaboration, and support the bank’s culture. Coons received her BBA from Anderson in 1993 and is a former president of the UNM Alumni Association.

Ramona Emerson (’97 BA, Media Arts) was named as one of the UNM College of Fine Arts’ 2025 Distinguished Alumni. Emerson is a Diné writer and filmmaker originally from Tohatchi, N.M. She earned her degree in Media Arts in 1997 from UNM and her MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) in 2015 from the Institute of American Indian Arts. She has worked as a professional videographer, writer and editor for over 20 years and is working on her eighth film project, Crossing the Line.

Molly Kocialski (’94 BSCHE) joined Holland & Hart LLP as Of Counsel in the Denver office. Kocialski brings a rare combination of senior federal government leadership and extensive in-house intellectual property experience, having served as director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Rocky Mountain Regional Outreach Office for nearly a decade while previously managing mission-critical IP portfolios for major technology and financial services corporations.

Hosho McCreesh (’97 BA) has a forthcoming poetry collection, Psalms from the Badlands, set for release Aug. 3. Psalms from the Badlands is an expansive collection of 150 “psalms,” or haiku-like, Japanese-style breath poems, about the brutal and beautiful American Southwest, with nature as the catalyst for deeper meditations on life, love, grief, loss and, of course, death.

2000s

Elizabeth Anderson (’02 BSCE, ’05 MS) became the first woman in New Mexico’s history to serve as state engineer after receiving unanimous confirmation from the State Senate. As state engineer, Anderson will oversee the state’s water resources. Anderson graduated from The University of New Mexico with a master’s degree in Environmental Science and a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

Jennifer D. Herrera (’03 BA, English) was recently named executive director of PERIOD., a global, youth-powered organization working to end period poverty and stigma. She joins PERIOD. after nearly six years as vice president of external affairs at the National Women’s History Museum in Washington, D.C., where she led high-profile partnerships and initiatives, including the museum’s work with the U.S. Mint on the groundbreaking American Women Quarters Program.

Kathy L. Johnson (’03 BS, ’13 MA) received the Norm Taslitz, Ph.D. Distinguished Physician Assistant Alumni Award in April 2025 for her contributions to the PA profession in New Mexico. She was also re-elected as vice chair of the New Mexico Medical Board last May. She was first appointed to the board in 2019 by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Topher McDougal (’03 MS), a professor of economic development at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego, became a published author with the release of his new book last May, GAIA WAKES: Earth’s Emergent Consciousness in an Age of Environmental Devastation. Drawing on his background in economics, McDougal explores the idea of an upgraded Earth—one shaped by technology and rooted in both the global economy and the planet’s long history.

Alfredo Moreno (’00 BA), of Beaverton, Ore., was re-elected to a second term on the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District board of directors in May 2025 and will also return as board president during the 2025–26 fiscal year. The district serves more than 270,000 people across 50 square miles in the suburban areas west of Portland and is the largest special park district in Oregon.

Maria Sprehn (’03 Ph.D., Anthropology), of Laytonsville, Md., received an Excellence in Scholarly Accomplishments award from Montgomery College in 2025 for her work on immigration history in the community.

Adam Trubow (’03 BBA) will take on the grueling Leadville Trail 100 to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics New Mexico. Trubow is challenging New Mexicans to “become a friend” and support Special Olympics New Mexico through the campaign, 100 Friends for 100 Miles. Across the 2025 and 2026 campaigns, Trubow aims to raise $100,000—enough to fully fund Special Olympics New Mexico’s trip to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota.

Marisa Magallanez (’04 BA, ’06 MBA) began a new role as president and CEO of the Albuquerque Community Foundation and New Mexico Community Trust on January 1, 2026. She leads philanthropic initiatives that support nonprofits and communities across New Mexico. Magallanez was also named a 2026 “Women Who Mean Business” honoree by Albuquerque Business First.

Cella Anne / Marcella LaFever (’05 Ph.D., Communications & Journalism) published her first book, 404 Years. Cella Anne says she wrote the book to encourage anyone struggling to find their life’s purpose. Cella Anne, also known as Marcella to those who know her well, uses a 404-year family and personal journey across oceans and continents, through struggles and successes, experiencing births and deaths, enslaving, displacing, building and destroying, and slowly taking on the challenges of learning new ways of living in a world of cultural diversity. She was most recently a full-time professor in Intercultural Communication at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada.

Kathrin Spendier (’06 BS, ’08 MS, ’12 Ph.D.) was profiled in a Q&A article in the September issue of Physics Today. After graduating from UNM with a Ph.D. and working in Prof. Jim Thomas’ lab, she eventually became a faculty member at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs for about 10 years. In 2022, she left academia and joined the quantum-computing startup Quantinuum, switching specialties from biophotonics to quantum computing. After two years there, she moved to XPRIZE, a nonprofit that runs award competitions in quantum applications to find innovative solutions to societal problems.

2010s

Stephanie M. Rodriguez (‘12 BAEPD) was reappointed secretary of the New Mexico Department of Higher Education.

Naly Ramirez Aponte (‘13 BA) is program manager for the Adult Learning Center at The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos.

Bettina Sandoval (‘13 BSED), director of the Taos Pueblo Training and Education Division, was honored at the National Indian and Native American Employment Training Conference.

Xochitl Torres-Small (‘15 JD) has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Diane Evans-Prior (’16 DNP) was named dean of the School of Nursing and Patient Support at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque.

Robert J. Johnston (’16 JD), Albuquerque, whose practice centers on public finance and taxation, was elected shareholder at Sutin, Thayer & Browne. Thomas J. Sauters (’16 BS) received his PhD in genetics/genomics from Duke University and has begun his postdoctoral work at Vanderbilt University

Felecia N. Cantwell (’17 JD), Albuquerque, has joined Sutin, Thayer & Browne as an associate attorney. A seasoned litigator, Cantwell focuses her practice in the areas of civil litigation, regulatory and administrative law, and contested probate matters.

Isaac A. Leon (’19 MBA, ’19 JD), Albuquerque, a lawyer with Sutin, Thayer & Browne, has earned his Tax LL.M. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Graduate Tax Program. His practice focuses on taxation, mergers and acquisitions, public finance, and general business and corporate law.

2020s

Clint Brayfield (’20 BA/MD) was selected by the Migrant Clinicians Network as one of two recipients of the fifth annual Kugel & Zuroweste Health Justice Award. Named after Candace Kugel, former specialist of Clinical Systems & Women’s Health, and Ed Zuroweste, M.D., founding medical director for Migrant Clinicians Network, the award recognizes early-career clinicians making an impact at the intersections of vulnerability, migration and health.

Natalie Stopka (’23 MFA) recently released From Plant to Pigment: How to Make Your Own Vibrant Inks, Pastels and Paints, a new book that invites artists to rethink color, literally from the ground up. Released in late October by Skittledog Books, this studio manual is for artists seeking sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials.

Hanmin Kim (’23 BA, ’24 MS) launched Seoul Gimbap, a Korean street food business serving authentic flavors to an Albuquerque community hungry for something new. After graduating from the Anderson School of Management in December 2024, Kim wasted no time applying what he learned in the classroom to real-world entrepreneurship. Kim earned both his bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and his master’s in Business Analytics from The University of New Mexico.

Gregory Romero (’22 BA) joined ABC in November 2025 as a production associate for Good Morning America. Romero helps put the nationally televised program on the air by contributing to video production, research, writing and creative storytelling. Good Morning America ranks among the nation’s most-watched morning news programs, reaching nearly 3 million viewers.