The University of New Mexico’s College of Education & Human Sciences (COEHS) is working to strengthen the state’s educator workforce. The college uses targeted recruitment, culturally responsive programs, and partnerships to attract students to teaching careers and support current educators in leadership roles. These efforts reach communities across New Mexico, including urban, rural, tribal, and border areas. The goal is to prepare teachers who reflect the diversity of the state’s students.
UNM has received national recognition for graduating Hispanic students in education. A recent report by Excelencia in Education ranked UNM 18th in the nation for awarding bachelor’s degrees in education to Hispanic students. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), UNM includes linguistic and cultural diversity in its curriculum and recruitment. Dean Kristopher Goodrich said these results come from collaboration among faculty, recruitment partners, and donors who support scholarships for future teachers.
The college’s outreach includes building relationships in communities outside Albuquerque. Senior Associate Dean Jay Parkes said that, over the past five years, COEHS has worked to support students from different backgrounds through graduation. This includes expanding high-school-to-college pathways, such as the Educators Rising chapter at UNM. At the 2024 statewide Educators Rising conference, current COEHS students mentored high school students, providing information about college and teaching careers…