Mary Gutierrez will be the next chancellor of the Taos campus of the University of New Mexico. She will take office on August 1.
The Taos campus, in northcentral New Mexico, enrolls more than 1,100 students, according to the most recent data issued by the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 63 percent of the student body.
“I am honored to be joining the staff, faculty, administrators, and community members who have worked to make UNM-Taos what it is today,” said Dr. Gutierrez. “When I spent time in Taos it was abundantly evident that many people have contributed to making UNM-Taos an outstanding educational institution. I was heartened to observe the community’s involvement in the college, the college’s commitment to the Pueblo Nations, and the joint efforts underway to spur and support regional economic development. The presence of so many faculty, staff, students, council members, advisory board members, and community members throughout my interview process demonstrated not only the importance of the college to Taos but also the strength of the community and the potential in our shared efforts.”
Dr. Gutierrez has been serving as vice president of instruction at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, She also was an instructor in educational leadership at San Francisco State University. Earlier, Dr. Gitierrez was dean of language arts and as acting president at Skyline College in San Bruno, California, and associate dean at Cascadia College in Bothel, Washington.
A third-generation educator, Dr. Gutierrez grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg and a doctorate in educational leadership from San Francisco State University.