Bárbara Medina Named the New Leader of Northern New Mexico College in Espanola

Bárbara Medina has been chosen to serve as interim president of Northern New Mexico College in Espanola. She will step in for Rick Baily who will be the new president of Southern Oregon University. Dr. Medina will begin her new duties on January 14 and is expected to complete the current academic year.

“Northern New Mexico College is a true gem that serves our communities well,” Dr. Medina said.

Northern New Mexico College enrolls just over 1,200 students, according to the most recent data available through the U.S. Department of Education. Women make up 59 percent of the student body.

Dr. Medina is an educational consultant based in Albuquerque and Denver. Earlier, she served as director of English language acquisition programs for the Denver public schools and was assistant commissioner for innovation and transformation for the Colorado Department of Education.

Dr. Medina is a graduate of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, where she majored in secondary social studies education. She earned a master’s degree in humanities at St. John’s College in Santa Fe and holds a Ph.D. in the social and philosophical foundation of education from the University of Colorado-Boulder.