NNMC welcomes new Regents Ron Lovato and Dolores Gurule

New Mexico State Senate also confirms reappointment of Erica Rita Velarde

Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Board of Regents members, Ron Lovato and Dolores Gurule, and the reappointment of Vice-Chair Erica Rita Velarde. All three were confirmed by the New Mexico State Senate on February 10, 2024, following a hearing and confirmation by the Senate Rules Committee. 

Sen. Leo Jaramillo introduced Ron Lovato to the committee. 

“Ron has been a community leader and someone that people from the Pueblo and the surrounding communities have looked up to for years, a voice for communities when sometimes there has not been a voice that has represented the Pueblo or Northern New Mexico in general.” Jaramillo said. “We’ve heard time and time again today that representation matters. Having Ron Lovato on the board would definitely ensure that we have representation of our Pueblo culture on the Regents that can talk to the needs and wants of students in our tribal communities.”

Lovato is a lifelong resident of Ohkay Owingeh and the Española Valley. His baccalaureate is from New Mexico State University and his master’s from the University of Illinois Champaign – Urbana. Lovato worked in multiple capacities during 16 years at Santa Fe Indian School, where he became involved with the school’s development office and found a real passion for business and the development of business for Pueblo communities.

In 2003 Lovato became the Chief Executive Officer of Tsay Corporation, a tribally owned development corporation wholly owned by Ohkay Owingeh. Under his leadership Tsay embarked upon a mission to diversify their business holdings, which gave birth to Tsay Construction & Services, LLC. (TC&S), a construction and maintenance company focused on providing services to Los Alamos National Laboratory. Today TC&S is one of a family of companies called Tsay Federal Contracting Group (TFCG), a group of Tribally owned companies and joint ventures providing an array of services in the federal contracting industry. 

Lovato is a member of the Ohkay Owingeh Tribe and served two terms as the Tribe's Governor. He has served on many boards, including Santa Fe Indian School, Albuquerque Indian School District, PRC Nominating Committee, Jemez Mountain Electric Cooperative Board of Trustee, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center/Indian Pueblos Marketing and New Mexico Finance Authority.

“I was raised in the Valley. I consider it my home,” Lovato said. “I’m a believer in the Valley, and I look to do what I can to help the Valley.”

“I will just note his amazing business and fiscal background,” said NNMC President Hector Balderas. “Also, we are probably the only higher ed institution that is so close to Pueblo culture and government, so it’s very important to us, and I know to the legislative body, to have tribal leaders that are our neighbors.”

Dolores Gurule is Northern’s new student regent. She is currently studying Information Engineering Technology. Gurule has served four terms on the Student Senate, with two of those terms as President. She spent several years in banking and now works for Los Alamos National Laboratory. She has served as vice-president of the Board of Directors for Ojo Sarco Community Center, board member of the Del Norte LOV Foundation Board of Directors, secretary for the Ojo Sarco MDWCA and as a volunteer fire fighter for the Ojo Sarco Volunteer Fire Department.

Sen. Pete Campos introduced Gurule at the Rules Committee hearing, saying, “She is a person of the community. We’re talking about the grassroots involvement in her community. This individual is the pinnacle, is the example as we go forward of what real community involvement and investment happen to be. She’s accountable, she’s transparent, she’s articulate and most of all she’s passionate about what she can deliver to the students there at Northern New Mexico College.”

Gurule spoke about believing she had reached the pinnacle of her education when she graduated at the top of her class from Peñasco High School. No one in her family had gone beyond a high school education. She credited Northern’s Summer Bridge program with giving her the confidence to enroll at NNMC. She described her educational career as taking baby steps as she juggled being a single mother and working two jobs. 

Gurule acknowledged facing discouragement and wanting to give up but being able to carry on “because of the unique culture at Northern, where it’s more of a family. Everybody knows everyone else, and we have that support system for each other. I have so much support from faculty, from leaders of the college, to help me to continue my journey.”

Gurule wants to see more students, including high school students, given access to leadership roles so they can build confidence. 

“I was one of those students who didn’t have that confidence, and I had the unique opportunity of having leaders at Northern New Mexico College help me to believe in myself.”

One of the senators asked why Dolores thought she was chosen as regent. 

“I was chosen as a regent because before any position of authority was ever given to me in the Student Senate, I always volunteered and I always truly wanted to make a difference, especially in our communities, regardless of how it’s going to advance your own career or position.”

Gurule said she was motivated to volunteer for leadership positions when she saw community organizations struggling to replace board members who were retiring. She urged the Rules Committee members to think about cultivating the next generation of leaders by engaging them on the platforms that appeal to them. 

“I think it’s really important for all the leaders of New Mexico as well as leaders of the college to become influencers that are engaged and motivated to urge our next generation to do what you do and do it well,” Gurule said. 

“As you saw from our previous candidate, but with Ms. Gurule as well, the grow your own concept is not only a necessity, it is extremely inspiring to see the life path of our type of leaders,” Balderas said.

NNMC Board of Regents President Michael Martin described Gurule as “a very, very forward-thinking young lady.” He praised her for organizing training for Student Senate leaders and for her service on the selection committee during Northern’s search for a president. 

Regent Velarde called Gurule “one of our emerging leaders. I am so honored to support her today and I’m so proud of her, because I’ve seen her blossom into this leadership role. She is made for leadership, and I can’t wait to see you when you get out there into the industry and leading other things.”

Senator Leo Jaramillo spoke in support of Gurule.  “I’m proud of you too, Ms. Gurule. You always have your ear to the ground of what the issues are in Northern New Mexico, not only in Española but in the small communities around us, and I’m so grateful for that. I’m grateful for your leadership and what you do to stand up for students and to stand up for Norteños in general.”

Erica Rita Velarde has served as vice-chair on Northern’s Board of Regents for the last six years. She is a first-generation college graduate who earned an AA in Business Administration from Northern and her BS in Mechanical Engineering from UNM. Velarde is a New Mexico licensed Professional Engineer who implemented energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for over 700 facilities statewide during her tenure as Energy Engineer for the New Mexico General Services Department. She spent the last five years as Comprehensive Solutions Account Executive for Trane and recently joined JCI, Sustainable Infrastructure.

During her committee hearing, Velarde presented a powerful narrative of her life story which included not only her successes but the challenges she has faced. 

“Now, why have I shared all this with you today, especially in this shining moment? Because I am a great believer that representation matters, and many of the things I mentioned can be viewed as stigmas in our society. But these things have shaped who I am today,” Velarde said. “I could highlight only my resume and my awards and accomplishments, but I’d rather sit before you all as genuine as I am every day. So many people feel that they cannot make it to a certain leadership role or be successful or educated because they didn’t come from the right background.

“I believe that vulnerability and self-awareness are my superpowers. I wish more of us felt comfortable to open up to others so that they know that they are not alone.”

Velarde also stressed the important role Northern New Mexico College has played in her life and in the lives of so many others. 

“Because Northern and its professors changed the trajectory of my life, it is a gem in a beautiful community that needs the love and support and guidance that Northern’s professors, faculty and staff provide,” Velarde said. “Northern isn’t just a school. It’s a lifeline for people like me, and I promise to keep that in every decision I make and every vote I make as regent.” 

President Hector Balderas spoke in support of Velarde’s nomination, noting that she is vested in Northern and during her years of service on the board has gained experience dealing with issues that many regents have not learned how to address. 

Watch the Senate Rules Committee’s confirmation hearing here. The Northern confirmations start at timestamp 10:33:35.

Photo: Northern New Mexico College Board of Regents (from left): NNMC President Hector Balderas, Vice-Chair Erica Rita Velarde, Secretary/Treasurer Ruben Archuleta, outgoing Regent Porter Swentzell, outgoing Regent Casandra Batista Dauz, Regent Ron Lovato, Regent Dolores Gurule and Chair Michael Martin