New Mexico State University Interim President Manuel Pacheco Thursday accepted a letter of retirement from Dona Ana Community College President Margie Huerta. Her retirement is effective January 31, 2014.
“I want to thank Dr. Huerta for her passion and hard work in moving NMSU DACC forward during the last eight years,” Pacheco said. “In the coming months, I will work with Dr. Huerta and the DACC leadership team to ensure an effective transition.”
Dona Ana Community College is the fourth largest higher education institution in New Mexico. Since 2004, when Huerta was named president of DACC, it has become one of the fastest growing community colleges in the nation. Under her leadership, enrollment increased by more than 50 percent from 6,083 students to more than 9,800 in 2011. The college also added satellite campuses in Gadsden, Chaparral, Hatch and the DACC East Mesa campus.
“Serving as president of DACC has been the highest honor of my career,” Huerta said. “I want to thank the students, faculty, staff and all our benefactors for the strong support they have given me and our college. Working together we have achieved the largest enrollment increase in the history of the college and received national recognition for our efforts. I am particularly proud of the tremendous expansion we accomplished to serve the needs of ourcommunity. Looking forward, there is still work to be done. I am committed to continuing all efforts and ensuring a smooth transition throughout the nextyear.”
Huerta was instrumental in forging stronger relationships with the three local school districts. Her efforts led to the creation of the first Early College High School in New Mexico.
“Dr. Huerta’s time as president will be remembered as one of great growth,” Pacheco said. “It also was one in which Dona Ana Community College established itself as a critically important force for the economic well being of our region. I want to thank her for her years of service and wish her good fortune in all future endeavors.”
Letter from NMSU Interim President Dr. Manuel T. Pacheco to the campus community:
Dr. Margie Huerta, president of NMSU-Dona Ana Community College (NMSU-DACC), has today notified me of her intent to retire from NMSU-DACC, effective January 31, 2014. I have met with Dr. Huerta and have accepted her letter of retirement. In the coming months, I will work with her and the DACC leadership team to ensure an effective transition.
Dr. Huerta assumed the leadership of NMSU-DACC in 2004. During the course of her tenure, DACC became one of the fastest growing community colleges in the nation. The enrollment increased by more than 50 percent from a headcount of 6,083 in 2004 to more than 9,800 in 2012. NMSU-DACC is currently the fourth largest institution of higher education in New Mexico.
Under her guidance, the community college responded to local needs by providing new satellite campuses in Chaparral, Gadsden, Hatch and the flagship DACC East Mesa campus. This expansion was made possible by her persuasive and vibrant efforts to pass local general obligation bond issues which provided the bulk of funding for the new satellite campuses.
Dr. Huerta was equally effective in her civic engagement, serving on numerous boards and organizations. Her skills and leadership were recognized with her election to serve as chair of both the Hispano Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce.
She was instrumental in forging stronger relationships with the three local school districts. Her innovative approaches helped create The Bridge, which defined a new paradigm for public education and the business community. This led to making the first Early College High School (ECHS) in New Mexico a reality. The success of the ECHS is so remarkable that the model is now touted across the state for possible expansion.
I want to thank Dr. Huerta for her passion and hard work in moving NMSU DACC forward. Her time as president will be remembered as one of great growth. It was also one in which Dona Ana Community College established itself as a critically important force in the economic well being of our region.
Please join with me in thanking Dr. Huerta for her years of service to our citizens and wishing her good fortune in all future endeavors.