Faculty Spotlight ~ Diane Rawls
By Carolyn Gonzales
Five fat manila envelopes are stacked on Diane Rawls’ desk. As UNM’s faculty representative for several national and international scholarships and fellowships, she has a dilemma. Two envelopes have multiple copies as required by the Jack Kent Cooke graduate scholarship application. Three do not.
“We can only submit two applicants. It would be easy to send the ones who followed the instructions to the letter, but it just isn’t that simple. I want to put forth the best applicants, the ones most likely to be considered,” she said.
Conundrums lacking black or white answers are common in Rawls position, whether teaching an honors seminar, “With Literacy and Justice for All,” or deciding which scholarship applicant should be put forth for consideration.
Rawls arrived at UNM in 1967. “I’ve been at UNM longer than most of the campus,” she said. Her parents moved to Albuquerque from Central Illinois so her mother, Shirley Rawls, could earn a Ph.D. in Latin American history.
“I came kicking and screaming, but fell in love with New Mexico, Albuquerque and UNM,” she said. As a student, she saw UNM’s transition from a traditional institution through the tumult of the early 70s. “I was a junior in 1970 – the year of the riot, the Jane Fonda march. We were told we could take the grades we had at midterms and finish the semester three weeks early,” she recalled.
Earning bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in French – all from UNM – Rawls taught English in France, worked at the old University of Albuquerque, taught French at Eldorado High School and did a couple of stints as an academic advisor in UNM’s College of Arts & Sciences – all in preparation for the work she does now.
As a lecturer III in the University Honors Program, Rawls is in her 12th year as faculty representative for several national and international scholarships and fellowships including the Truman, Goldwater, Marshall and Udall scholarships.
“In my position in honors, I can reach students who might be good potential applicants but not know the possibilities open to them,” she said. Student contact is a reason Rawls can almost always be found in her office. “My longevity, the people I know, the institutional knowledge I have, I share with the students. Sitting with them, talking to them, I begin to see their strengths and I can advise them on how to enhance their chances,” she said.
If a student looks like a good match for a scholarship, Rawls can advise. “My background and experience in the various scholarship opportunities available helps me pair up students with the right program. As a result, in recent years UNM has had more Truman and Marshall scholars. I think we’ll start seeing more of that,” she said.
Rawls also serves as faculty advisor for the 60 or so Regents’ Scholars. “They tend to apply for these other scholarships because they know about them earlier, know what to expect,” she said.
John Probasco, a UNM graduate who was a Regents, Truman, Goldwater and Rhodes scholar, said, “Dr. Rawls helps scholars develop course plans, assists in finding mentors from among UNM faculty, as well as advising them on career plans and educational opportunities, all in addition to being a trusted ear and supportive shoulder.”
Rawls enjoys honors’ small discussion-based interdisciplinary format. “The high-achieving student won’t fit a mold. We have to provide this kind of environment to attract and retain future scholars,” she said.
"Dr. Rawls’ success as an instructor can be measured in the lives she has touched and dreams she has helped make reality. "
-Rhodes Scholar John Probasco