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Aragon
makes changes for mechanical engineering
By Michael
Padilla
When
Cecilia Aragon was hired as the department administrator for Mechanical
Engineering she had six months to create and implement a business
plan for an ideal department.
The ideal
department would concentrate primarily on students. Faculty would
focus on teaching and staff would be happy and most of all no
new forms.
The outcome: Mechanical Engineering had a complete overhaul and
many changes have been implemented since 2000.
Our
chair Dr. Ingber wanted change, she said. We are fortunate
to have a chair who is caring, has an ambitious vision and is
willing to make things happen.
Aragon was
able to draw upon previous experience in Human Resources at UNM
and her business experience in the private sector to help recruit
new staff and assist in recruiting new faculty. Since her arrival,
the department has hired an undergraduate and graduate coordinator,
in addition to hiring the first Hispanic and female faculty.
Mechanical
Engineering is a great place to be, Aragon says. We
have a great reputation and now the challenge is to continue our
growth, recruit more students and focus on our graduate programs.
Aragon, originally
from Arizona, was employed in Southern California when she went
to Taos for a six month visit. Enjoying the life of a tourist,
she decided to stay. Realizing that she needed money to live,
she began working at an art gallery and after six weeks she took
over the business. Soon after, the owner decided that Aragon would
also run a new gallery in Aspen.
It
was a great way to live my 20s, she says. I dont
regret it one bit. I stayed in Taos for the spring and summer
seasons and then in Aspen in the fall and winter seasons.
In 1995,
she started working at UNM Human Resources. After the first year,
the City of Albuquerque called and lured her away for a year to
recruit police and fire fighters. This position took her all around
the country. She was reluctant at first to take the position,
but she knew she would return to UNM. She did and again was lured
away by a subcontractor for Sandia National Laboratories.
I didnt
want to do HR anymore and I reapplied to UNM, she said.
When Dr. Ingber called me I knew thats what I wanted
to do, she said. I only had a few days to familiarize
myself with the office and the third day I was asked to make the
course schedule. I was shocked at first, but I did.
With her
bachelors degree in training and develpment from Arizona
State University, Aragon says her hard work and dedication to
the department makes it enjoyable. I like to come in early
and often will work through my lunch hour, she says. I
am the first line of defense for the department and I give it
my best.
Aragon lives
in Albuquerques North Valley and her mother recently moved
in with her. She enjoys gardening and embroidering. When she feels
like getting away she gets in her car and drives to the mountains
or nearby Pueblos.
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