Spotlight
Fresquez: Ambassador
for state
By Jason
Gil Bear
When
Noberta Fresquez talks about New Mexico a bright smile appears
on her face and she tells you all there is to know about the
Land of Enchantment.
Fresquez
is the Program Manager for Story of New Mexico.
Its a lecture series that is offered every semester through
Continuing Education at UNM.
The
program brings in experts in different fields, from archeologists
to historians, who talk about their research and how it ties
to New Mexico, Fresquez said.
She said
the speakers present films and slides that show interesting
facts and historical information about the early times of New
Mexico.
Fresquez
said a unique aspect of the program is the field trips that
students take as part of the program.
We
wont spend the entire semester in the classroom, we take
the students out to experience our wonderful state first hand,
Fresquez said.
Fresquez,
a native New Mexican, is from the Southern region of the state.
I love New Mexico, there is no other place I would rather
live than here, she said enthusiastically.
She is
spearheading a new addition to the program that has the same
philosophy of bringing in speakers and taking field trips around
the state, but is now focusing on youth.
Too
often young students are not familiarized with our culture and
how extensive our history goes back, she said. This
program introduces young people to that rich history.
Her enthusiasm
about the state is evident with piles of Mariachi CDs
and New Mexico travel books throughout her office.
Until last
semester, Fresquez was the director of Mariachi Spectacular.
The program brings musicians to New Mexico for concerts and
workshops. She now serves on the advisory board.
She has
been working at UNM for 10 years and is taking classes at night
to obtain her degree. I think I want to go into the tourism
business, she said. What better job to have than
to show tourists the state and all that we have to offer.
In her
free time, Fresquez enjoys working in her garden.
Im
so proud of my red-leaf lettuce that I have growing. I love
putting my hands in the soil, she said.
Fresquez
said she doesnt plan on retiring from her position at
UNM for a long time, but said when she does her first order
of business will be to enroll in the Story of New Mexico
program.
I
cant wait to be a student and just sit back and take in
all of the knowledge, she said.