
The University of New Mexico
NEWS RELEASE
July 25, 2006
UNM-Taos Interim Director is Branch's First Tenured Faculty
Dr. Catherine M. “Kate” O'Neill, the new interim executive director at UNM-Taos, is also the first University of New Mexico-Taos branch faculty member to be tenured and granted the rank of associate professor, announced UNM Provost Reed Dasenbrock, Deputy Provost Richard Holder and UNM-Taos Dean of Instruction Jim Gilroy.
Faculty tenure has existed at UNM-Valencia and UNM-Gallup for many years. UNM-Taos is the most recent branch and until last year had only one tenure-track faculty member. “We all share a goal of having a core of tenured faculty,” Gilroy said.
O'Neill began her service as a faculty member at the branch in 1995. Since then, she has taught in several departments and for Extended University. In 2003 she became a full-time lecturer in psychology at UNM-Taos. She earned a bachelor's in art history from Tufts, a master of education in counseling and a doctor of education in human development and psychology, both from Harvard.
O'Neill has been active on Faculty Senate and other UNM-Taos areas of service. Her other qualifications include strong performance in professional development and community service.
A committee of scholars from main campus and the branches reviewed O'Neill's dossier of materials and made their recommendation in June. Dasenbrock decided to grant tenure and the promotion effective with O'Neill's July 1 contract as interim executive director.
As UNM's newest branch, this promotion signals the institution's commitment to the Taos branch and paves the way for other eligible faculty to pursue or expedite the tenure process. Gilroy said, “Dr. O'Neill's tenure validates the quality of our faculty. It is a milestone for the UNM-Taos campus and our community, and an inspiration for seven other Taos faculty members on tenure track.”
For more information, contact Jim Gilroy at 505-737-6224.
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