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The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE



Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
cgonzal@unm.edu

Dec. 6, 2007

UNM Establishes Mentoring Institute

Nora DominguezThe University of New Mexico has established a Mentoring Institute to build up mentoring research and training at the university. The Mentoring Institute is setting up its offices and is set to begin research and benchmarking efforts. The institute will build partnerships with university and community organizations to provide support services to existing mentoring programs and to those who wish to create mentoring programs and relationships. It will conduct research and will provide both general and targeted mentoring training.

The mission of the Mentoring Institute is to create a mentoring culture at UNM by sharing best practices information, research, training and mentoring networks. The institute is planning research into mentoring best practices and specific needs at UNM and in New Mexico. It will begin offering general mentoring training programs within the university and the surrounding community early in 2008.

“Long term, the Mentoring Institute seeks to offer recognized certification in mentoring, host a national conference for mentoring research and practice, and continue to develop a mentoring culture at UNM,” said Nora Dominguez, MI director.

UNM identified the importance of collaborative efforts in the Vision for UNM in the 21 st century. The MI prioritizes developing a network of mentoring partnerships and learning communities with students, faculty, staff and executives at UNM, as well as with industry, academic and government sectors in New Mexico.

Dominguez, a doctoral candidate in UNM College of Education’s Organizational Learning and Instructional Technology program, was recently named MI director. She also holds an MBA degree and has 17 years of experience in the banking industry in Mexico, where she was involved in formal mentoring programs, both as a mentor and as one who was mentored. Prior to directing the Mentoring Institute, Dominguez collaborated with Student Services, working closely with Latin American and Outreach and Ronald E. McNair programs. She has also taught undergraduate OLIT courses.

Mark Smith, also an OLIT doctoral student, has joined the institute as a research assistant. Smith received his BS and MA degrees from Appalachian State University in North Carolina. He has held graduate, teaching and research assistantships at UNM, and has taught undergraduate OLIT courses. The staff will soon expand to a staff of four, adding two graduate students as teaching assistants.

The Mentoring Institute is funded by the New Mexico State Legislature as a component of the UNM Division of Student Affairs. A mentoring council, with members from university and community organizations, will support and advise the work of the Mentoring Institute. The institute is located at 608 Buena Vista Drive, alongside the Title V program.

For more information, contact Nora Dominguez, director, UNM Mentoring Institute, 608 Buena Vista, Room 108, 277-1484.

 


The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu