Marc A. Nigliazzo has been named University of New Mexico vice president in charge of Rio Rancho operations and branch academic affairs, announced President David Schmidly. He assumes the role June 1. Nigliazzo is a UNM alumnus, earning his doctorate in English language and literature while also holding a teaching assistantship.
Photo: Marc A. Nigliazzo
“We want Marc to get our Rio Rancho campus up and running. That’s a huge task,” Schmidly said. “He’ll also be responsible for ensuring that the academic programs and services at all of our branch campuses lead to student success.”
Nigliazzo will coordinate UNM’s branch campuses in Los Alamos, Valencia County, Taos and Gallup, ensuring all academic programs and services are compliant with UNM’s mission, goals and objectives and strategic plans. He will also direct and manage the planning, development and implementation of all aspects of UNM’s Rio Rancho campus. He will serve on UNM’s executive cabinet.
“I’ve watched the concept of the Rio Rancho campus develop and interest build. I see incredible potential for a model program, one that brings together public schools, a community college and the University of New Mexico. It will be something very special for Rio Rancho and for New Mexico,” Nigliazzo said.
He has visited UNM’s branch campuses virtually and in person in anticipation of assuming responsibility for their academic affairs.
“I was attracted to the opportunity because the position is not just about developing the Rio Rancho campus. I am fascinated by the constituencies each branch serves. I’ve been in community colleges in Texas for a long time and I am hopeful that some of the creative things we’ve done here will help us strengthen the branches and enhance overall university-wide initiatives. As Rio Rancho develops, we will look at broad-based concepts that work with all the branches,” he said. He said he will also work to strengthen relationships with all the state’s community colleges.
Nigliazzo has been president and chief executive officer of the Temple College District since 1995. He held faculty positions at Adams State College, Odessa College, Boise State University, Del Mar College and Corpus Christi State University.
At Odessa he was director of freshman composition; coordinator of developmental English at Boise State; director of the English Language center, then chair of the Department of English, Philosophy and Reading at Del Mar; and vice president and dean of instruction at Galveston. In 1991, he was named president of Galveston College and served in that capacity until his appointment at Temple College.
Nigliazzo has served in leadership roles within his profession and within his communities. He is past-president of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities, and the Texas Association of Community College Trustees and Administrations.
He is also past-chairman of the board of the Temple Chamber of Commerce, served on the boards of the Temple Education Foundation and the Temple College Foundation. He is a member of the Temple Economic Development Corporation, the Temple Business League and the advisory committee to the Central Texas Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization.
Nigliazzo’s wife Lynn is founder, artistic director, and principal costumer for Galveston Ballet. His family also includes daughter Caryn, an emergency clinician in Durango, Colo.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at February 15, 2008 03:50 PM