Jeff Martinez-Spelich holds the distinction of being the first student to graduate from UNM-West. Martinez-Spelich, from Santa Fe, discovered UNM-West when looking at the UNM schedule of classes online in 2004.
Photo: Jeff Martinez-Spelich
“I was searching for the classes I needed to take and found the offerings for UNM-West by accident,” he said. The first class he took was taught by Paul Lesnik, part time faculty member in psychology. “There were only eight of us in that class, but by the time I finished my degree, the UNM-West classes were packed and sometimes hard to get into,” he said.
Martinez-Spelich graduated with a degree in criminology and psychology. The only classes he had to take at main campus were criminology 101, 281 and the statistics class, 481. “UNM-West allowed me to do more than meet my goals, I exceeded them,” he said. Because he didn’t have to factor in commute time to main campus from his Rio Rancho home, he was able to work and carry a full load or nearly full load of classes each term, he said.
UNM-West is located in the old Don Chalmers building going up the hill on 528 to Rio Rancho. UNM-West offers both 8- and 16-week upper division courses through a variety of delivery methods including face-to-face, interactive television, online and also through correspondence. Martinez-Spelich said that all his courses were face-to-face and that he took advantage of some 8-week offerings.
Martinez-Spelich graduated from St. Michael’s in Santa Fe in 1999. He then earned an associate’s degree from Santa Fe Community College before moving to Rio Rancho. He took criminal theory from Alexis Padilla, adjunct faculty in sociology. “I appreciated his method of teaching through writing papers,” he said.
He also learned about the career he wants to pursue from Commander Conrad Candelaria from the Albuquerque Police Department. Candelaria teaches criminology at UNM-West. Martinez-Spelich credits his UNM faculty with preparing him to further his educational and professional pursuits. He is pursuing a master’s in criminal justice and administration and plans to become a police officer.
Knee surgery sidelined Martinez-Spelich from immediately applying to the Albuquerque Police Department, but he was released from doctor’s care in early December and plans to apply to APD in March. “I am also applying to the Dallas Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency,” he said. His long-term goal is to be a SWAT officer.
He thinks the dual nature of his education will serve him well. “Studying psychology as well as criminology will help me deal with people. I will be able to empathize with criminals and victims, talk to them, protect them and the public,” he said.
The Spanish he learned growing up in Santa Fe will serve him well, too. He’s learning Tagalog, the language of the Philippines. He may not get much call to use it in Albuquerque or Dallas, but it impresses his girlfriend, Chearie Alipat, because it is her native tongue.
Martinez-Spelich developed relationships with the UNM-West staff. Academic advisor Sherri Barrett helped him get the letters he needed for financial aid and others encouraged him, he said.
Martinez-Spelich still has family in Santa Fe. His mother Elizabeth Martinez and stepfather Paul Ortiz and sister Jamie Chavez reside there.
“I discovered UNM-West by accident, but I have told a number of my friends because they didn’t know it existed. They attend now, too,” he said.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at January 26, 2009 09:29 AM