Parent Association Committee Chairs

Communication and Marketing Committee Chair Christina Kitsos

is a UNM Alumna. She is a practicing CPA who proudly graduated from Anderson School of Management. Her toughest job is being a mother of three. Two are currently attending UNM. She spent many years volunteering at her children’s schools in various capacities, both in the classroom and on PTA boards and Booster Clubs. She continues to volunteer through the Parent Association Board. Christina believes that the board is key to staying quietly connected to her children’s school while becoming an advocate on issues that directly affect all students. Her hope is that all parents will stay connected by becoming members of the parent organization. It’s a great way to learn from other parents and students about UNM life and help their students succeed in attaining higher education.

Election and Bylaws Chair Tom Root

is a parent of two. His daughter, Meredith, is a 2007 graduate of Antioch College, and his son, Evan, is a fall 2007 college freshman, still working on his college choice. Dr. Root is a UNM alumnus, having earned both his master’s and doctoral degrees here. He has worked for 25 years in NM higher education — at the community college, university and state regulatory levels. He works in the Office of the Provost as UNM’s outcomes assessment planning manager. He has served as staff, instructor and administrator. He practices active parenting and believes that active engagement of students in the classroom, with faculty and in the community, dramatically increases both the value of the educational experience for students and the likelihood of attainment of students’ educational goals.

Freshman Summer Send‐Off Committee Chair Maria Acosta

is the mother of a UNM freshman. She works at an area high school representing ENLACE: Engaging Latino Communities for Education (full bio pending)

Career Services and Mentors Committee Chairs Glenn and Bettina Dorman, bios pending

Recruitment and Membership Committee Kathy Meadows

Kathy is the parent of a UNM Freshman. Kathy is an alumna of UNM, earning a BUS degree with a concentration in History, Economics and Sociology. She is also a graduate of UNM’s Management Academy. She has been employed by the University for 25 years, and is currently part of the Provost Office Staff working in the Faculty Contracts and Services Office. Since its inception in 1991, Kathy has been involved with the UNM Staff Council as a Councilor, and has served as Co‐Chair of the Staff Council’s Rewards and Recognition Committee, Co‐Chair of the Work+life Committee, a member of the Executive Committee, the Communications Committee and the Rules and Election Committee. She is currently serving on the UNM Faculty Staff Club Board as the Staff Ombudsperson. Kathy also regularly volunteers for events coordinated by the UNM Office of the University Secretary, including Commencement and Freshman Family Day. Kathy has also served on the UNM Child Care Advisory Board. In addition to volunteer work on the UNM campus, Kathy has been a member of the St. Pius X High School Parent Advisory Board and the St. Pius X High School Fine Arts Board.
Kathy believes that volunteerism is a way to give back to the community and has modeled that behavior for her daughter. On top of her classes, Kathy’s daughter, Christine, has served as a volunteer for the Animal Humane Association, the UNM Taos Summer Writers’ Program, the UNM Women’s Resource Center and is a regular volunteer for the Albuquerque Biopark. Last year, Christine was recognized with an award from St. Pius X High School as one of the top student volunteers in her senior class by giving more than 250 hours of volunteer service throughout the year.
Kathy’s goals as Chair of the Membership and Recruitment Committee is to establish a base of volunteers for the Parent Association and to recognize that faithful, committed volunteers are the heart of any successful organization.

Multicultural Initiatives Committee Chair Nieves Torres

is a parent of two grown children. Her son, Federico “Kiko” is a UNM alumnus. Daughter Sandra is UNM alumna continuing her education in the College of Education. UNM is a family affair in the Torres household. Currently, Nieves directs the Family Literacy Program in the College of Education. Her husband Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres also works at UNM in administration. Dr. Torres is the administrative liaison for the Parent Association and an advocate for student success. Attributing her early success to her parents, Nieves wholeheartedly believes that parents make a difference in their child’s life. Therefore, families have shared in her efforts to facilitate learning for students. She has extensive experience working as a teacher, supervisor, mentor and director of programs that focus on parental involvement. Nieves’ master thesis and doctoral dissertation are about effective ways of recognizing knowledge in various scenarios, enhancing academic knowledge, and providing tools for advocacy. It is her greatest desire to have the parent initiatives become an integral network of enrichment, support and celebration for students and their families.

Parent Fund and General Fundraising Committee Chair Nick Manole

Nick Manole, marketing specialist with the City of Albuquerque ABQ Ride Transit Department, opened Nick’s Crossroads Café and Fresh Choices in 1982 where his wife Asimina has assumed ownership and operation. He received his B.A. in political science from the University of New Mexico. He has been active in the community/ serving on several boards, including New Mexico Holocaust and Intolerance Center, Albuquerque Alliance for Human Relations, Founding President of the District 8 Coalition of Neighborhoods, Glenwood Hills Neighborhood Association, Downtown Action Team, Nob Hill/Highland Renaissance Association, and Chair of the Read by Third Grade Committee of the Albuquerque Business Education Compact. He is also a decades‐long sponsor of the International Military Information Program at Kirtland Air Force Base. His biggest accomplishment and pride are his children Athanasios and Niki both exemplary students at UNM who are seeking careers in the medical field.

Ex‐Officio Members

Faculty Representative Breda Bova

is a UNM alumna, earning her Ph.D. from UNM. She is a professor and senior advisor to the UNM president. Her research is focused on mentoring and generations in the workplace. She is active in community organizations, recently chairing the board of directors of the United Way of Central New Mexico. She is currently on the boards of the Samaritan Counseling Center and High Tech High‐Albuquerque. Dr. Bova holds academic rank in the Department of Educational Leadership and Organizational Learning. She currently serves as the faculty representative to the NCAA and is responsible for the certification of all the student athletes at the University of New Mexico.

Faculty Representative Jerry Dominguez

is vice provost for UNM Extended University and a Tucumcari, New Mexico native. He earned a bachelor’s in speech pathology and psychology from Eastern New Mexico University before switching loyalties to become a Lobo. He earned a master’s degree in speech pathology in 1972 and Ph.D. in special education in 1982, both at UNM. His professional career began as assistant director of Programs for Children at UNM School of Medicine’s Mental Health Center. He held various research, academic and administrative positions at UNM and elsewhere. In 1995, Domínguez was named dean of the UNM Division of Continuing Education and Community Services and, in 1999, assumed the additional title of vice provost of Extended University, further helping to connect UNM to communities statewide. He and his wife, Meave Stevens-Domínguez, Ph.D., parent two sons.

Dean of Students designate Laura E. Valdez

is UNM New Student Orientation director. She learned a lot about student/parent relationships when she developed and coordinated the Family Connection component, which runs concurrently with the student orientation program. She continues to work with parents in her current position in the Dean of Students Office. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication at UNM. Laura has served on various National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) initiatives. She co‐authored a chapter in the NASPA Monograph, Partnering with the Parents of Today’s College Students.

Vice President for Student Affairs designate Kimmerly Kloeppel

Kim is the fiscal and planning officer for the Division of Student Affairs, which oversees approximately 20 departments. Kim has worked at UNM for almost 13 years. Her responsibilities include managing human resources, directing budgets and fiscal reports, strategic and project planning, participating on various UNM‐wide project committees and developing special reports. She serves as the board’s representative and liaison for Dr. Eliseo Torres, vice president.

Kim has a bachelor’s in sociology and master’s in public administration from UNM. She is working on her Ph.D. in organizational learning. She is also a member of the City of Albuquerque Personnel Board. She enjoys the initiatives that Student Affairs is working on for student success and especially the development of the Parent Relations collaborations. She is involved with and excited about the new UNM Parent Experience Program that will be started in summer 2008.