Whether students attend the UNM main campus, a branch campus, or a bachelor and graduate education center around the state through the Distance Education programs, parents should know that their student has a great support network to help them succeed.

Stay tuned to the UNM Parent Web site and e‐newsletter for profiles on UNM Parent Clubs. If you would like to start a club in your area contact Parent Association President Maria Probasco, main campus, (505) 277‑9349.

CLUB CONTACTS
- Gallup Parent Club
Marilee Petranovich, chair
mpetrano@​unm.​edu

- Santa Fe Parent Club
Karla Jaramillo, chair
ralphjaramillo@​gmail.​com

- Farmington Parent Club
Aileen Gallegos
edwards1​7​@​earthlink.​net

CLUB PROFILES

Gallup Parent Club

UNM Mom Marilee Petranovich, grants coordinator at UNM‐Gallup, is launching a Parent Club in the Gallup greater area. She is from Gallup but as the daughter of a Public Health Service dentist moved around the country during childhood.

“We lived everywhere from Baltimore, Maryland,to Mt. Edgecumbe, Alaska, and many places in between,” she shared.

Petranovich graduated from Gallup High School and then UNM main in 1984. She returned to Gallup when she and husband Steve, also a Gallup native, planned to marry. Steve, also a UNM graduate, is a private practice CPA.

“My husband and I like to joke that we ‘bleed Lobo red.’ Between both of us graduating from UNM, my work with UNM, Steve’s position on the Board of Directors for the UNM Foundation, as well as us having two happy UNM students, we have a very strong bond with this institution,” she shared. “We love to share this passion with other parents who already have students at the University, or who might be considering UNM as an option. Go Lobos!!”

The couple’s oldest son Sean graduated from UNM this year with dual degrees in economics and philosophy. He will continue on in the fall at the university pursuing master’s degrees in both fields. Daughter Kaitlin has completed freshman year as a member of the new combined BA/MD program. Youngest daughter Colleen will be a senior at Gallup High School in the fall. 

 When asked about her parenting philosophy and how she will bring that to her volunteer work as parent club chair, Petranovich shared that she knows firsthand how difficult it is to send a student away to college.

“Being involved with UNM from the perspective of being a member of the Parent Association allows parents to be aware of what is going on with the institution and what may be affecting their students, while still allowing them to be independent and able to make their own decisions, “ she said. “Being able to network with other parents also makes the transition a little easier.”