The UNM Parent & Family Association hosts annual board elections every spring. If you would like to get involved, please send us an email at parenta@unm.edu!

Aaron Miscenich

Aaron Miscenich is currently the Executive Director of bwtech@UMBC, a 70+ acre research park located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home to over 525,000 square feet of office and lab space, bwtech houses over 130 companies. A native of New Orleans, for 14 years Miscenich was President & CEO of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, a life science business incubator focusing on university-based technologies. During this time Miscenich also managed New Orleans BioFund, an evergreen capital source. In 2012, Miscenich served as Interim Executive Director of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center. Miscenich holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of New Mexico and an M.B.A. from Tulane University.

Caroline Weaver - Co-Chair

Caroline Weaver has a rising sophomore from North Carolina majoring in Computer Engineering. The whole family loves New Mexico. She works at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Francie Cordova

Francie Cordova is the mother of UNM Sophomore Adiana Cordova. Adiana is considering a major in speech pathology. Francie is a native New Mexican born and raised in Espanola, NM. Francie received her law degree from UCLA and has practiced law for over 25 years. Francie is currently the Chief Compliance Officer for the University of New Mexico and is committed to making UNM campus the best place to live, work and learn.

Heather Rom Bratton

Heather Bratton lives in Issaquah, Washington and is the proud parent of a UNM Fine Arts student studying Film and Digital Arts. Her background studies were in design and elementary education, and Heather has worked as a teacher, landscape designer, project and curriculum designer, and project manager, as well as an enthusiastic volunteer. Heather’s free time fills up with reading, knitting, gardening, travel, binge watching programs, spoiling my dogs, and exploring new arts and crafts. Her family is happy to be part of UNM – Go Lobos!

Liz Abeyta - Co-Chair

Monica McNitzky

Monica McNitzky lives in San Antonio Texas with her husband Rich. They have 2 great children and 2 crazy dogs. Monica’s daughter is a Junior at UNM majoring in Psychology.

Rich McNitzky

Rich McNitzky is from San Antonio, Texas where he practices law and lives with Monica, his wife of 28 years, and two dogs, Tango and Icee. They have a son, Rich, who is a second-year law student at Tulane, and their daughter, Cat, is a junior at UNM. Fun fact: Rich’s wife is also a UNMPFA board member.

Sarah Charai

Sarah, her husband and three boys reside in St. Paul, Minnesota where she leads the Supply Chain Operations for Allina Health. Her son, Amine, will be entering his 2 nd year at the University of New Mexico. Amine was looking to experience a different climate and culture during college and UNM has certainly offered him that. Sarah joined the UNMPFA because she feels that just because they are off to college, it doesn’t mean that the parents and families can’t stay connected and involved in their education. “I have gained a lot of insight and guidance simply by attending the monthly UNMPFA meetings – it has definitely made the transition to college easier for us as a family. I feel comfortable knowing we have a network of UNM parents we can connect with for questions and support.”

Sarah Smith

Sarah lives in the high desert of central Oregon. She is a cofounder and the CEO of SEND Transportation, an employee-owned logistics company. When she isn’t working, she enjoys gravel biking, gardening and practicing yoga. Sarah’s daughter is a senior at UNM studying English and Chemistry. Go Lobos!

Susanne O. Mahoney

Susanne O. Mahoney is from Kansas City KS. Her daughter Molly will be a Junior in Fall 2022 and is studying at the University of Salamanca, Spain for her Junior year. Susanne is an early childhood speech language pathologist. Her family has hosted eight high school aged foreign exchange students and Anastasiia, from Ukraine, will continue to be with her family for the upcoming school year.