UNM reimagining how educational leaders are prepared to serve New Mexico

The challenges facing today's schools demand more than a new generation of educational leaders. They demand a renewed vision of educational leadership itself. Recognizing that responsibility, Educational Leadership faculty in The University of New Mexico College of Education & Human Sciences (COEHS) have spent the past year laying the foundation for the next generation of educational leaders in New Mexico and beyond.

More than a curriculum redesign, their work reflects a shared commitment to reimagining how future educational leaders are prepared to meet the unique educational needs of the schools, systems and communities they serve and that make New Mexico so special.

Through intentional reflection, research and collaboration with current students, alumni and educational partners, faculty are designing a more purposeful approach to leadership preparation that will help shape the future of communities across New Mexico while also inviting leaders from across the nation and the globe.

The work also reflects the long-term commitment of the State of New Mexico, the New Mexico Legislature and the New Mexico Public Education Department in strengthening educator preparation and leadership through strategic investments in faculty excellence.

Those investments have enabled COEHS to recruit three internationally recognized scholars whose expertise, alongside their three other Educational Leadership colleagues, is already helping shape innovative programs that will benefit educators, students and communities across the state.

These three newer faculty members each bring distinct areas of expertise that are helping shape the Program's redesign.

• Matthew Witenstein, Ph.D., contributes nationally recognized scholarship in educational leadership, governance, organizational improvement and international higher education.
• Brandelyn Tosolt, Ph.D., brings expertise in leadership preparation, critical pedagogy and educational justice, with a focus on preparing future leaders to challenge assumptions and strengthen educational systems.
• Jenna Doane, Ph.D., adds scholarship in bilingual education policy, newcomer student supports and mental health, expanding the Program's capacity to prepare leaders for the increasingly diverse communities they will serve.
  

"At the College of Education & Human Sciences, we believe educational leadership has the power to transform lives, schools and entire communities. By investing in outstanding faculty and reimagining how we prepare educational leaders, we're helping ensure that New Mexico's students, educators and families are well served for generations to come. It's one more way we're fulfilling our mission of keeping New Mexico moving, growing and learning."

- COEHS Dean Kristopher M. Goodrich

Together with their Educational Leadership colleagues, their collective expertise is helping shape a Program grounded in both rigorous scholarship and the realities of educational leadership in New Mexico and beyond.

Their collective work reflects a shared commitment to preparing leaders who can think strategically, lead collaboratively and respond thoughtfully to the evolving needs of schools, educational systems and communities. This work is also helping advance the vision outlined in House Bill 157 by preparing educational leaders equipped to meet the evolving needs of New Mexico's schools and communities.

"Educational leadership doesn't exist in isolation," said Laura Haniford, chair of the Department of Teacher Education, Educational Leadership and Policy (TEELP). "The strongest programs are built through collaboration, with outstanding faculty, with our educational partners across the state and, over time, with the professionals, alumni and communities our graduates will ultimately serve. That spirit of partnership is helping shape every step of this work."

Rather than beginning with courses, credit hours or degree requirements, faculty began by asking a much larger question: What should educational leadership look like today, and what should it mean within the unique educational landscape of New Mexico?

That question became the foundation for months of retreats, planning sessions and collaborative dialogue as faculty examined the evolving role of educational leaders and the knowledge, skills and perspectives current and future leaders will need to successfully serve educational organizations, other organizational spaces desiring educational leaders, and communities throughout the state.

"We realized we first needed to answer a more fundamental question: What does educational leadership mean today, particularly in New Mexico?" said Matthew Witenstein, program coordinator, Educational Leadership Program and associate professor, Educational Leadership. "Once we established that shared vision, we could thoughtfully redesign the program centered on the knowledges, skills and experiences today's leaders need to meet the unique educational needs of the schools, systems and communities they serve, and that make New Mexico so special."

While the redesign remains an active and evolving process, its vision is beginning to take shape through a cohesive framework of degree and certificate pathways designed to provide students with greater flexibility while maintaining a unified philosophy of leadership preparation. Faculty anticipate the first phase of implementation, a new Educational Leadership certificate in the form of a Principal Residency, in the latter part of 2027, followed by redesigned Masters and Doctoral degree pathways in 2028, pending final University approvals.

"Every decision we made came back to the developing leader," said Brandelyn Tosolt, associate professor, Educational Leadership. "We wanted each pathway to feel intentional, connected and responsive so that students graduate prepared to lead with confidence while meeting the unique educational needs of the schools and communities they will serve."

Throughout the redesign process, faculty remain committed to collaboration not only within the University but also with educational professionals, alumni, and community partners whose insights continue to strengthen leadership preparation across New Mexico. As the work progresses, those relationships will continue to inform the Program's evolution while ensuring it remains responsive to the needs of the state and the communities it serves.

The initiative reflects a broader philosophy embraced throughout COEHS: continually evaluating and strengthening academic programs to meet New Mexico's evolving workforce needs while building meaningful partnerships that benefit students, educators and communities alike. By investing in exceptional faculty and fostering a culture of thoughtful collaboration, the College is preparing the next generation of educational leaders who will be equipped to lead meaningful change where it matters most.

"At the College of Education & Human Sciences, we believe educational leadership has the power to transform lives, schools and entire communities," said COEHS Dean Kristopher M. Goodrich. "By investing in outstanding faculty and reimagining how we prepare educational leaders, we're helping ensure that New Mexico's students, educators and families are well served for generations to come. It's one more way we're fulfilling our mission of keeping New Mexico moving, growing and learning."

While the Educational Leadership faculty build out components of their re-designed program and degree pathways, they are eager to keep their constituent communities up-to-date. Updates will be reflected on the COEHS webpage. They are also keen to answer any questions via their program email [email protected].