State funding unlocks rich expertise for teacher preparation at UNM

State investment in endowed faculty lines has created transformative momentum at The University of New Mexico's College of Education & Human Sciences (COEHS), helping build urgently needed expertise in teacher preparation for the state's most high-need areas: reading, math, special education, bilingual education,\ and early childhood education.

Recognizing a critical statewide shortage of licensed teachers, the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) and the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) established two separate endowment programs to address gaps in teacher preparation and early childhood workforce development. These funds have allowed UNM COEHS to expand faculty capacity and respond directly to the state's most pressing educational needs.

Thanks to these endowments, seven faculty were hired under the NMHED Teacher Preparation Endowment, and an additional faculty member joined the college under the ECECD Endowment for Early Childhood. Together, these hires bring deep content knowledge and a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of New Mexico educators.

The faculty include:

Amy Brass: Mathematics education and civic engagement through math

Garrett Delavan: Bilingual and multicultural education; language policy

Aimee Hackney: Special education and inclusive teaching practices

Jeffrey Houdek: Mathematics methods and pedagogy

Jacob Villa: Science education for future STEM teachers

Sepideh Yasrebi: Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on language and culture in education

Denise Zawada: Reading comprehension and academic language development

Jen Stacy (ECECD-funded): Bilingual early childhood education and family engagement

One of the endowments also supports the college's early childhood education initiatives, aligned with the state's broader goal of increasing the professionalism and degree attainment of the early childhood workforce. This investment strengthens capacity to prepare bilingual and culturally responsive early educators, and helps build pathways from associate to bachelor's degrees across the state.

Faculty supported by these endowments are not only strengthening programs and curricula, but also building out clinical partnerships, mentoring preservice teachers, and helping reduce the college's reliance on temporary part-time instructors. Their arrival marks a pivotal moment of growth and stabilization for COEHS.

"We are deeply grateful to the State of New Mexico for recognizing the critical importance of teacher preparation and early childhood education," said Dean Kristopher Goodrich. "These endowments have empowered us to recruit dedicated experts who will help shape the future of education in our state, and respond to our workforce needs."

"Meeting the Needs of New Mexicans" is a foundational goal in the college's strategic plan -and the work of these endowed faculty shows that the College is delivering on that promise. This state investment supports long-term capacity, relevance, and responsiveness to the communities UNM serves.