2025 Inspiring Graduate | Mark Freeland

For Mark Freeland, graduating with his bachelor's degree is a lifelong dream he will soon realize. In just two years, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts, two minors in communication and political science and a certificate in honors interdisciplinary liberal arts. Freeland has worked year-round to achieve this goal.

He began college right after high school but took time off to gain valuable life experience. After a 26-year break, Freeland returned to UNM in the fall of 2023 to earn the degree to help him take the next step in his life's journey.

While away from UNM, Freeland had numerous jobs, but the most significant roles were becoming a father, a grandfather and a tribal leader. Now, he can also proudly add graduate of The University of New Mexico to his list of achievements. His commitment to his community and family fuels his drive for success and has profoundly influenced his UNM experience.

Meeting Jake Greenberg, a University College senior lecturer, was a turning point for Freeland. He credits much of his success at UNM to meeting and being mentored by Greenberg. Freeland gratefully recalls how Greenberg helped transform him from a student who merely completed homework assignments into a researcher, teaching him what it means to conduct research and share it with the community.

"I'm incredibly proud of Mark and feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such an outstanding individual," Greenberg said. "He is leaving UNM polished, confident and fully prepared for his next adventure as a graduate student."

Freeland's return to college taught him many lessons, the most crucial of which was understanding his capabilities. He had to relearn what it meant to be a student. Through grit, determination and the willingness to ask for help when needed, he has become proficient in studying and time management, qualities that the highest achievers possess.

"My experience at UNM has been very different this time," said Freeland. "It's been so rewarding and refreshing. I have met so many great people, and I cannot say enough good things about the student support and resources that exist on campus today."

He blossomed through each new interaction, from seeking help at the Center for Academic Program Support (CAPS) to creating relationships with his instructors.

One of his proudest moments was participating in the 2024 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Conference (UROC) and being a finalist for the UROC 180 competition. This meant he had 180 seconds to present his research to a panel of judges.

Freeland's research explores using Indigenous languages to teach mathematics.

"His research is compelling and timely," said Greenberg. "Becoming a finalist in the UROC competition is a testament to the quality of his scholarship and his commitment to culturally responsive education."

Freeland's experience as an elected tribal council leader greatly influenced his program's trajectory. He served as a leader from 2018 to 2022. Unbeknownst to him, he would serve and protect his community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Freeland has been profoundly changed by his time as a tribal leader; witnessing how his people lived during the pandemic spurs him on daily to learn and grow to continue serving his community.

"I often worked seven days a week, sometimes putting in 14-15 hours a day to ensure that community members had what they needed to survive," he said. "We lost over 2,000 tribal members during COVID, and that loss weighs heavily on me to this day."

He saw many people living without running water and other necessary sanitary infrastructure due to insufficient federal funding available to tribes. Freeland and other tribal volunteers would cart water, hand sanitizer, food and other essentials to community members to help ensure their safety and survival.

"The last two years have been healing for me. They have grounded me after my time as a tribal leader. The pandemic was hard on me mentally, emotionally and physically. When I graduate, I feel like I will have come full circle in my journey," he said.

Freeland is the friendliest man you will ever meet. If he sees you on campus, he will stop and say hello. He is a proud Navajo Lobo, and you can always hear him saying "Go Lobos!"

Congratulations, Mark, on earning your degree!