UNM College of Education and Human Sciences to host inaugural 'State of the College' address

The University of New Mexico College of Education and Human Sciences (COEHS) will host its inaugural State of the College address this spring, marking a significant moment of reflection, alignment, and forward momentum for the college.

The State of the College will take place Wednesday, April 22 at 5 p.m. at the UNM Continuing Education Conference Center Auditorium and will also be available via Zoom. Community members are invited to attend and can RSVP here.

Led by Dean Kristopher M. Goodrich, the address will highlight the college's evolution over the past three years and outline a clear vision for its role in serving New Mexico in the years ahead.

"This is our first State of the College, and that's intentional," Goodrich said. "Not because we haven't had work to share before, but because we've reached a moment where we can step back and clearly see what we've been building and where it's taking us."

Over the past several years, COEHS has focused on strengthening its identity as a state-serving institution, one deeply embedded in New Mexico's educational, health, and community systems. From preparing teachers and health professionals to partnering with schools, families, and organizations statewide, the college's work continues to shape outcomes across our state's various communities.

"At the end of the day, we are here to serve New Mexico," Goodrich said. "We don't just sit in this state. We are part of how New Mexico works."

Central to that work is a sustained commitment to equity, informed in part by the landmark Yazzie-Martinez decision ruling.

"For us, equity is not an initiative. It's a responsibility," Goodrich said. "It shapes how we prepare educators and allied health professionals, how we support language and culture, and how we think about every student, family and community member in this state."

That responsibility has guided strategic investments in faculty, staff, and student support systems. The college has expanded its talent base, strengthened mentorship and professional development, and enhanced infrastructure to better support research, communications, and student success.

Those efforts are reflected in measurable outcomes, including sustained enrollment growth and increasing student retention and completion.

"When you invest in people, students feel it," Goodrich said. "Students are choosing us again, and they're staying. And more than staying, they are becoming licensed professionals in our State."

Programmatic innovation has also played a key role. COEHS has modernized curriculum, strengthened accreditation outcomes, and aligned academic offerings with workforce and community needs, ensuring graduates are prepared for the realities of their professions.

Beyond campus, the college continues to expand its reach through partnerships and community engagement. Recent efforts include teacher and principal residency programs, placing students directly into the communities they will serve, as well as leadership in statewide initiatives. In Human Sciences, faculty are also advancing work that directly supports New Mexico families and communities, including maternal health initiatives and contributions to the UNM Basic Needs Project, which addresses food, housing and resource insecurity among students.

The college's programs have also evolved over time to meet changing societal needs. What began decades ago as Home Economics has grown into a dynamic portfolio of disciplines, including Family and Child Studies and Nutrition/Dietetics, reflecting the college's long-standing commitment to supporting the health of New Mexico's individuals, families, and communities.

"Our reach isn't defined by our campus. It's defined by our partnerships," Goodrich said.

COEHS has also seen growth in research activity and national recognition, with faculty leading work, and receiving awards, in literacy, health, and education systems that directly impact New Mexico communities.

"The goal isn't recognition," Goodrich said. "The goal is work that matters, and when it does, recognition follows."

Behind the scenes, the college has undergone significant internal alignment, strengthening systems and infrastructure to support its mission more effectively.

"Some of the most important changes are the ones you don't see, but feel," Goodrich said. "We've moved from reacting to working with intention."

Looking ahead, the State of the College will also serve as a soft introduction to COEHS' upcoming centennial in 2028, framing it not as a moment of celebration alone, but as an opportunity to define the college's next chapter.

"As we approach our 100th year, this isn't about looking back," Goodrich said. "It's about building what comes next, and earning the next 100 years of impact for New Mexico."

The inaugural address invites faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners to engage in that vision and help shape the future of the college together.

"This is just the beginning of that conversation," Goodrich said.