Northern New Mexico College department chairs and administrators gather for the Zoom signing event with Mesalands Community College. From left: Dr. Ashis Nandy, chair of the Department of Engineering and Technology, Dr. Lori Baca, chair of the Department of Business Administration, President Hector Balderas, Dr. Ivan Lopez, Provost/VP of Academic Affairs and Chief Financial and Compliance Officer Theresa Story. Courtesy/NNMC

Mesalands Community College Chief Communications Officer Joshua David McVey, Interim President Dr. Allen Moss and Joel Kiser, Vice President of Academic Affairs. Courtesy/NNMC

NNMC News:

ESPAÑOLA — President Hector Balderas has announced that Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) has entered into four articulation agreements with Mesalands Community College (MCC) that will provide pathways for Mesalands students to transfer to Northern in their junior year.

MCC students who earn associate degrees in selected fields will be able to complete their bachelor’s degrees at NNMC. The partnership between these two Hispanic-serving institutions is an exciting opportunity for students to succeed in academic excellence and top-notch technical training.

“We are very grateful to Dr. Moss and Mesalands for entering into this important partnership to support student success in rural communities,” Balderas said. “Partnerships like these highlight the importance of small colleges working together to develop rural entrepreneurship, to serve rural business students and have those graduates stay and develop the economies in their communities.”

MCC students who earn an Associate in Applied Science in Pre-Engineering or an Associate in Applied Science in Wind Energy Technology can transfer into Northern’s Bachelor in Electromechanical Engineering Technology program. Those with an Associate in Business Administration can pursue a Bachelor in Business Administration for either Management or Project Management.

Dr. Allen Moss, interim president of Mesalands Community College, commented, “We are excited to provide our students with opportunities to further their academic disciplines and expand their career opportunities. Strengthening our academic relationship with Northern New Mexico College and others across the state cultivates resources that provide new economic opportunities. As a rural-serving institution, Mesalands Community College endeavors to provide unique training and opportunities benefitting our local communities in the state of New Mexico.”

Mesalands Community College is a two-year rural community college providing academic and technical training. It is a singular institution with a wind turbine on campus. Their distinctive programs include silversmithing, farrier science, metal casting in Fine Arts and rural medicine through their nursing program.