SFCC celebrated Pride Month

SFCC celebrated Pride Month with a Pride Celebration in the Campus Center on Wednesday, June 26, and with SFCC representation in the Santa Fe Pride Parade downtown as part of Pride Santa Fe 2025 – Resilience: Stronger Than Ever.

The on-campus Pride Celebration was sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement and Recruitment.

Thank you to all who helped with the on-campus event and participated in the Santa Fe Pride Parade.

Thanks to Ben Lauer for sharing photos from the parade and the on-campus event on June 26. Campus Weekly hopes to have other photos from the parade to share next week. Click to enlarge.

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News and Announcements

• ‘Santa Fe Art Educators Exhibition’ continues through July 23
• Trades Open House introduced community to new certificate programs
• Santa Fe Creative Coding Initiative shares video postcard produced by teens
• Banner self-service unavailable
  9 p.m.-Midnight June 30
• SFCC will close from 5:30 p.m. July 11 for Core Switch & Firewall Replacement project and will reopen on Monday, July 14
• Check out the latest Inside SFCC

• SFCC Library presents “Herding Poems: A Reading by Miriam Sagan” online at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 31
• East Wing Eatery Summer Hours
• September election forums to engage voters via radio, newspaper and campus
• SFCC and SF Higher Education Center to close for Independence Day on Friday, July 4
• New Student Orientations
• Register soon for the best selection of Fall classes

• News
• Students
• Employees
• Feature
• Ongoing
• SFCC in the news

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‘Santa Fe Art Educators Exhibition’ continues through July 23

SFCC hosted an opening reception for the “Santa Fe Art Educators Exhibition” on June 26, in the Visual Arts Gallery in the Fine Arts Center. The exhibition continues through Wednesday, July 23.

Shane Tolbert, academic director of the School of Art and Design, and Linda Cassel, director of Art on Campus, coordinated the exhibition, which highlights the work of art educators in Santa Fe.

“Santa Fe is an art town—steeped in history, sustained by place, and shaped daily by the hands of working artists. At the foundation of that creative ecosystem are the educators—those who guide, challenge, and model what it means to live a life rooted in art,” Tolbert said. “The ‘Santa Fe Art Educators Exhibition’ at the Visual Arts Gallery at Santa Fe Community College brings together the work of these often-unsung contributors to the city’s cultural fabric.

“This exhibition honors not only their individual studio practices—distinct in medium, voice, and form—but also the shared commitment to nurturing creativity across generations. In a city known for its galleries, museums and makers, it’s these educators who shape the next generation of our creative industries,” Tolbert added.

The SFCC Visual Arts Gallery is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except when the college is closed. Please note: The SFCC Campus will be closed to the public on Friday, July 4, for the Fourth of July holiday. For more information about the SFCC Visual Arts Gallery, contact Director of Art on Campus Linda Cassel via email at linda.cassel@sfcc.edu or call 505-428-1501.

Learn more about the artists and how Academic Director for the School of Art and Design Shane Tolbert and Linda Cassel coordinated the exhibition in the story, “A new exhibition reveals experience is the best teacher,” written by Brian Sandford in the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Pasatiempo on June 20.

Thank you to Dean (School of Liberal Arts and School of Art and Design) James “Jim” Wysong, Ed.D.. for sharing photos from the opening. Click to enlarge.

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Trades Open House introduced community to new Trades certificate programs

Thank you to all who helped make the SFCC Trades Open House a success on June 26. A special shout out to Academic Director Geneva “Cookie” Look for leading the initiative. Advisors, financial aid staff and other support staff assisted with the event. The primary reason for the Trades Open House was to introduce the public to the new certificate programs in HVAC/Plumbing, Electrical Technician and Building and Home Remodel. For more information about the certificate programs, contact Academic Director Geneva “Cookie” Look at geneva.look@sfcc.edu or 505-428-1235.

Thank you to Ben Lauer for sharing these photos. Click to enlarge.

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Santa Fe Creative Coding Initiative shares video postcard produced by teens

The Santa Fe Creative Coding Initiative has helped young people in Santa Fe create a variety of projects. Check out the following videos:

Santa Fe Sister Cities Youth Story

Description: a video post card from Santa Fe youth meant to be shared with the Sister Cities of Santa Fe, created by high school interns working with the Santa Fe Creative Coding Initiative during the summer of 2024.  Developed in partnership with the City of Santa Fe Tourism Department, Sister Cities Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Public Schools Work Based Learning.

Check out the same video with Spanish subtitles:

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Banner self-service unavailable
9 p.m.-Midnight June 30

Due to Fiscal Year-End processing, Banner Administrative pages and Self-Service Banner will be unavailable from 9 p.m. Monday, June 30, 2025 until 12 a.m. Tuesday July 1, 2025. This includes Student Self-Service functionality such as Course Registration and Bill Payment.

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SFCC will close from 5:30 p.m. July 11 for Core Switch & Firewall Replacement project and will reopen on Monday, July 14

Santa Fe Higher Education Center, 1950 Siringo Road, will remain open

SFCC announces a main campus closure, 6401 Richard Ave., beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 11. The campus will be closed that weekend, and will reopen for regular hours on Monday, July 14. The Santa Fe Higher Education Center, 1950 Siringo Road, will remain open during the weekend for scheduled classes and events.

The closure is required for a Core Switch & Firewall Replacement project to modernize and strengthen the college’s digital infrastructure. The initiative will upgrade SFCC’s central network systems and install a next-generation firewall to improve internet speed, campuswide connectivity and cybersecurity. This investment ensures a faster, safer and more reliable technology environment to support students, faculty and staff.

Please be aware that some Office of Information Technology (OIT) systems will not be available from 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 11 through 10 p.m. Sunday, July 14.

This maintenance will cause outages for:

• Campus network, including Wi-Fi and internet.
• Phones
• VPN
• Banner (i.e., course registration and grades)
• SFCC Connect

The following will remain operational:

• Public website
• Workday
• Canvas
• MS365 applications
• Zoom
• mySFCC (student portal)

Faculty and staff are advised to coordinate with their supervisors or deans if they have any concerns. Students should reach out to their instructors with any issues or questions they might have.

SFCC appreciates everyone’s understanding and cooperation during this necessary upgrade.

Throughout the year, SFCC offers a variety of ways to stay notified about weather- and holiday-related delays, cancellations, closures and emergencies. While the college does notify the public of severe weather and emergency conditions through print, television and radio news outlets, additional information can be accessed quickly through the following:

• Visit www.sfcc.edu, and see a notification on the home page
• Visit the college’s Weather and Closure web page
• Check the SFCC Facebook page
• Check your SFCC email account
• Call the college’s main number at 505-428-1000, the message will be updated in case of closure
• Watch local TV news
• To receive SFCC text message and/or email alerts, subscribe to SFCC Alert at  https://www.sfcc.edu/sfcc-alert/

Campus Safety & Security can be reached at all times, including during campus closures, at 505-428-1224.

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Check out the latest Inside SFCC

See the latest issue of Inside SFCC, Vol. 5. Read the story, “EMSI students gain experience with the latest technology.”

Related to the story about SFCC’s EMSI program, check out a great video below produced by Doreen Gallegos.

The issue also includes, “Student artists shine on and off campus,” as well as highlighting upcoming events.

Get the full Inside SFCC enewsletter delivered to you inbox by subscribing here. Don’t miss out! Also, encourage your friends to subscribe.

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SFCC Library presents “Herding Poems: A Reading by Miriam Sagan” online at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 31

Register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/July2025MS for free online reading and discussion on how to put a poetry manuscript together

About Sagan’s book, “What Solitude Sees in Me: Uncollected Poems 1976-2023”

When Sagan was approaching 70, she started to sort her files of “uncollected” poems. These poems had been published in magazines, but not in books. Did they merit being collected? The answer was that most did not, but there was a book-length manuscript that could be assembled. These poems begin in the mid-1970s and run to the present. They are quirkier, perhaps more eccentric than her more publicly accessible writing.

Santa Fe Community College Library will present “Herding Poems: A Reading by Miriam Sagan” from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) on Thursday, July 31. The free online poetry event begins with a half-hour reading by Sagan who will read from her latest book, “What Solitude Sees in Me: Uncollected Poems 1976-2023,” published by Casa Urraca Press in Abiquiú. The second half will be an open discussion on how to put a poetry manuscript together. Register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/July2025MS to be sent an online link on the morning of the event.

Poet Carol Moldaw calls the book “Lyric, imagist, and visionary” and writer John Macker says, “A generous and illuminating tour of words.”

Format for “Herding Poems: A Reading by Miriam Sagan”

Participants are invited to come share in the experience of excavating poetry, memory, landscape, and a life in New Mexico. The event begins with a half-hour reading by Sagan from “What Solitude Sees in Me: Uncollected Poems 1976-2023” from Casa Urraca Press in Abiquiú.

After her reading, Sagan will lead an open discussion on how to put a poetry manuscript together. This editorial process can be daunting for both beginners and established poets, but there are numerous handy strategies that create a readable and enjoyable book of poetry.

Author’s Bio

Miriam Sagan is the author of more than thirty books of poetry, fiction and memoir. She is a two-time winner of the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards as well as a recipient of the City of Santa Fe Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and a New Mexico Literary Arts Gratitude Award. She founded and directed the creative writing program at Santa Fe Community College until her retirement in 2016.

For More Information

For more information about this reading, please contact SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye via email at valerie.nye@sfcc.edu or by calling 505-428-1506.

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East Wing Eatery Summer Hours

East Wing Eatery Summer Hours
Beginning Tuesday, June 17

Tuesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The East Wing Eatery is serving up your favorite specialty coffee drinks, pastries, breakfast burritos, soups and salads. Please come and support the Culinary Arts Program students as they learn in this cafe classroom.

September election forums to engage voters via radio, newspaper and campus

Collaborative effort led by The Santa Fe New Mexican, KSFR Santa Fe Public Radio, KSWV Que Suave Radio, and Santa Fe Community College

Two public forums aimed at helping Santa Fe voters engage with the candidates in the 2025 Regular Local Election will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 3 and Tuesday, Sept. 17 at SFCC. The events will be held in the Jemez Rooms on the college’s main campus and are free and open to the public.

• Sept. 3: City Council Candidate Forum
• Sept. 17: Mayoral Candidate Forum

Both events begin at 5:30 p.m. and livestream will be available.

This collaborative effort is led by The Santa Fe New Mexican, KSFR Santa Fe Public Radio, KSWV Que Suave Radio, and Santa Fe Community College. In addition to the public events, the group will publish candidate surveys, share issue-based content, and co-produce multimedia programming to help inform and empower Santa Fe voters. A key component of this partnership is also to help educate the public about Ranked Choice Voting, which will be used in the mayoral race in the 2025 Regular Local Election.

These nonpartisan forums are designed to give Santa Fe residents a deeper understanding of the candidates and issues ahead of the 2025 Regular Local Election, which will take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Additional details on format, moderators, and how the public can submit questions will be released soon.

Listeners can tune in to KSFR at 101.1 FM in the Santa Fe region and KSQR at 91.3 FM in the Questa/Taos area. KSFR also streams live at ksfr.org. Coverage will also be available through KSWV Que Suave Radio at 99.9 FM, 810 AM, and online at kswvradio.com.

In-depth election content — including interviews, opinion pieces, video, and ongoing multimedia reporting — can be found at the election collaboration landing page hosted by The Santa Fe New Mexican: santafenewmexican.com.

“The Santa Fe New Mexican is thrilled to collaborate with KSFR and KSWV on this important public-service project. Santa Fe Community College is an ideal, trusted host for the forums planned in September,” said Bill Church, executive editor of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

“Helping the public stay informed is a vital part of our community college mission,” said Becky Rowley, Ph.D., President of Santa Fe Community College. “It’s great to see KSFR and the college engaged in civic conversations alongside Santa Fe’s trusted news outlets.”

“This great collaboration will ensure that our community members gain valuable insights into the election process and the individuals who may lead our city in the future,” said Estevan Gonzales, owner of KSWV Que Suave Radio. “Trusted local coverage is journalism at its best.”

“KSFR is happy to partner with local media outlets KSWV and The Santa Fe New Mexican to spotlight the upcoming city leadership changes that will affect the public we all serve,” said Tazbah McCullah, General Manager of KSFR Santa Fe Public Radio.

SFCC and SF Higher Education Center to close for Independence Day on Friday, July 4

Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) and  Santa Fe Higher Education Center, will be closed Thursday, July 4 for Independence Day.  The college’s early childhood development center, Kids Campus, and the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center also will be closed.

Regularly scheduled classes resume on Saturday, July 5. The fitness center will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 5. All services will resume on Monday, July 7.

Fall credit classes begin on August 18. For information on registration visit sfcc.edu/get-started/apply-and-register/ or call 505-428-1270. Learn more about registration for non-credit Continuing Education classes by visiting https://www.sfcc.edu/ce or send an email to ce@sfcc.edu or call 505-428-1676.

New Student Orientations: July 11, Aug. 18 & 15

New Student Orientation (NSO) for fall have begun. Encourage new and prospective students to register for this fun, lively introduction to the college. Do you know someone who is planning on attending this fall? Encourage them to pre-register. If you are on campus and see the new students touring the campus, please welcome them.

New or prospective students should pre-register at https://bit.ly/sfcc-nso-fall25.

The upcoming NSO sessions are scheduled for:

July

• Friday, July 11, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

August

• Friday, August 8, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Friday, August 15, 1-6 p.m.

“New Student Orientation is a great way for students to get comfortable on campus before classes start,” said Michelle Aragon, Welcome and Support Coordinator. “They get to meet other students, find out about helpful resources, and start building their community here at SFCC. We want everyone to feel confident and supported as they begin this new chapter.”

New Student Orientation (NSO) is designed for all first-time, degree-seeking students, whether attending full or part time. SFCC also welcomes prospective students who want to learn more about SFCC.

Each New Student Orientation session includes a welcome from college leadership, an overview of student services, guidance on using the mySFCC portal, and tips for accessing campus resources.

New or prospective SFCC students can reach out to Welcome and Support Coordinator Michelle Aragon at 505-428-1050 or michelle.aragon1@sfcc.edu for more information about New Student Orientation and getting started at SFCC.

Fall credit classes begin on August 18. For information on registration visit sfcc.edu/get-started/apply-and-register/ or call 505-428-1270.

Register soon for the best selection of Fall classes

CHESS Connection Newsletter – June 18, 2025

The latest edition of the CHESS Connection celebrates the retirement of CHESS founder and CEO Kathy Ulibarri, honoring her 40-year career in higher education and her visionary leadership in creating a collaborative shared services model that continues to benefit New Mexico colleges.

This issue also highlights the continued progress of the Workday Student implementation, which has now moved into Workset C—a key phase focusing on integration, testing, and user feedback to ensure a seamless experience for students and staff. In addition, Workday Learning, a new professional development platform, is launching across several CHESS colleges, offering employees easier access to training. The newsletter also recognizes a new group of CHESS Superstars—including SFCC’s own Emily Perez—for their exceptional collaboration and contributions to project success.

Read the full issue here.

Wri-Gen Spring Series participants’ reading video available

SFCC Library and SFCC Creative Writing Department wrapped up the Wri-Gen Spring series on May 7 with an invitation to the online participants to share writing drafts that were inspired by their participation in the series. To read more about the Spring Wri-Gen series, please see this press release. The final reading by participants is in the above Youtube link. All previous sessions are also available for viewing at SFCCNM Youtube.

A big thank-you goes out to SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye and associate professor Austin (Stanley) Eichelberger who schedule and coordinate the series of readings and creative writing sessions. This semester’s featured authors were Adele Oliveira and Alfredo Celedón Luján.

SFCC Library will announce the Fall series soon. But if you’d like to get on the email list to be notified, send an email to SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye via email at valerie.nye@sfcc.edu. Otherwise, watch Campus Weekly for updates. For more information about SFCC’s Creative Writing program visit sfcc.edu/programs/creative-writing/.

Alfredo Celedón Luján’s videos of reading and creative sessions available

SFCC’s Library and Creative Writing Department’s Spring Wri-Gen series featured its second author Alfredo Celedón Luján with a reading on April 23 and creative session on April 30.

The free online Spring 2025 Writing Generation (Wri-Gen) Series began March 19. Each author read at an introductory session. In a follow-up Zoom meeting the author engaged with the participants in a writing exercise/creative session. Read more in this press release. Also, read the bio of poet and author Alfredo Celedón Luján below.

Alfredo Celedón Luján

Bio: Alfredo Celedón Luján is a career teacher. He has an MA/English and MLitt/Creative Nonfiction from the Bread Loaf School of English. He advocates for equity in the classroom. Alfredo is former President of the National Council of Teachers of English.

He is a proud member of the Chicanx/Latinx communities. He identifies as a Chicano writer. His writing amplifies familiarity and place. He has published stories, essays, and poems in various journals and books. He believes in the written and/or digital preservation of family cuentos/stories by capturing place, textures, sounds, and colloquial language. He is Norteño. He lives in Eldorado. He is from Nambé.

Session Description: In the creative session, Alfredo will give prompts that offer insights to self-identity, heritage, place, and the preservation of family vignettes through freewriting and childhood maps.

For additional information about the series, please contact SFCC Library Director Valerie Nye via email at valerie.nye@sfcc.edu or by calling 505-428-1506. For more information about SFCC’s Creative Writing program visit sfcc.edu/programs/creative-writing/.

Summer CE registration now open

Continuing Education’s Summer 2025 Course Catalog is now available online and in print. Visit SFCC’s Continuing Education and Contract Training web page to see the the class schedule. Printed copies are available at the college, area libraries and the Santa Fe Higher Education Center. The catalog features 51 new classes, covering everything from professional skill development to personal enrichment.

Director of Continuing Education Benjamin Lincoln said, “We’re thrilled to unveil the Summer 2025 Continuing Education Course Catalog filled with carefully curated classes to suit the community’s needs and interests. We invite lifelong learners to immerse themselves in creativity, culture and hands-on experiences. The summer offers a great opportunity to learn new skills and find joy in community connection.”

“We continue to expand our class offerings beyond the SFCC campus through our collaborations with our great community partners,” Lincoln added. “None of this would be possible without the invaluable support of SFCC’s partners, whose collaboration continues to expand our campus and enrich our offerings.”

SFCC’s community partners that host classes in engaging off-campus environments include:

• Las Cosas Kitchen Shoppe & Cooking School, fostering culinary creativity through hands-on workshops
• CHOMP, Santa Fe’s dynamic gathering space for food, art, and community
• Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado, whose commitment to local culture enhances the learning experience
• Nuevo Mexicana Heritage Arts Museum, dedicated to preserving and sharing the region’s artistic traditions
• New Mexico State University, bringing innovation and education together in meaningful ways.

Learn a new language

The SFCC CE Summer catalog cover features one of the CE Department’s popular Spanish language instructors, Consuelo Byrd. She and Silena Maffey-Meteer have shaped a robust Spanish language program that continues to be popular with those just learning the language and others wanting to further their skills. Other language class offerings this summer include instruction in French, Arabic and Japanese. This summer CE will offer the classes Beginning Japanese: (1 & 2) A Cultural Linguistic Journey taught by Niniam Williams.

Explore your creative spirit

This summer CE invites people to explore their creative side with many fine arts and crafts classes. New this summer is Chainmail Jewelry. In the class, participants will learn how to make chainmail jewelry and explore different patterns from the simple to the more complex. Participants will create one small piece such as a necklace or a bracelet. Instructor Nyal Tack, a dynamic young jeweler who is one of the founders of the SFCC Jewelry Collective, will lead the class. Another exciting addition is a class in clay exploration: Wheel Throwing and Raku taught by Kellogg Johnson is designed for those with prior experience working with clay and using a pottery wheel. Students will create pieces that undergo both a bisque firing and Raku firing – an ancient Japanese technique known for its dramatic and unpredictable results.

Get cooking

Chef Johnny Vee (Vollersten) is back with a selection of tasty cooking classes this summer. The popular chef and Pasatiempo writer will teach the Magic of Mole in the beautiful Las Cosas Kitchen Shoppe in DeVargas Center. Students will be immersed in the cooking traditions of the Mexican town of Oaxaca and will explore its most famous dish – mole. The class will also create a complete menu of Mexican dishes including Sopa de Tortilla, Great Guacamole, Salsa Verde (two ways), Mole Negro, Mole Colaradito and green rice. All this will be topped off with the dessert, Tres Leches Cake. He’ll also teach additional classes: Chinese Take-out from Your Home, Culinary Tour of France Continued, a High-Altitude Baking Workshop and Top-Secrets for Grilling Meats.

Whether exploring the intricate art of metal weaving, shaping clay at the potter’s wheel, or learning a new language, SFCC’s CE courses provide a path to personal growth and creative exploration.

For more information and to register for classes, visit the CE office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in Room 131 at the SFCC campus, 6401 Richards Avenue, or call 505-428-1676.

About Santa Fe Community College Continuing Education Department

Santa Fe Community College’s Continuing Education Department offers a diverse range of non-credit courses designed to enrich the lives of learners of all ages. From arts and culture to language, wellness, and professional development, SFCC provides high-quality, accessible educational experiences that foster creativity, skill-building, and community engagement.

Videos available for Adele Oliveira’s Wri-Gen reading & creative online sessions

SFCC’s Library and Creative Writing Department’s Spring Wri-Gen series started with a captivating reading by author Adele Oliviera on March 19 followed by a creative session on April 2.

Watch the video of Adele Oliveira’s reading:

See Adele Oliveira’s creative session here:

Watch Video of ‘Artificial Intelligence: Prospects and Perils’

The video of the February 12 session ‘Artifificial Intelligence: Prospects and Perils’ is now available. It was an excellent, informative session. So if you missed it, check it out!

In their talk “Artificial Intelligence: Prospects and Perils,” Dr. Melanie Mitchell and Dr. Melanie E. Moses with the Santa Fe Institute discussed the current state of AI systems and how it compares with human intelligence. They also discuss some of the ethical dimensions of AI, and how it is being deployed in society and in our daily lives. This session was sponsored by SFCC’s Generative AI committee.

Learn more about the Santa Fe Institute and Dr. Melanie Moses’ and Dr. Melanie Mitchell’s project here.  

Melanie Mitchell is Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. Her current research focuses on conceptual abstraction and analogy-making in artificial intelligence systems. Melanie is the author or editor of six books and numerous scholarly papers in the fields of artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and complex systems. Her 2009 book Complexity: A Guided Tour (Oxford University Press) won the 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Science Book Award, and her 2019 book Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux) was shortlisted for the 2023 Cosmos Prize for Scientific Writing.

Melanie E. Moses is a Professor of Computer Science and Biology at the University of New Mexico and an External Faculty Member at the Santa Fe Institute. She earned a B.S. from Stanford University in Symbolic Systems and a Ph.D. in Biology from UNM. Her interdisciplinary research crosses the boundaries of Computer Science and Biology by modeling search processes in complex adaptive systems such as ant colonies and immune systems. She uses bio-inspired design of swarms of robots to autonomously cooperate with each other and adapt to monitor environmental conditions, currently focused on monitoring the gas emissions from volcanoes. She has mentored dozens of graduate and undergraduate students and led projects including NM CSforAll, the NASA Swarmathon, and the Google ExploreCSR Swarmathon:TNG to engage thousands of women and members of underrepresented groups in computer science from high school through graduate school. She co-founded the UNM-SFI Working Group on Algorithmic Justice and is on the leadership team of the UNM ADVANCE program to support the success of women faculty in STEM. She currently serves on the board of the Computing Research Association’s Widening Participation program. She is a Special Advisor to the UNM Vice President for Research for Artificial Intelligence and the Chair of the New Mexico AI Consortium.