CHESS names Dr. Shaun McAlmont as the next Chief Executive Officer

Founding CEO, Kathy Ulibarri, to retire after leading innovative transformation in higher education collaboration

The Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Shaun McAlmont as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. McAlmont will succeed founding CEO Kathy Ulibarri, who will retire after guiding CHESS from its formation in 2021 to its emergence as a national model for shared services in higher education.

Dr. McAlmont brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in education and workforce development, including serving as CEO of NINJIO, President of Career Learning at Stride, Inc., and CEO of Lincoln Educational Services. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Higher Education Management Doctoral Program, and a recognized innovator in adult learning, career readiness, and education technology. Dr. McAlmont has consistently led organizations through transformative growth and strategic realignment throughout his career.

“It’s an honor to join CHESS at such a pivotal moment,” McAlmont said. “I’m deeply grateful to the Board for their trust, and to Kathy Ulibarri for her visionary leadership in launching this bold initiative. CHESS is redefining how higher education institutions can work together to serve students, and I look forward to building on that foundation in New Mexico and exploring how this model can influence the future of education nationally.”

CHESS Board Chair and President of Santa Fe Community College, Dr. Becky Rowley, praised Ulibarri’s tenure and welcomed McAlmont to the role. “Kathy Ulibarri led CHESS from concept to implementation with deep commitment, foresight, and skill. She established a culture of trust, equity, and innovation that sets the stage for our next chapter,” said Rowley. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. McAlmont, whose experience and passion for student success will strengthen and expand CHESS’s impact across New Mexico and beyond.”

Ulibarri served as CEO of CHESS from its inception in 2021 and is scheduled to retire at the end of June 2025. “It has been the honor of my career to help bring CHESS to life,” said Ulibarri. “From day one, our mission was to prove that higher education institutions could work together in bold new ways to improve the student experience. I’m proud of the culture we’ve built, the systems we’ve launched, and most of all, the collaborative spirit that drives our member colleges. I’m confident that Dr. McAlmont’s will take CHESS to the next level.”

Dr. McAlmont’s appointment marks a new chapter for CHESS as it moves from startup mode into long-term strategic growth, expanding its services, institutional membership, and national influence.

About CHESS
The Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services (CHESS) is a nonprofit organization that empowers its member colleges to improve student success by collaboratively implementing and managing shared systems and services. CHESS currently includes Clovis Community College, Central New Mexico Community College, Luna Community College, Northern New Mexico College, San Juan College, and Santa Fe Community College With a fully remote workforce and a shared Workday platform serving multiple institutions, CHESS represents a groundbreaking approach to institutional cooperation in higher education.

For more information, visit www.chess.edu.

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SFCC closed Thursday, June 19, in honor of Juneteenth

Santa Fe Higher Education Center at 1950 Siringo Road will remain open on June 19

SFCC will be closed Thursday, June 19, in honor of Juneteenth. No classes or activities will be held, and no other student services will be available. The college’s early childhood development center, Kids Campus, and the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center also will be closed.  Santa Fe Higher Education Center, 1950 Siringo Road, will remain open on June 19.

SFCC will reopen and services will resume on Friday, June 20.

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.

Throughout the year, SFCC offers many 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.

Read about a Santa Fe Juneteenth event on Saturday, June 21 from 4 to 9 p.m. on the Santa Fe Plaza.

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Kids Campus celebrated with a festive graduation

While all of the college’s commencement ceremonies are filled with excitement, applause and cheers of joy, SFCC’s Kids Campus Pre-K graduation is probably the most festive with lots of heart-touching moments as the little grads get ready to leave campus to further their education. Thank you to Kids Campus Director Deyanira Contreras for sharing photos of the celebration. SFCC extends its graditude to the hard-working faculty and staff who have educated and nurtured these kids — many who started their journey as infants. In addition to providing excellent early childhood education, Kids Campus also serves as a learning lab for students studying Early Childhood Education.

Click the photos and program images to enlarge.

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Trades Open House from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 26, in Campus Center

SFCC will host a Trades Open House from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 26, in the Campus Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about new certificate programs in HVAC/Plumbing, Electrical Technician, and Building and Home Remodel, which can pave the way for careers in the trades industry. The programs will launch in the fall semester, which begins on August 18.

The public is invited to the free event to learn about career opportunities in the trades industry. The SFCC School of Trades and Advanced Technologies and Sustainability actively works with students to connect them with employers who are ready to hire.

At the SFCC Trades Open House attendees can meet SFCC faculty members, academic advisors, support services staff and financial aid staff members. Staff will be on hand to register prospective students for the fall semester.

SFCC’s new certificate programs include:

• HVAC & Plumbing Certificate: This program equips students with the technical knowledge and hands-on experience needed to work in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and plumbing systems.
• Electrical Technician Certificate: Students in this program gain expertise in electrical systems, preparing them for careers in installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of residential and commercial electrical systems.
• Building and Home Remodel Certificate: This certificate program provides students with the skills necessary for work in construction, renovation, and remodeling, preparing them for a variety of roles in home building and improvement projects.

For more information about the Trades Open House or the new certificate programs, contact Academic Director Geneva “Cookie” Look at geneva.look@sfcc.edu or 505-428-1235.

While reservations are not required, those planning to attend are encouraged to complete this form.

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SFCC hosts an opening reception for ‘Santa Fe Art Educators Exhibition’ from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 26, in Visual Arts Gallery

SFCC will host an opening reception for the “Santa Fe Art Educators Exhibition” from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, 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 the 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.

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Dental Department graduates honored with pinning ceremony

The SFCC Dental Department honored graduates with a pinning ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 1 p.m. by the Bio-wall in the Health & Sciences Center of SFCC.

The DA certificate graduates include: Ashely Luevano, Alexia Archuleta Valdez, Karina Castro, Virginia Gonzales, Jeneen Roybal and Samantha Bencomo.

The AAS in Dental Health graduates include: Jeneen Roybal and Virginia Gonzales

The CDHC Certificate and Adv. DA Skills Certificate graduate: Karla Martinez-Talavera

The EFDA certificate graduates include: Maricella Acosta, Shoa Mansoor, Janessa Montoya, Stephanie Nieuwenhuis, Juanita Pinon-Williams, Mariam Rodriguez Zarate, Arianna Sanchez, Elizabeth Soto, Estella Sweeten

This event was possible due to the generous contribution by SFCC’s SMILES Club, Dr. Aamna Nayyar, Ms. Karla Martinez Talavera, Ms. Patricia Delgado and Henry Schein Dental. Thanks you!

To learn more about the Dental programs, please visit https://www.sfcc.edu/programs/dental-2/ or contact the Dental  Director Aamna Nayyar by email at aamna.nayyar@sfcc.edu or by phone at 505-428-1258.

See all the photos shared by Dr. Amna Nayyar on Facebook at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=100063606905673&set=a.1301536285309923

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Bilingual Early Childhood graduates honored at celebration

The Bilingual Early Childhood Education program hosted an end-of-semester celebration on Thursday, May 15, recognizing 58 students who completed Certificates in Early Childhood Development, Associate of Arts degrees in Early Childhood Education, and two honorees from the Alternative Licensure Program.

The heartfelt event included remarks from ECED faculty members Deyanira Contreras and Jonathan Contreras, who offered inspiring words of encouragement to the students and their families.

Students recognized at the event completed significant milestones in their academic journeys, and many are moving forward into careers in early childhood education across the region.

Special thanks to SFCC Student Activities and the SFCC Foundation for their generous financial support, which helped make this celebration possible. We also deeply appreciate the contributions of Kayla Garcia, Anthony Rivera, Dawn Wink, Kristy Pruitt, Laurie Saylor, Charlie Shultz, Mary Eleas, Marcos Maez, Niki McKay Kelly Marquez, Maria Montoya and Joanna Johnston, as well as faculty Deyanira Contreras, Jonathan Contreras, Sandra Friedrichs, and Olga Jaramillo, and the custodial staff who helped make this celebration a success.

Special gratitude to President Becky Rowley, Vice President Margaret Peters, Krystel Sanchez, Emily McCarthy, and Jonathan Harrell for joining us for this celebration.

A special shoutout to honoree Teacher Education member Mateo Chavez (Kayla Garcia’s son), who brought joy to the event by making us laugh and smile throughout the day.

To learn more about the Early Childhood Education program, visit https://www.sfcc.edu/programs/early-childhood-education/. Click photos to enlarge.

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Youth Triathlon on June 21 and Adult Triathlon on June 22; note related FEC closures

SFCC is co-hosting and sponsoring a youth triathlon on Saturday, June 21 and an adult triathlon on Sunday, June 22. There will be partial closure of the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center (FEC) on Saturday, June 21 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The FEC will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 22. The FEC will be closed to the public on Sunday, June 22.

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Check out Facebook images and Youtube video of Commencement

It has been a hectic few weeks, so you might have missed the spectacular Facebook photo album from Commencement. There were some glitches in the live YouTube broadcast. See the updated full video without interruptions. Also, wondering who graduated? Read and download the 2025 Commencement program.

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TATC closed May 12-Aug 15 for HVAC renovation

The Trades and Advanced Technologies Building will be closed for the summer in order to remodel the HVAC system. When complete, this project will provide much needed fresh air to the building.

There will be no access for students, faculty, staff, or the public. For more information contact Helen Doherty, Facilities & Operations, Manager of Special Projects at helen.doherty@sfcc.edu or 505-428-1064.

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Register soon for the best selection of Fall classes

CHESS Connection Newsletter – June 5, 2025

The first June 2025 issue of the CHESS Connection newsletter spotlights key advancements in the Workday Student implementation. Member colleges previewed their admissions applications during the Early Lifecycle Walkthrough, showcasing the platform’s potential to improve the prospective student experience. CHESS is also partnering with Luna Community College to launch Financial Aid Shared Services.

This issue also marks a leadership transition: CHESS welcomes Dr. Shaun McAlmont as its new CEO, while celebrating the upcoming retirement of founding CEO Kathy Ulibarri. In other updates, Workday Community introduced a new AI-powered search feature, several staff members were honored as CHESS Superstars, and the newsletter offers helpful tools, job listings, and a reminder to share feedback—because CHESSTER the Squirrel is “all ears.”

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.

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.