Professional Staff
Veronica Salcido, M.A., LMHC
She/Her/Ella
Sr. Program Manager
verosalcido@unm.edu
I am originally from Las Cruces, NM. I am a proud daughter of an immigrant, first-generation college student. My extensive professional experience spans over 22 years in programmatic design, implementation, and evaluation. I have 14 years in higher education. Additionally, I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I am trained in motivational interviewing and have 24 years of experience in convening and facilitating diverse groups. I am strengths based and believe in the collective approach to leadership. I am the Project Director for the Title V PASOS grant, it is my job to ensure the program objectives are met and to build the future leaders in Higher Education. I am passionate about equity and being student centered. My personal passions include: cooking, traveling to Mexico any chance a get, and enjoying live music.
Beatriz Villa
She/Her/Ella
Supervisor of Student Success
beatrizvilla@unm.edu
Shalaine Castillo
She/Her/Hers
Education Specialist
sbuck07@unm.edu
My name is Shalaine Castillo and I am the Education Specialist for the Learning Commons: Tutoring Services at UNM-Valencia. I grew up in rural Navajo Nation communities such as Window Rock, Arizona and my mother’s ancestral home of Hogback, New Mexico. After graduating high school, I attended UNM-Gallup and earned my Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. Afterward, I went to UNM Main and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a minor in Statistics, and I am currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Statistics. I have been working in higher education since 2013 initially as a student employee for two years, then subsequently as a full-time staff member.
Currently, I oversee math and science tutoring in addition to tutoring math and statistics. As a PASOS team member, I co-educate our Peer Mentors in leadership, professionalism, and mentorship skills. My goal is to be an advocate for students and to empower them on their academic journeys. As a former and current STEM student from a rural community, I understand and relate to the struggles our students potentially face, especially when it comes to overcoming difficult subjects like math. Yes, math can be difficult, but if a rez kid like me can learn and understand math, so can anyone!
Katie Abrego-Lozano
She/Her/Ella
Student Success Specialist, Sr.
katieabrego@unm.edu
Frances Duran
Student Resource Navigator
fduran@unm.edu
Sarah Clawson, GCDF, CCSP
Career Services Manager, Equal Access Coordinator, & Academic Advisor
sjclawson@unm.edu
Sarah has been a certified Career Development Facilitator since 2008 and she has been helping college students find the major and career for them since 2014. She is particularly good at crafting killer resumes and she enjoys offering career workshops. Sarah partners with employers in the Valencia County area to help UNM-Valencia students find good work and learning opportunities. She has been helping UNM-Valencia's Accessibility students since 2022 and she is working on her ADA Coordinator certification. She has been an Academic Advisor/Success Coach and testing proctor since 2014 and she loves helping people. She is the 2024/2025 Immediate Past President of the New Mexico Career Development Association and a 2024/2025 representative for UNM-Valencia's Staff Association. You can schedule a career or accessibility appointment with Sarah here. Check out UNM-Valencia's Career Services webpage for more information on services and local job listings.
Ivy Okunor
Data Analyst
ivyok@unm.edu
Bio coming soon
John Bollweg
Institutional Researcher
jbollweg@unm.edu
Hi, my name is John Bollweg. I am the data analyst here at UNM-Valencia, and I work with other PASOS staff to evaluate the program and report results to the Department of Education. I have been at UNM-V since October 2018. I did the same kind of work for the previous 6 years at a large 2-year college outside of Chicago, near where I was born and raised. Before working as an analyst in higher ed, I studied and taught history, specifically western civilization, the Islamic world, medieval and early modern Europe, and the history of medieval Spain. I tell people my hobby is collecting hobbies; right now I'm dabbling in guitar, early humans, and designing a D&D campaign for my adult nieces and nephews.
Laura Musselwhite
She/Her/Hers
Dean of Instruction & Professor of History
lmusselwhite@unm.edu
Dr. Laura Musselwhite is the Dean of Instruction and a Professor of History at UNM-Valencia. She has been at the campus for ten years. Because the PASOS grant falls under Academic Affairs, Dr. Musselwhite has been a part of the planning process since the start. She is passionate about all aspects of PASOS, but was particularly involved in the creation of the Pathways and the program mapping that followed. She believes fully in the work that PASOS has been doing for student success, and is committed to making that work a sustainable and permanent part of the fabric of UNM-Valencia.
Student Employees
Soren June
He/Him
Peer Lead
Soren June is a philosophy major at the University of New Mexico's main campus, where he explores a lot of thought-provoking ideas and ethical dilemmas. With a passion for critical thinking and a love for engaging discussions, Soren seeks to understand the complexities of human existence and the philosophical underpinnings of society. Beyond his academic pursuits, Soren is an active member of PASOS, a student organization aimed at fostering a supportive environment for fellow students. He believes in the power of community and strives to create an inclusive atmosphere where all students feel welcomed and valued. Soren's commitment to enhancing the student experience is evident in his efforts to make the UNM Valencia campus a vibrant and enjoyable place for socializing and learning.
Graysen Riedel
He/Him
Peer Mentor
My name is Graysen Riedel, I am currently working towards my Associates in Game Design & Sim, and I am currently a Peer Mentor at PASOS! As a Peer Mentor, I want students to feel comfortable in their space; striving for an environment where one can learn and socialize. I don’t want anyone to feel afraid to approach me, as I am willing to help you with anything I can possibly do! Feel free to say hi to me whenever I’m walking around campus!
Link Juarez
They/Them/Elle
Peer Mentor
Hello, my name is Link Juarez. I am a non-binary person who uses they/them/elle pronouns. I am a peer mentor in the PASOS Resource Center. Being a peer mentor means I am there to help students with pretty much anything they need, from homework to registration. I am currently going to school to be an early childhood education teacher. I decided to go down this path because I am very passionate about it. I love working with kids and love my current job in PASOS. My current favorites are the color pink, my cat Riley, and coffee.
Richard Padilla
Peer Mentor
As a returning student to UNM-Valencia, I initially felt that I would not be accepted. That was not the case! PASOS has welcomed me with open arms. While I initially sought their services because I struggled to learn how to use the computer, as I did not grow up with that technology, I learned that there are many differernt services that students can take advantage of. I am glad to be a part of the PASOS team, and I want students to know that we are here to help them. If we don’t have the service or resources you are looking for, we will connect you and help as much as we can.
Darryl Garcia
Peer Mentor
