Congratulations to the 2026-27 CNM Faculty Fellows
The faculty members will be researching early career education and ethical artificial intelligence
CNM has selected Jessica Candelaria from the School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety and Zoe Taylor-Hayden from the School of Education as 2026–27 Presidential Fellows.
Jessica and Zoe will spend a full academic year researching topics relevant to CNM’s strategic goals and initiatives. At the end of the fellowship, they will share their recommendations to help guide future work of the College.
Jessica Candelaria: Creating Sustainable Cradle-to-Career Pathways Through Early Career Education
Jessica’s project will introduce career education to elementary school students. This will help younger students build confidence, understand career options, and create clear educational goals earlier in their lives. She will work with CNM faculty, staff, and students as well as community partners throughout the project.
“Being selected as a Presidential Fellow is a tremendous honor. I recognize the trust and confidence that CNM's leadership has placed in me, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity,” she says. “I am incredibly excited to begin this new journey, and I look forward to building meaningful relationships with CNM leaders and mentors, gaining valuable experiences, and broadening my understanding of higher education leadership to contribute to meaningful, lasting change within CNM and the communities we serve.”
Zoe Taylor-Hayden: Building Institutional Capacity for Ethical and Human-Centered AI Engagement
Zoe will collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to develop an established community of practice focused on artificial intelligence (AI) use at CNM. The group will participate in meaningful, honest conversations about AI use in higher education and discuss evolving best practices. She will also identify ways CNM can reduce uncertainty and support responsible AI adoption among students and employees.
“It's hard to find the words to express what it means to be selected as a Presidential Fellow. This moment feels, in many ways, like the weaving together of several threads in my personal and professional life, and above all a way to give back,” Zoe says. “I'm most excited to connect and learn from as many folks as possible from the CNM community to test and refine my ideas against the real needs and hopes of everyone our institution serves: learners, instructors, staff, admin, board members, community partners, and future learners.”