Felecia Caton-Garcia Named as CNM’s New Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Felecia Caton-Garcia has been a full-time faculty member in English, American Studies, and Chicana/o Studies here at CNM for the past 12 years. During that time she’s taught over 3,000 students and worked to not only further their education but also help them overcome many barriers to success. 

For the past two years Felecia has also been in a leadership role, first as a Presidential Fellow for Equity and most recently as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategist. In both those positions she helped CNM map out a path toward a more diverse, inclusive, and empowered college community.

This week, CNM is excited to announce that Felecia has now been named as CNM’s Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She’s excited to step into this college-wide position and use her classroom and leadership skills to help establish programs that ensure everyone has the resources needed to thrive.

“I could not be more sincere when I say that what I have learned from my students and colleagues is absolutely what has led me to be ready and excited for this new role,” she says.

“Dr. Caton-Garcia has been a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion at CNM, and I’m confident she will provide outstanding leadership as our entire CNM community strives with purpose to become a more diverse, equitable and inclusive College,” said CNM President Tracy Hartzler. “With the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office now being established, I’m excited about what the CNM community will achieve together as our DEI journey continues to evolve.”

As the Executive Director, Felecia will oversee the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office and Leadership Team. The team will have a staff member from Human Resources and Student Success as well as a full-time faculty member who will serve as a Faculty Fellow.

The team will work on a number of important issues across the college. Some of the priorities include:

• Identifying and closing achievement gaps for students and ensuring student success for the entire student body.
• Helping CNM continue to build a workforce that is representative of the student body and larger community.
• Building an even stronger sense of inclusivity among staff, faculty, and students.
• Increased collaboration with New Mexico’s tribes, nations, and pueblos.  

Felecia says collaboration will be a guiding principle for her, her team, and the larger DEI Office. 

“This DEI Office and team is invested in working collaboratively with all parts of CNM and CNM Ingenuity to support and enhance our collective efforts to remove barriers to success for students and employees,” she says.

Additionally, Felecia says she hopes this office will provide a meeting place for the existing DEI work that’s already happening. 

“This will not be the first time CNM has done DEI work, not by a longshot. Instead, I’m excited to support the people at CNM who are already doing this important work and help them broaden and deepen the impact,” she says. “We very much want the DEI Office and team to be a resource that can help CNM keep reaching toward the shared goal of making the college a place where students can succeed and a place where staff and faculty are welcomed and valued.”