Academy For Learning In Retirement

Spring 2024 Program Details

January - May

Five Online Series

20 Presentations

Providing diverse public presentations since 1992

The Academy for Learning in Retirement

P.O. Box 2981

Mesilla Park, NM 88047-2981

Email: nmsu.alr@gmail.com or

alr.nmsu@nmsu.edu

Phone: 575-527-7509

Web Site for Registration

dacc.nmsu.edu/academics/programs/academy-learning-in-retirement/

OR

Scan the QR code to the right

Tuesday, January 16: West Side Story

Thursday, January 18: Oklahoma

Tuesday, January 23: The King and I

Thursday, January 25: Cinderella

Presenters:

Dr. Bill Soules (D-Senate District 37) earned his BA and MA in psychology and an interdisciplinary Ph.D from NMSU. He taught in the Las Cruces Public Schools for 16 years, served as an elementary and middle school principal and was President of the New Mexico School Board Association. He has been a U.S.-Mexico Border Legislative Council member and is an education commissioner for New Mexico at the Education Commission of the States. He has represented District 37 since January 2013.

Mr. Fernando Macias holds BA degrees in government and economics from NMSU and a law degree from Georgetown University. He became the Doña Ana County Manager in 1997-2000 and now has served in that role since January. In the interval he was executive director of the Juarez-based Border Environment Cooperation Commission. Mr. Macias also served as an appointed and elected Third Judicial District Court judge, and as a Doña County commissioner and commission chair.

Dr. Amanda López Askin, Doña Ana County Clerk, is a native of Las Cruces who graduated from Oñate High School in 1992. She holds a bachelor’s degree in family and child science, a master’s degree in family and consumer sciences, and a doctorate in educational leadership administration, all from NMSU. She has served as county clerk since September 2018 when the Board of County Commissioners chose her to lead the Clerk's Office, after the resignation of the previous County Clerk. She ran successfully to keep the position in 2020.

(Note: Ifo Pili was originally scheduled but will not be able to speak to us.)

Ms. Kim Stewart is the first woman to be elected Sheriff in Doña Ana County. She was sworn into office in January 2019. Her staff includes 150 sworn officers and 45 civilians, and they serve a population of about 125,000. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California. Sheriff Stewart was a

California law enforcement officer before moving to New Mexico. She served in various capacities in

California including Patrol Officer, Detective, Motor Officer, and District Attorney’s Investigator for several agencies.

Presentations:

Tuesday, March 5. NM State Senator Bill Soules, “The Sausage Factory; How the NM Legislature Does and Doesn’t Work.” This presentation will discuss how state legislators carry out their responsibilities. It will review the strategies and processes through which legislation is developed, shaped and potentially enacted.

Thursday, March 7. Doña Ana County Manager Macias, “The Role of County Governance.”

Mr. Macias will explain the role of county government within the community and the services that it provides. He will also discuss the role of the County Manager and compare the county’s responsibilities with those of municipalities within the county, noting how the roles differ and where responsibilities intersect.

Wednesday, March 13. Doña Ana County Clerk Las Cruces Amanda López Askin, Record Keeping, Permit Keeping, and Electoral Aspects of the Doña Ana County Clerk’s office.

Friday, March 15. Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart, “Opportunity or Obstacles - Which is Which?”.

Local law enforcement is at a crossroads. From calls for defunding to facial recognition technology, we are pulled in all directions. Recognizing the opportunities from the obstacles is the challenge of national law enforcement today. We will explore these on a local level in hopes of better understanding our national policing experience.

Presenters:

Dr. James Peach, Emeritus Professor, Department of Economics, Applied Statistics, and International Business, NMSU. Jim Peach grew up in the Oklahoma and Texas oil country and acquired a passion for international travel at an early age. He toured his first rig at age 12 and has been fascinated with the oil and gas industry ever since. He retired from New Mexico State University in 2018 as Regents Professor of Economics and held an endowed professorship from Chevron. During his career he was president of four academic organizations and published numerous journal articles, book chapters, and a couple of books. He has been a popular speaker at legislative committees and energy conferences. He has given dozens of interviews with TV, Radio, and the printed press. Jim is the author of Hinton: a novel of murder, international intrigue, and oil (2023). He is a very patient Cubs fan.

Dr. Leonardo Delgado serves as Chief Economist for the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and manages the Economic Analysis Bureau at DFA. He keeps track of General Fund revenues, and he maintains and develops revenue forecasting models. Additionally, he analyzes the oil and natural gas sector, labor markets and trends, and provides policy and economic analysis of various policy initiatives and public finance issues. Dr. Delgado is also part of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CREG), which forecasts New Mexico General Fund Revenues. He holds double Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Economics and a Doctorate of Economic Development with a specialization in Economic Research from New Mexico State University. He has experience in conducting a wide range of economic analyses and modeling, economic impact studies, economic reports, fiscal analyses and forecasting revenues. His past work experience includes the New Mexico Finance Authority and the Office of Policy Analysis at Arrowhead at New Mexico State University.

Mr. Abe Baldonado, New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA) associate director of community engagement. Mr. Baldonado earned a B.A. in political science and a Master of Public Affairs degree from Highlands University. Prior to becoming Director of Community Engagement for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, he served as Education Reform Director for Think New Mexico, as an Ethics Officer for the Secretary of State, as Policy Director for Former Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez, and as Legislative Liaison and Policy Analyst for the Public Education Department.

Presentations:

Tuesday, April 9. Jim Peach, “A History of the Oil and Gas Industry.” This presentation will cover the history of the oil and gas industry from its beginning in Titusville, PA to the ongoing shale revolution. Central themes of the presentation include the remarkable technological change in the industry, record production more than a century after Teddy Roosevelt and others thought we were running out of oil, and some of the dirty little secrets of the industry.

Thursday, April 11. Jim Peach, “Oil and Gas in Literature and Film.” This presentation will include discussions of non-fiction, historical fiction, and fiction books on the oil industry as well as a discussion of films about the industry. There are hundreds of non-fiction books about oil and gas, but very few novels about the industry. There are far more movies about the industry than novels.

Tuesday, April 16. Leo Delgado, “Oil and Gas and New Mexico’s Fiscal Future.” This presentation will include some state budget basics (revenues and expenditures, the importance of oil and gas revenues to the state budget, an explanation of the various taxes on oil and gas, an explanation of the various so-called permanent funds dependent on oil and gas as well as the significance and operation of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CREG).

Thursday, April 18. Abe Baldonado, “How the Oil and Gas Industry Energizes New Mexico’s Challenges and Opportunities.” This presentation will examine the oil and gas industry and how it impacts the New Mexico economy and New Mexicans from an industry perspective. NOTE: This will be a Zoom presentation, but the DACC Auditorium will be available for those who wish to watch the presentation with others.

Food is something we must consume to survive as well as the source of pleasure and fun times spent with others. Presentations on the development of new food items and food processing techniques, and how nutrition and gut health impact our physical and mental well-being will demonstrate the role of science in food and nutrition. Presentations on using spices such as chile to enhance food preparation and pairing the right beverage with the right food will demonstrate the art of increasing our enjoyment of food.

Presenters:

Dr. Efren Delgado is Head of the Department of Family and Consumer Science and Head of the Department of Extension Family and Consumer Science at New Mexico State University. He is also Co-Director of the Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems at NMSU. He earned his Ph.D. at Technische Universität Berlin, Germany in 1995, with concentrations in chemical processes in food. He earned his B.SC and M.SC. degrees at Humboldt Universität Berlin, Germany, with a concentration in food processing technology. He has been a professor and director of food processing in El Paso and was a professor at the Technical School of Durango, Mexico and in Georg August University in Gottingen, Germany. Dr. Delgado came to NMSU in 2016. He has published 74 articles.

Dr. Raquel Garzon, President/Founder, Revitalize Project. Dr. Garzon earned her Doctor of Health Science degree with a concentration in Global Health in 2016 from Nova Southeastern University. She also earned an M.S. in Nutrition from Texas A&M University in 1996 and a B.S. in Nutrition from the University of Florida in 1995. She is a certified ASQ Six Sigma Green Belt, Registered Dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider, and Certified in Traumatic Stress Studies and is the President of Revitalize Project. She has presented and facilitated in over 25 countries. Her latest book is Job Title: Human, Thriving in the Business of Life. Dr. Garzon previously served as the wellness state specialist for cooperative extension at New Mexico State University, a senior leader at Johnson & Johnson in global training and program implementation, a Pediatric and Maternal Dietitian for the U.S. Army, a digital health content creator for the Hispanic market, and a community dietitian for marginalized groups and individuals. She sometimes broadcasts on KRWG’s “Be Well with Raquel,” an interactive hour on wellbeing-related topics.

Dr. Kelley Cleary Coffeen, College Assistant Professor, NMSU Department of Family and Consumer Science. Dr. Coffeen is a college assistant professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Science at New Mexico State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration at New Mexico State University. She earned a B.S. in Merchandising and Retail at Northern Arizona University and an M.S. in Clothing, Textiles and Fashion Merchandising at NMSU. She is a culinary expert, food consultant, and the author of five Mexican cookbooks, including “Fiesta Mexicali;” “300 Best Taco Recipes: From Tantalizing Tacos to Authentic Tortillas, Sauces, Cocktails and Salsas;” and “200 Easy Mexican Recipes: Authentic Recipes From Burritos to Enchiladas.” Her culinary work includes assisting the Joslin Center at Harvard Medical School with diabetic-friendly recipes.

Dr. Jean Hertzman has been a Professor and Director of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at NMSU since January 2016. She has over 30 years of culinary and hospitality education experience including teaching and administrative positions for the College of Hotel Administration at University of Nevada-Las Vegas and at Sullivan University in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Hertzman obtained her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from UNLV and holds a BS in Hotel Administration

from Cornell University and a MBA from Tulane University. She is certified as a Culinary Educator by the American Culinary Federation and as a Specialist of Wine and Specialist of Spirits by the Society of Wine Educators. Dr. Hertzman is the Past President of West Federation CHRIE – the Council of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Educators, editor for the online Journal of Culinary Education Best Practices, and an ex-officio board member for the New Mexico Restaurant Association and board member for the Hospitality Industry Education Foundation.

Presentations:

Tuesday, May 14. Efren Delgado, “Trends in Food Science.” This presentation will discuss the state of the art of food science and value-added agriculture in New Mexico, the region, and the nation.

Thursday, May 16. Raquel Garzon, “Enhancing Wellbeing through the Gut Microbiome: The Role of Nutrition.” Gut health is a key topic in wellbeing because the diverse strains of bacteria we have in our guts impacts our health, our risk of disease, our cognition, emotions, and sleep. Our bodies have more bacterial cells than human cells, so it is important to understand what we can do to positively influence the gut microbiome and optimize our health. Our gut microbiome can be altered in as little as one week with simple everyday strategies, including what foods we choose to eat. This presentation will explain how the gut microbiome influences wellbeing and provide information about which foods are more likely to support a healthy gut.

Tuesday, May 21. Kelley Cleary Coffeen, “Everyday Cooking: Spice It Up!” This presentation will discuss adding chile to every meal for flavor and good health.

Thursday, May 23. Jean Hertzman, “Harmonious Food and Beverage Pairings.” There is nothing better than a food perfectly paired with the proper beverage, whether that be as simple as water, coffee or tea or a fine wine, beer, or cocktail. This presentation will discuss the basics of sensory evaluation and pairing rules that will enhance any dining experience. NOTE: This presentation may be given in another DACC-East Mesa building. Registrants will be informed in advance.

Doña Ana Community College

East Mesa Campus

2800 North Sonoma Ranch Blvd, Las Cruces, NM