State of New Mexico
Office of the Governor
Susana Martinez
Governor
Contact: Enrique Knell
(505) 819-1398
[email protected]
For Immediate Release
December 22, 2014
Governor Susana Martinez Announces Transition Changes
in Cabinet Secretary Posts
New Secretaries for Higher Education; Children, Youth, and Families;
and Tourism Announced
Santa Fe — Today Governor Susana Martinez announced three cabinet level appointments. Dr.
José Z. Garcia is stepping down as Cabinet Secretary of the Higher Education Department
(HED). Dr. Barbara Damron has been appointed Cabinet Secretary for HED. Also, Children,
Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) Cabinet Secretary Yolanda Deines will step down
from her position, and the Governor has named Tourism Department (NMTD) Cabinet Secretary
Monique Jacobson to that role. Rebecca Latham, who currently serves in the Tourism
Department, has been appointed to replace Secretary Jacobson. The changes will take effect
January 5, 2015.
“Over the past four years, we’ve seen an increase in degrees and certificates awarded at our
higher education institutions, particularly in STEM and health fields, and I’m so grateful for Sec.
Garcia’s leadership,” said Governor Martinez. “To build on his success, I’m confident that Dr.
Damron will push aggressive reforms to help us keep college affordable, graduate more students
in less time, and prepare the workforce New Mexico needs through our community colleges and
universities.”
Dr. Barbara Damron has been an associate professor at the University of New Mexico’s College
of Nursing since 2009. Dr. Damron also directs the Office of Community Partnerships & Cancer
Health Disparities and the Hispanic and Native American Community Outreach program at the
University of New Mexico Cancer Center. Damron has served as an executive, head nurse,
supervisor, administrator, clinical nurse specialist, educator, and researcher, and was the
founding director of the first statewide comprehensive cancer nursing education program in the
country. Damron holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Union College in Lincoln,
Nebraska, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center in
San Antonio, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Psychology with a concentration in
Social, Development, and Personality Psychology from the University of Texas in Austin.
At the Children, Youth, and Families Department, Secretary Yolanda Deines will depart after
four years of service. Governor Martinez says that Deines will be missed and offered praise for
her lifelong commitment to improving child well-being, including helping countless people –
such as the governor, herself – enter the field to help victims of child maltreatment. The
Governor has spent her life and career protecting children from abuse and harm – as a
prosecutor, a former district attorney specializing in child abuse and child homicide cases, and as
a children’s court attorney at CYFD.
“Secretary Deines has served New Mexico’s children and families with such passion and
dedication throughout her entire life. I’m proud and thankful for her service and
accomplishments. Whether it’s expanding the summer food program and child care assistance, or
launching the new #SAFE reporting hotline, implementing several changes designed to improve
the way we investigate child abuse incidents, and greatly expanding the New Mexico Heart
Gallery to find forever families for foster children, Secretary Deines has been involved in critical
and important work for our kids,” said Governor Martinez. “Moving forward, I feel Secretary
Jacobson is the right person to lead the Children, Youth, and Families Department. Her strong
intellect and impeccable management skills will serve the agency well, and she is a leader who is
well known for producing results. I’m grateful for her strong desire to improve the well-being of
New Mexico’s children and her willingness to work alongside the tremendous case workers and
child advocates who work on the frontlines in one of the toughest professions around. They have
a tremendous impact on the health and safety of our families everyday, and Monique is wellsuited to creating an environment where they can do their jobs well.”
A New Mexico native, Secretary Jacobson brings a strong background of metrics-based, resultsdriven managerial experience to CYFD, including leadership roles at several major U.S.
corporations. During her leadership of the Tourism Department, Secretary Jacobson designed
and implemented the successful “New Mexico True” campaign, which has contributed to three
straight years of substantial growth in tourism in New Mexico. Through Secretary Jacobson’s
efforts, visitor spending in New Mexico has grown more than 24% since 2010. She holds a
Bachelor of Science in Economics from the prestigious Wharton School at the University of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Rebecca Latham will take the helm at the New Mexico Tourism Department, where she
currently serves as the Director of Communications and has been engaged in virtually every
major project the agency has undertaken during her tenure in state government. Previously she
was the director of tourism and economic development for the Town of Red River, where
occupancy rate and lodger’s tax revenue saw record growth under her direction. In 2013, she was
recognized by the Tourism Association of New Mexico as New Mexico Tourism Professional of
the Year. Latham holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Florida in Tampa,
Florida.
“Rebecca is fully committed to expanding the influence and impact of our ‘New Mexico True’
campaign,” said Governor Martinez. “We are a world-class destination with world-class people,
and she is well-suited to market all that New Mexico has to offer to travelers throughout the
country and world.”
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