Board Of Directors

Before becoming CNM President, Ms. Hartzler was CNM’s Vice President for Finance and Operations and has been at CNM since 2015. She has served the public sector for more than 25 years in education, government, and policy roles. Since 2011, Ms. Hartzler has played a significant role in shaping postsecondary education in New Mexico, first with the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, and later with CNM.

President Hartzler earned her Juris Doctorate from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. She earned her Master of Education Degree from the University of Virginia with highest honors; and she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, from Saint Mary’s College in Indiana.

She is a member of the New Mexico, Indiana (inactive), and District of Columbia Bars.

Dr. Becky Rowley has taught English at Clovis Community College since 1993, as a full-time faculty member from 1993-1999, and as an adjunct from 1999 through the present. In 1999, she became Vice President for Educational Services and in 2002 Executive Vice President. The Clovis Community College Board of Trustees appointed her the fourth president of CCC in 2011.

As a faculty member, Dr. Rowley focused on distance education, particularly with dual credit high school students. As academic/student services vice president, her interests centered on the integration of instruction and students services and on workforce development. She currently serves on the Eastern Area Workforce Development Board and as a consultant/evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission.

Dr. Rowley earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Latin from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of New Mexico in 1996. Dr. Rowley is also an avid marathon runner.

Dr. Allen Moss was appointed Interim President on February 14, 2023. He previously served as the Senior Executive Director of Concurrent Enrollment and Academic Outreach beginning July 15, 2022 for Mesalands Community College. As a part of that role, he oversaw both the dual enrollment and correctional programs offered by the college. 

Dr. Moss has spent the majority of his career in K-12 education. He served as a CTE Business Instructor, K-12 principal, and completed his 10th year as a school superintendent with the Houston School District in Houston, MO.

Dr. Moss completed his undergraduate degrees in Business Administration-Accounting at Missouri Southern State University (Joplin, MO), followed by his Masters and Specialist Degrees with William Woods University (Fulton, MO). He completed his doctorate in Educational Administration with Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO) in 2016.

In addition to his educational role, Dr. Moss is currently a member of the Tucumcari Rotary Club and has served in Rotary and the Lion’s club throughout his career. He has served as a University Extension Council board.

Dr. Toni Hopper Pendergrass joined San Juan College as President in 2012.

Prior to San Juan College, Dr. Pendergrass served as the Vice President for Learning at San Jacinto College, South Campus in Houston, Texas. Before San Jacinto College, she served as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success at El Centro College in Dallas, Texas, as well as the Executive Dean of Communications, Mathematics, Developmental Students, and Teacher Preparation. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Administration with a specialization in Community College Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and Economics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural

Economics and Business, both from New Mexico State University.

Dr. Pendergrass began working in community college administration in 1995. She understands and embraces the community college philosophy and is committed to continuing to advance student success, community  partnerships and economic development. In addition to serving on the New Mexico Independent Community College Board, Dr. Pendergrass also is a member of the following: Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI), Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research University Advisory Board (CLEER), San Juan College Foundation, Four Corners Innovations, Four Corners Economic Development, Four Corners Economic Development Foundation, Four Corners Educational Council for Student Success, San Juan Safe Communities, Leadership San Juan, Farmington Chamber of Commerce, Farmington Rotary Club, and the 30 th Street Education Center. Dr. Pendergrass was the Chair Academy’s 2006 International Exemplary Leader Award and received the 2014 Excellence for Student Achievement Award presented by the New Mexico School Boards Association in cooperation with the Farmington Board of Education. In addition, Dr. Pendergrass led the effort of San Juan College being selected as one of 13

community colleges to participate in the American Association of Community College’s Pathways 2.0 program.

Dr. Pendergrass and her husband Doug have three children.

The Board of Regents unanimously appointed Dr. Joseph Shepard the 15th President of Western New Mexico University (WNMU) on April 27, 2011. Dr. Shepard assumed the office on July 5, 2011 and now leads the Silver City campus, as well as learning centers in Deming, Gallup, Lordsburg and Truth or Consequences.

Prior to arriving at WNMU, Dr. Shepard served over 15 years in senior-level leadership positions at Florida Gulf Coast University. Throughout his years at FGCU he held the positions of Chief Student Affairs Officer, Chief Business Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. Among his many responsibilities, Dr. Shepard was one of the founding leaders in helping to build the State of Florida’s 10th university. When Dr. Shepard arrived at FGCU, there were no students, no classes, no athletics, no on-campus housing, no policies and no infrastructure. By Dr. Shepard’s departure in 2011, FGCU had grown to over 460 faculty with a total workforce of nearly 2,000 that served nearly 13,000 students.

Dr. Shepard has also remained active in the classroom and with research. His teaching areas have been at both the graduate and undergraduate levels in quantitative methods, public finance and business leadership. He has also taught internationally in Mexico.

Dr. Shepard earned his Ph.D. in Public Administration specializing in public finance from Florida International University. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance and Banking where he specialized in international finance from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Science in Math Education from Northern Arizona University.

He has been married to his wife, Marcela, for 21 years and has two children. He is fluent in Spanish and enjoys mountaineering, backpacking, canoeing, fishing, golfing, and racquetball.

President Balderas brings many years of experience in public service to his new role at Northern, working to build coalitions and unify opposing constituencies. Personally, and professionally, he is a champion of the underserved, those whose voices are not normally heard.

President Balderas was raised by a single mother in the village of Wagon Mound, New Mexico. Growing up in public housing and on food stamps, he learned the importance of compassion and respect, and gained the conviction that everyone—no matter their background—deserves the same opportunities to succeed.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from New Mexico Highlands University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico Law School. After law school President Balderas became a Bernalillo County Assistant District Attorney, was elected to a seat in the N.M. House of Representatives at age 29, where he worked with bipartisan coalitions to pass several pieces of important legislation. He then served two terms as New Mexico’s State Auditor, where he had oversight of $60 billion in assets collectively held by over 1,000 government entities.

During his two terms as New Mexico’s Attorney General, President Balderas transformed the Special Prosecutions Division, Special Investigations Division, New Mexico Human Trafficking Task Force and expanded the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. His Criminal Appeals Division obtained several landmark Supreme Court opinions and his civil court victories include the largest Tobacco Settlement payment in state history.

As Attorney General, Mr. Balderas focused on keeping children and families safe, empowering New Mexican families and small businesses for financial success, and protecting New Mexico’s pristine environment.

President Balderas lives in Albuquerque with his wife Denise and their three children, Hector Reyes Jr., Mariola, and Arianna. He is licensed to practice law in New Mexico and is a Certified Fraud Examiner. In addition he donates his time working with at risk children and the special needs community.

BOARDS/SERVICE
• 2009-2013 National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund Board Member
• 2015-2022 New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Board
• 2018-2022 Attorney General Alliance Executive Committee (2019 General Chair)

RECOGNITION
• 2007 - 100 Most Influential Hispanics - Hispanic Business Magazine
• 2010 - New Frontier Award - Harvard Institute of Politics & John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
• 2010 - Liberty & Justice Award - New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association
• 2011 - Conservation Voters New Mexico Sunshine Award
• 2015 - Aspen Institute Fellow
• 2016 - U.S. Army War College Commandant’s National Security Program Fellow
• 2016 - Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows Program in Education Policy
• 2017 - National TRIO Achievers Award - Council for Opportunity in Education

Dr. Derek Moore is a student-centered leader who was recently appointed as President at New Mexico Junior College. Dr. Moore previously served as Vice President for Student Services at South Arkansas Community College. He provided vision and leadership of enrollment management, student success, student support services, athletics, along with several state and federal grant programs. He was responsible for seven direct reports, including three deans. Prior to SouthArk, Dr. Moore was Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success at Arkansas State University Mid-South, where he led student retention and engagement efforts of the college.  He was Director of Academic Advising and Career Services at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, where he also served as chair of the college’s student retention committee, along with chairing the college’s diversity committee.  

Dr. Moore serves as an advisory board member of HERDI Innovate (Higher Education Research and Development Institute), and Innovative Educators. He was a founding board member of TYFY, Two-Year First Year. Dr. Moore’s commitment to the community includes being a past president of the El Dorado Rotary Club. He also served as a board member of the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, El Dorado Boys and Girls Club, and Hope Landing, Inc. Dr. Moore also volunteered at Hugh Goodwin Elementary in El Dorado assisting second graders with improving their literacy skills. 

Dr. Moore earned a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD; a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR; and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, AR. Dr. Moore is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute, which is conducted by the League for Innovation in the Community College.

Dr. Moore has been married to his wife, Pinkie, for 28 years.  They have two adult sons and two daughters-in-law, along with one granddaughter.  

Prior to his position as SENMC president, Dr. Beardmore served as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Owensboro Community and Technical College, one of sixteen public two-year colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.   Originally hired as the Director of Research and Planning, he advanced through the roles of Dean of Enrollment Management, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, and Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Just as Dr. Beardmore began his journey at OCTC in 1999, the college was transitioning from a community college of the University of Kentucky into an independently accredited community and technical college .   Dr. Beardmore worked alongside the college president to   establish  the new college .   Since its establishment in 2003, OCTC   has been  continuously recognized for its outstanding workforce development, dual credit program, and accelerated admissions and credentialing programs.  

Before OCTC, Dr. Beardmore worked in the private industry at a rapidly expanding startup internet provider, taught middle school mathematics and science, and coordinated science curriculum efforts at the Indiana Department of Education, where Indiana’s science proficiency guide, developed under his leadership, was named the number one state science education standards document in the nation in 1998.   He received the Distinguished College Administrator Award from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in 2015, one of 23 college administrators honored nationally.    In addition, OCTC has been recognized as a Great College to Work For in  2016,  2021, and  2022—with honors for Senior Leadership each of those years—and named to the national Honor Roll in 2022.

As a first-generation college student and Pell Grant recipient, Dr. Beardmore understands the challenges that many two-year college students face.  He is a true believer in the power of education and the hope it provides for a better tomorrow.  

Dr. Beardmore holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Policy Studies, Measurement, and Evaluation from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University.  He and his wife are graduates of the University of Arizona (Geography and Mathematics, respectively) and are the proud parents of four sons, with the youngest—twins—currently in their senior year of high school.

The Clovis Community College Board of Trustees named Dr. Jonathan Fuentes President in April 2024. He previously served as the Vice President for Academic Partnerships at Odessa College.  Previous administrative positions include Assistant Superintendent of Business and Support Services for his hometown school district, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD; Executive Director of the Extension Areas at Odessa College; and Director of the Pecos Center at Odessa College. In addition to these positions, he has taught at Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District, the University of Michigan, and Odessa College. He received his B.A. from Harvard and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. His degrees are all in political science with an emphasis in public policy. He previously served as an elected official on the Reeves County Hospital Board of Trustees (Vice President), President of a local Lions Club chapter, and Director on the Board of Directors for a few local chambers of commerce. Both in his professional work and as his personal passion, Dr. Fuentes spends much of his time thinking about college and career readiness for PK-20 students.  He lives in Clovis with his wife and their two children.