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Spotlight

First impressions are important. College admission advisors are the first contact many high school students have with NMSU. The dedicated team of advisors lets the student know that NMSU wants them to attend our university and that the admissions staff is here to work with them to achieve that goal.

In Albuquerque and Northern New Mexico that first contact is with either Angela Mora-Riley, director of enrollment services, Sylvia Castillo, recruitment coordinator, or Danielle Staley, admissions advisor. Together they have 46 years of experience in promoting NMSU.

NMSU-Albuquerque Center's Danielle Staley, admissions advisor, and Sylvia Castillo, recruitment coordinator, review the university's View Book, which they distribute to high school students who are thinking about attending NMSU.

The dynamo trio working out of NMSU-Albuquerque Center travel to every high school and community college in the northern part of the state for college day events, on site visits and one-on-one student meetings.

“We are building solid working relationships with high school counselors in Albuquerque and Northern New Mexico. And in return the counselors are encouraging their students to access NMSU through the Albuquerque Center,” said Staley.

Having an admissions office in Albuquerque allows families from Northern New Mexico to have enrollment questions answered in person without having to drive to Las Cruces.

“We answers questions about registration, financial aid, scholarships and housing, as well as helping those wanting information about distance education and graduate school programs offered at the Albuquerque Center,” said Castillo. “If the student has a problem we are able to call directly to the department on campus and let them have a phone conference.

One area the team is concentrating on is the recruitment of American Indians into our academic programs. “We are working closely with the directors of our tribal higher education programs to access scholarship funds and help their students transition to the university,” said Mora-Riley, who has worked with academic enrollment services at NMSU for 25 years.

Another benefit of having an enrollment team in Albuquerque for future Aggies is the two-day new student registration held during the summer.

“We bring the registration process to Albuquerque,” said Mora-Riley of the event that registered 379 students in 2008. “There are academic advisors from every college, along with admissions, financial and housing staff who process the student’s registration. When they leave here they are an Aggie and even have their student id card to prove it.”

Written by Jane Moorman.