How did you get your current job?
My career began in El Paso and has returned to El Paso (with stops in San Antonio and Albuquerque in between). KDBC 4 News was looking to make major changes and once again establish itself as the news leader in El Paso. My news director, David Morgan, and I go all the way back to NMSU. We were in the broadcast journalism program back in the early ’90s. When that Aggie called up this Aggie and asked me to work for him, it did not take long to say “yes”!

Favorite professor at NMSU?
My favorite professor was Ken Fischer. I was in his first-year radio/television production class. He had an extra-credit question on one of his quizzes that was about baseball. That started a conversation between us and soon we found out both of us had a passion for the game of baseball. Within a few weeks I was working with Ken on a show called “Sportsview 22” and my broadcast career was on the fast track.

Tips for aspiring journalists:
Take speech and drama courses. The more comfortable you are in front of people, the better. I know it sounds boring but you should also attend important meetings in your community. City council, county commissioners, school board meetings – it is very important to learn how local government operates. The quicker you learn how to cut through all the “official sound bites,” the quicker you can start telling “people” stories and those are the stories people remember!

How did you get your current job?
I fulfilled a dream to work in California for NBC Los Angeles from 1983-1994. After 11 years, I chose to return home to be closer to my family and my roots. Based on my major market experience, KOB-TV in Albuquerque was eager to hire me as their main female news anchor. It was a perfect fit. I now anchor the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts for Eyewitness News Four.

Favorite professor at NMSU?
Patrick Holian was my favorite professor and continues to be a dear friend and mentor. After I graduated and pursued my journalism career, I collaborated with Patrick on several award-winning projects – no longer working as his student, but earning his respect as a colleague. One of my biggest thrills was to write a letter of recommendation for him!

Tips for aspiring journalists:
Write, write, and then write some more. The biggest complaint I hear is that many journalism graduates don’t know how to write. And to make matters worse, they don’t know how to spell. Tip #2 is to dream big; NMSU is preparing you well!

How did you get your current job?
I started at KVIA as a reporter on the weekends, then went to Albuquerque and produced for six months at KOAT, then came back to KVIA, where I’ve been ever since. I anchored weekends, and then started the morning show.

Favorite professor at NMSU?
My favorite professor is Gary Worth, who really took me under his wing and encouraged me (and everyone else who has studied under him) to go for it. Broadcast journalism can be a very intimidating career, but Gary really instilled confidence in me, and I felt like he never doubted me. Anyone who gets the opportunity to learn under Gary should. He is a very caring person. Ron Salak, the general manager of the station, is also a huge asset. He helped save the news department’s on-air production from collapsing. My hat’s off to them.

Tips for aspiring journalists:
Go for it! I changed my major from early education, and I thought this would be a challenge. It was and it is a tough arena. There are always people who will look for you to fail, but seek out those who believe in you, like professors and those in your program. And, don’t think your paycheck will be very big. Celebrities like Barbara Walters are the only ones who make the big bucks. Make sure you enjoy the profession, and you will be happy. And praise goes to NMSU. Aspiring journalists constantly ask me where they should go to school, and I always encourage them to go to NMSU. Not only is it affordable, but I believe it has one of the best journalism schools in the nation. Students get hands-on experience producing newscasts that are broadcast to the community, which is very unusual for a college newscast.

How did you get your current job?
After four years at the Memphis Commercial Appeal, I spent seven years working at Newsday on Long Island, covering the New York Giants and the NFL. That was followed by a two-year stint at the New York Times where I covered primarily Major League Baseball and the NBA. That gave me a versatile background and in 1997 I was offered a job at the New York Post as a general sports columnist. At the time I was one of just 11 African-American sports columnists in the country.

Favorite professor at NMSU?
Sean McCleneghan was my favorite professor. He was in his first or second year as the department head, but his enthusiasm was contagious. He took the time to encourage me to reach for the highest in my career. We actually didn’t meet until the final months of my senior year at NMSU, but it was his recommendation that ultimately created the opportunity for me to go to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. He would continue to make me believe a kid from Las Cruces could succeed in the Big Apple.

Tips for aspiring journalists:
Get as much hands-on experience as possible before graduation. Be versatile. Don’t be afraid to step out of your box. Have confidence in your abilities. Emulate those who have achieved success. No one likes a brown noser.

How did you get your current job?
A family friend told me that there was an opening at KNX (1070) NEWSRADIO and I stopped by there for an interview before I graduated from NMSU. At the time, they were looking for writers and broadcasters from minority and underserved communities. The news director asked me to come back after graduation and a summer internship. Once I returned, he hired me as a news writer on probation for six months. I was made staff after four months and began a 15-year career as a writer and editor. When the director of community services post became available, I applied. I was asked to write a couple of pieces for the general manager. I wanted to become a bigger player in station management and direction. The general manager liked my approach and attitude and he promoted me in 1995. I’ve been in the position ever since, and currently formulate and develop all of the station’s community outreach.

Favorite professor at NMSU?
My favorite professor was the late print journalism instructor Charles Eberhart. He was just a fabulous teacher and mentor. I’m only sorry I never got a chance to thank him for helping my career before he passed. My most memorable experience was winning a Wall Street Journal/Newspaper Fund internship as a senior due to my work at the Round Up, and spending a summer on the editor’s desk at the Hartford Courant in Connecticut. I was the only Latino, the only college journalist west of the Mississippi and the only state college graduate to be selected for the program.

Tips for aspiring journalists:
While television news may be the most alluring career, remember that factors other than talent go into the decisions about who will be in front or behind the camera. Don’t be too greedy or easily discouraged. There are great jobs in smaller markets that will allow you to learn the business of journalism, which is different from the job of journalism. Take your time along the way, keep reading and writing any time you get a chance and perfect your craft. That network news job may be lucrative and may make you popular, but if it doesn’t satisfy your soul then you need to look for something else. Journalism provides few material riches, but plenty of personal satisfaction.

How did you get your current job?
I worked with the communications departments of all of the major auto manufacturers as the editorial director for Primedia automotive magazines. Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep had the most intriguing product, and its communication department was the best of any that I worked with. I expressed an interest in joining this team and God moved things along at His pace. I’m thankful for the experiences I had in the news media and I’m enjoying the challenges of public relations at a Fortune 500 company.

Favorite professor at NMSU?
There were so many – Don Martin, Steven Pasternack, Richard Earl (Geography), but I think that the professor who had the biggest impact on my education and my life since is Sean McCleneghan (Dr. Mac). His energy, passion and enthusiasm kept me going. Fourteen years later I still look to him for inspiration.

Tips for aspiring journalists:
Dream big, work hard and be open minded. I never saw myself doing anything besides photography. Dreams, hard work and being open to trying new things have led me through eight positions at two companies since 1990.