HIGHER EDUCATION
UNM names new senior vice provost
Rebecca S谩nchez will succeed new provost Barbara Rodriguez in the role
Published
The University of New Mexico has named a new second-in-command chief academic officer.
Longtime education professor Rebecca S谩nchez has been appointed senior vice provost, succeeding Barbara Rodriguez, who became the university鈥檚 new provost in June.
S谩nchez joined the faculty of UNM in 2005 as a professor of elementary education and later as coordinator of the university鈥檚 elementary education program. S谩nchez has held a variety of leadership roles throughout her tenure at UNM, including interim associate vice provost for academic personnel starting in July 2025, university officials said in a news release.
The senior vice provost handles faculty and academic affairs as well as academic policies and processes across all of UNM鈥檚 campuses, UNM officials said.
鈥淒r. S谩nchez brings significant experience, sound judgment and a deep understanding of UNM to this role, along with a clear vision for supporting our faculty and advancing the university鈥檚 academic mission,鈥� Rodriguez said in a statement.
S谩nchez holds bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in education from New Mexico State University, as well as a master of fine arts degree in dramatic writing from UNM. She received the Paula Vogel Award in Playwriting from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in 2016.
S谩nchez鈥檚 appointment is effective Sept. 1. She starts as the university begins a new administration 鈥� Dr. Steve Goldstein became UNM鈥檚 24th president in July, following the retirement of former President Garnett Stokes.
Natalie Robbins covers education for the Journal. You can reach her at nrobbins@abqjournal.com.
