Staff & Administration
ASCAS includes over 20 Academic Advisors, housed within their departments for one-on-one interactions with students. We believe that the best place for a student to meet their advisor is in their department for easier access to faculty, relevant information, and special events.
Meet your advisors ⇒
We utilize our central ASCAS office for collaborative work, staff training and development, mandatory workshops, registration labs, and numerous specialized services. In our Center, we also assist students with general inquiries or urgent matters when their advisor is unavailable. If you are ever unsure where to go, please contact us!
Our Central Office staff consists of the Leadership team, administrative assistants, recruitment and retention specialists, and work study student employees.
A&S Center for Academic Success Leadership
Marlene Sanchez
Director of ASCAS
mhs@unm.edu
| Pronouns: she / her / hers / ella At the center of my philosophy in higher education is that every student has the potential to succeed if given the right tools, resources, and support. Students need more than just academic skills to succeed. To truly thrive, students must develop a range of personal, social, and emotional competencies, including self-awareness, empathy, resilience, and communication skills. Therefore, as Director of Academic Success, my approach focuses on creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment that helps students develop these competencies and achieve their academic, personal, and career goals. I am a proud First-generation UNM Lobo. I earned my B.S. is Education and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from UNM. I have worked in both Student and Academic Affairs. Through my professional experience at UNM, I developed a passion for creating a space for sense of belonging. A little more about me, during my free time, I like to spend it hanging out with my dog, working out, and trying new places around Albuquerque. |
Academic Advisement Supervisors
Joanna M. Camacho
Supervisor ♦ Humanities & Interdisciplinary Studies
jmcamachoescobar@unm.edu
| Pronouns: she / her / hers / ella I believe academic advisors should meet students where they are; focus on their needs and goals to be successful at UNM and future career goals. I consider academic advisement centers as the anchors for student academic success in higher education institutions, especially for underrepresented students pursuing Arts and Sciences degrees. Academic advising is key to help you navigate UNM, we will show you the resources available to you and help you understand the requirements for your academic goals. Supporting the advising of students interested in the Race & Social Justice Certificate. |
Maddy Beck
Supervisor ♦ (STEM) Natural & Physical Sciences, Mathematics
mbeck5@unm.edu
 | Pronouns: she / her / hers I was born and raised in Washington State. I received my Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology focused in Ecology and Botany from Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX. I moved to Albuquerque in 2018, after my husband and I got married. Prior to working at UNM, I worked as an Animal Care Specialist at a wolf sanctuary. My favorite things to do outside of work are spend time with family/friends and work my small hobby farm in the South Valley with my husband and pets. As an advisor, I am here to assist each and every student to reach their goals in a manner that best fits them. The best advising comes through honest, trusting and open conversation. I am here to help you make your years at UNM successful and fun. I want to be able to send my students off with the tools they need to feel successful in the years after UNM. Currently supporting with advising students with majors or minors in Speech and Hearing Sciences. |
Kristian Macaron
Supervisor ♦ Social/Behavioral Sciences
kristianm@unm.edu
| Pronouns: she / her / hers Advisement is a place that is individualized and intentional. It is a place you can bring your victories, obstacles and hopes. Asking questions, finding answers and challenging ourselves to look at interdisciplinary connections of what we learn is key to developing confidence and ownership in how we use the knowledge we gather. My advisement philosophy is to be a guide to you and empower your journey through the university. Our Advisement Center is a place where you can depend on receiving support as you explore what you want to learn and develop goals for your success and your future. I love my home state of New Mexico, and I am proud to work at UNM. I graduated from the UNM College of Arts & Sciences and the Honors Program with my BA, English (2009). I attended Emerson College in Boston, MA, for my MFA, Creative Writing, Fiction (2012). I am a writer, editor, advisor and educator. I have taught courses at UNM-Valencia and other institutions. My collection of speculative naturalist poetry titled Recipe for Time Travel in Case We Lose Each Other released in February 2022. I love to travel, write, read, play video games and adventure with my dog, R2D2. |
A&S Student Success Curriculum
Sarah Peceny
Education and Development Manager
speceny2@unm.edu
| Pronouns: she / her / hers / ella The University of New Mexico has played a significant role in my entire family’s life, and for that I am very grateful! I received a BA in Latin American Studies & Spanish here and later returned to complete my MA in Hispanic Linguistics after working as a research coordinator on North campus for a few years. I spent time here as an undergraduate student teacher, a graduate teaching assistant, and finally as a Visiting Lecturer I and Assistant Program Coordinator of UNM’s Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) Program in the Spanish and Portuguese Department. In Fall 2019, I moved over to the world of academic advisement and learned how indispensable advisors are in guiding students towards completing their degrees. I am very excited to now occupy the role of Education and Development Manager in the Center so that I can merge my experience in teaching and in advisement to create classes that will help students learn the hidden curriculum of successfully navigating a university system to maximize their overall experience! |
Recruitment and Retention
Cameron Langner
Supervisor ♦ Focus: Student Recruitment and Retention
clangner@unm.edu
| Pronouns: she / her / hers Advises: students with special circumstances (e.g. students returning to school after a hiatus and those on academic probation or suspension) Exploring the World requires a critical lens--school will help you create that lens so that you can truly see the world. I love school! As a former teacher, I find that school gives me the greatest sense of purpose. I am working on my Masters degree in Special Education. In my free time, I spend as much time with my weenie dogs and playing out-of-doors. I am part of the A&S Support and Success Group (SSGs): SSGs support all departments, students and advisors by working on special retention and graduation projects and covering advising availability for vacant major advisor positions while A&S hires and trains new student support professionals. Currently supporting with advising students with majors or minors in Speech and Hearing Sciences. |
Operational Support
Dax Thomas
Administrative Assistant III
adthomas25@unm.edu
 | Pronouns: he / him / his Originally from Oklahoma City, OK, I hold an Associate of Fine Arts degree from Rose State College and an Associate of Applied Science degree with a specialization in Crime Victim Survivor Services from Oklahoma State University. In 2019, I met my now-spouse, and due to their career, we relocated to Southern California in 2021 and then to Albuquerque, NM in the summer of 2023. I’ve truly fallen in love with New Mexico and like to think of it as my new forever home. For the past nine years, I’ve worked primarily in the nonprofit sector, serving in various roles such as Sexual Assault Advocate, Domestic Violence Advocate, LGBTQ Youth Homeless Advocate, LGBTQ Youth Crisis Counselor, and most recently, Program Specialist. Supporting the communities I belong to and the people I work with has always been at the heart of what I do. Toward the end of 2024, I felt it was time for a new chapter. I was fortunate to join UNM, where I now have the opportunity to apply everything I’ve learned in a new and exciting capacity. I'm also currently completing my B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications. I’m thrilled to be part of the Lobo community! |
Luke Wilson
Rotating Professional Advisement Intern
| Pronouns: he / him / his My name is Luke Wilson. I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My college journey began at Lamar Community College in Colorado where I studied athletic training and played baseball. After two years at Lamar CC, I earned my Associate of Science and returned home to continue my education at the University of New Mexico (UNM). In May 2023, I graduated from UNM with a B.S. in Community Health Education. Currently, I am a Professional Intern at UNM, where I assist colleges with academic advisement. In my free time, I enjoy working out, listening to music, and riding my bike. |
Current Work Study Student Employees
Our work study student employees are a valuable part of our team! If you're interested in working with us, our postings will be under Student Jobs on unmjobs.unm.edu.
| Sydney Bathurst Pronouns: she / her / hers Major: Psychology |
 | Kylee Vigil Pronouns: she / her / hers Major: Political Science From: |
 | MayLi Bachand Pronouns: she / her / hers Major: Film and Digital Arts |
