Board of Directors
The Arrowhead Center’s Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from New Mexico State University and at-large members from across New Mexico. Each Director was selected for their expertise, insight, and experience critical to the mission and strategic direction of the Arrowhead Center.
Tilahun Adera, Dean, College of Health and Social Services, New Mexico State University
Tilahun Adera is the dean of the College of Health and Social Services
(CHSS).
Adera comes to NMSU from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of
Medicine where he was senior associate dean for public health and a
professor of epidemiology and community health. Adera
has also served as a professor of epidemiology at Oregon State
University as well as at the Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. Adera's formal education includes a
pharmacy degree from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, where he was
born. He received a master's degree in environmental health from Oregon
State University, a second master's degree in public health at the
University of Washington, and a doctorate degree in public health from
Oregon State University.
Chris Anaya, Student Regent, New Mexico State University
Chris Anaya is currently a junior at New Mexico State University pursuing a major in government. Anaya is a Crimson Scholar and has made the Dean's List from 2007-2008.
A native New Mexican, Anaya was recently elected to the Associated Students of New Mexico State University Senate from the College of Arts and Sciences, and is also a
member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He is currently a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity where he served as Rush Chairman and a member of the
Executive Board. Anaya, a 2006 Honors graduate of Moriarty High School, is the son of Steve and Sharon Anaya.
Kevin Boberg, Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Arrowhead Center
Kevin Boberg earned B.S. degrees in Economics and Business Administration and a M.S. degree in Industrial
Administrative Sciences at Iowa State University, and his Ph.D. in Business Logistics at the Pennsylvania
State University. He has been the director and/or assistant director of the Center for Economic Development
Research and Assistance (funded by the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce) and
the International Business Facilitation Center (funded by the State of NM). Currently, he is the Associate
Dean/Director for Research and Economic Development for the NMSU College of Business.
Garrey Carruthers, NMSU Dean, College of Business & Vice President for Economic Development, NMSU
Garrey Carruthers is the current NMSU Vice President for Economic Development and Dean of the College of
Business. He has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. In public life, Carruthers
served as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, was an Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Interior,
and served as Governor of New Mexico. In business, he was the President and CEO of the Cimarron Health Plan for over
a decade. Carruthers earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at New Mexico State and received his Ph.D. in
Economics at Iowa State University in 1968.
Lowell Catlett, Dean, NMSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics
Before his appointment as Interim Dean at NMSU, Lowell Catlett was a member of the original class of six NMSU Regents
Professors. Catlett has received every teaching award the university offers, including the Westhafer Award for
Teaching in 1990, NMSU’s top honor. The professor of agricultural economics and agricultural business is
internationally known as an expert in commodities futures markets and is in demand as a speaker and consultant
on predicting and planning for near- and long-term futures. Catlett, a native of Dalhart, Texas, earned a bachelor’s
degree in agricultural business and economics from West Texas State University in 1973, a master’s in agricultural
economics at NMSU in 1975 and a doctorate in economics from Iowa State University in 1980.
Vimal Chaitanya, Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies, and International Programs, NMSU
Before becoming the NMSU Vice President for Research in July 2006, Vimal Chaitanya was the director of the Advanced
Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Chaitanya was
also the director of UCF’s Materials Science and Engineering program and its Materials Characterization
Facility. Chaitanya received the University of Central Florida’s Research Achievement Award in 2002 and the
UCF Leadership Award in 1999. He is a five-time winner of his academic department’s Researcher of the
Year award. He has a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore, a M.S. degree in Bioengineering from Clemson University in South Carolina, and a
B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from M.S. University of Baroda, India. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Mike Cheney, Regional Bank President, Wells Fargo Bank
Mike Cheney is currently the regional bank present in southern New Mexico for Wells Fargo Bank. Cheney has a long history in the banking industry, having worked in the
filed for more than 20 years, in various positions including business banker, branch manager, loan officer. Cheney has also served as president of Community Bank.
Cheney is very involved in the communities where he works and currently holds positions in the Greater Las Cruces Changer of Commerce, NMSU College of Business Advisory
Council, New Mexico Amigos, Leadership New Mexico. Cheney was born and raised in Hobbs, New Mexico and earned a BA in Finance from NMSU and has attending the Western
States School of Banking and Northwest College of Credit.
Waded Cruzado-Salas, Executive Vice President and Provost
Wadad Cruzado-Salas was appointed as Executive Vice President and Provost at NMSU in 2007 and, previously served a four-year term as Dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences, providing oversight and leadership to the largest academic unit at NMSU.. Cruzado-Salas has also served as Interim President for NMSU for about one year.
Cruzado-Salas is credited with the establishment of the Western Technological Corridor in Puerto Rico and collaboration in the establishment of the Port of the Americas.
She received a B.A. in Comparative Literature at the University of Puerto Rico, an M.A. in Spanish, and a Ph.D. in Humanities at the University of Texas.
Greg Fant, Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, New Mexico State University
Greg Fant, a conductor and saxophonist, was NMSU's music department head
from 1999 to 2007 during which he saw a need for more collaboration
among the campus arts programs. Working alongside other department heads
and community members, he assisted in the formation of a planning
committee for the Center for the Arts project, which is set to begin
construction shortly. Fant has served NMSU in a number of
roles, including director of the Pride of New Mexico marching band,
music professor, music department head, associate dean of the College of
Arts and Sciences, and now interim-dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences.
Javier Gonzales, Regent, New Mexico State University
Javier Gonzales has 15 years experience as a leader in a broad range of projects in the public and private arenas. Gonzales has been effective in leading the local
government business development efforts of a global 500 management consulting company, leading a historic university, and leading a national organization that represents
more than 3,000 counties nationwide. Marked by his ability to lead complex organizations and develop new coalitions for progress on a variety of issues, Gonzales'
private sector experience combined with his successful tenure as a nationally recognized elected government official has provided him with unique expertise and knowledge
of the local government business and regulatory environment.
Jay Jordan, Dean and Director, NMSU Physical Science Laboratory
Jay Jordan, former Dean of Engineering, was named the interim Dean and Director of the Physical Science
Laboratory (PSL) in November 2005. Jordan has a long association with PSL, dating back from 1965 when
he was a freshman in PSL's student co-operative education program. Upon receiving his B.S. degree
in Electrical Engineering in January of 1970, he accepted a field engineering position with PSL, where
he supported several overseas operations for nearly eight years. He received his M.S. degree in
Electrical Engineering in 1979 and worked for Hewlett-Packard Corporation for a couple of years. In
1981, he returned to NMSU as a joint appointee of PSL and the Electrical Engineering department. He
received his Ph.D. in 1984 and was named Section Chief of PSL's Space Payloads Section.
Bruce Kite, General Counsel (Ex-Officio), NMSU
Bruce Kite is the General Counsel at NMSU where he provides guidance and advice on a broad range of
business matters including contract negotiating. He has been involved in negotiations and settlements
of numerous business conflicts. Kite has served as an instructor in Business Law, Legal Ethics, and
Business Management. Kite has a J.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology-Chicago Kent College of
Law and a B. A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana. Prior to becoming General Counsel at NMSU,
Kite served as General Counsel to companies in the health care industry.
Davin Lopez, President and CEO, Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
Prior to coming to MVEDA in February, 2009, Davin Lopez served as Vice President of the New Mexico Partnership, joining the Partnership at its inception in 2003. Lopez
spent five years in corporate real estate with General Growth Properties and the Macerich Company, where he held roles as Director of New Business Development and
Strategic Planning. He also spent two years in private business consulting and advising smaller, high-growth companies on their strategic initiatives and growth plans.
Lopez holds an MBA from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, San Diego, and is also a licensed real estate Broker in the
State of New Mexico. **Lopez is awaiting confirmation by the NMSU Regents to the Arrowhead Center Board of Directors.
James Manatt, Jr., President, Providence Technologies
James C. Manatt Jr., a former Regent of NMSU, is the President/CEO and founder of
Providence Technologies Inc., a consulting firm in energy development projects. He
obtained a B.A. degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from NMSU. He has held many positions ranging from founding director of the
Mesilla Valley Bank to President of Sierra Oil & Gas Inc.
Sherman McCorkle, President and CEO, Technology Ventures Corporation
In 1993, Technology Ventures Corporation (TVC) was founded by Lockheed Martin to commercialize
technologies and create job growth. McCorkle has been president of TVC since its inception.
He is also founder and Director of New Mexico Bank and Trust. Sherman McCorkle is the Chairman of
several Boards including the Chairman of Albuquerque Economic Development, Inc., Kirtland
Partnership Committee and the Science and Technology Park Development Corporation.
McCorkle graduated with Honors from the Colorado Graduate School of Banking at the
University of Colorado.
Roy Miller, State Director, New Mexico Small Business Development Centers
Roy Miller has served as State Director of the New Mexico Small Business Development Center network since August, 1996. Prior to that, he served as the local Small
Business Development Center (SBDC) Director at Clovis Community College for six years. Miller was on the Board of Directors of the national Association of Small Business
Development Centers (ASBDC) in 2004 and 2005 and served as a member of the national ASBDC's Accreditation Committee for four years. He completed the University of New
Mexico, Robert O. Anderson Graduate School of Management - Quality Management Certificate Program and graduated from NMSU in 1977 with a degree in Agriculture Economics.
Fred Mondragon, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Economic Development Department
Governor Bill Richardson appointed Fred Mondragon Cabinet Secretary of Economic Development in May 2007. Mondragon comes to the Department from the Office of Economic
Development, City of Albuquerque, where he led such visionary projects as a sustainable economic development plan and a technology summit. Mondragon served three terms in
the New Mexico House of Representatives where he represented District 16 in the Albuquerque Valley. Mondragon was the founding chairman of the Governor's Science and
Technology Commission. As CEO of Fred Mondragon and Associates, he specialized in technology transfer and changes to federal policies that make it simpler for businesses
and government laboratories.
Michael Morehead, Interim Dean, College of Education, New Mexico State University
Michael A. Morehead graduated from the University of Missouri with a Ed.D. in Educational Administration in 1978. During his tenure as a public school educator,
Morehead taught middle school Social Studies and worked as a school administrator. Morehead worked at Northern Arizona University and Emporia State University where he
coordinated student teaching programs, field experience programs, and admission to teacher education. He continues to be actively involved in the Association of Teacher
educators and the American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education. Morehead first became Associate Dean for the College of Education in 1992 and currently serves
as the Interim Dean.
Manuel Pacheco, Interim President, New Mexico State University
Manuel T. Pacheco brings extensive experience to New Mexico State University from a number of university systems across the country. Land-grant universities are of
particular interest to him after spending 12 years at the helm of land-grant institutions in Arizona and Missouri before his retirement in 2003. Pacheco has also served
as president of the University of Houston-Downtown and Laredo State University in Texas. Pacheco received a bachelor's degree in Spanish and French-German from New
Mexico Highlands University. He received his master's in French as a Fulbright student at the Université Montpellier in France and his doctorate in foreign language
education from The Ohio State University.
Van Romero, Vice President for Research and Economic Development
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Before being named New Mexico Tech’s Vice President for Research and Economic development, Van Romero
had a decade long career at General Electric Corporation’s Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory.
He also worked on a defense conversion project at Sandia National Laboratories, and in
1994 served as the director of NMT’s Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center
(EMRTC). Romero received his B.S. degree and M.S. degree in Physics from New Mexico Tech.
He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the State University of New York.
Jennifer Taylor, Senior Vice President Business, Finance, and Human Resources, New Mexico State University
Jennifer Taylor is the Senior Vice President for Business, Finance and
Human Resources at New Mexico State University, where her areas of oversight
responsibility include accounting and business operations functions,
auxiliary services operations, operation and maintenance of plant and
financial systems administration. Jennifer currently serves the state
as a standing member of the Higher Education Department's Formula Task Force
and as a member of the State Risk Management Advisory Board. She is a
certified public accountant with 28 years of professional experience, the
majority in higher education administration. She holds Bachelor of
Accountancy and Master of Business Administration degrees from NMSU.
Rick Wadley, President, Bank of America, New Mexico
At 19, Rick Wadley started at the bottom of the banking business, rolling coin in the vault at the Bank of New Mexico. Wadley fell in love with the banking business when
he became a teller because of the customers. Wadley's move to the loan side was helped by a stint of two years with Association Finance. Wadley then moved to the former
Albuquerque National Bank in December 1974, which is now Bank of America where he currently serves as President.
Ken White, Interim Dean, College of Engineering, New Mexico State University
After receiving his Ph.D. from Texas Tech University, Ken White began his career at NMSU as an assistant professor in the structural engineering program. His teaching
and research focused on structural analysis related to inspection, maintenance, and safety of bridges. His research in bridge inspection is the most significant
contribution of his creative and scholarly efforts. White's administrative and research abilities led to his appointment as director of the Engineering Research Center.
White currently serves as Interim Dean.
Ben Woods, Senior Vice President for Planning, Physical Resources, and University Relations, New Mexico State University
Benjamin Woods is Senior Vice President for Planning, Physical Resources and University Relations for New Mexico State University. His current position is responsible
for institutional planning, information and communications technology, facilities planning/construction/operations, land-related matters impacting NMSU, and university
communications and marketing. In addition, he oversees numerous service functions such as police, fire, safety and emergency response, and university flight
operations.
He has been with NMSU since 1990. Prior to that, he was employed at Texas A&M University where he received his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering. He later
earned a Masters in Business Administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He was commissioned through ROTC as an officer in the United States Air Force. He
continued service until his retirement from the Air National Guard in 1995.