Arrowhead Center, Inc. Board of Directors
Dr. Bryan Ashenbaum
Dean, College of Business, NMSU
Dr. Bryan Ashenbaum is Dean of the College of Business at NMSU. He previously served as associate dean and department chair at Miami University’s Farmer School of Business. Before academia, he worked at Procter & Gamble, Honeywell, and in the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Program. He holds a Ph.D., MBA, and B.S. from Arizona State University and currently serves as co-editor-in-chief of Transportation Journal.
Rob Black
Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Economic Development Department
Rob Black leads the New Mexico Economic Development Department, bringing over 25 years of experience in policy, advocacy, and business development. He formerly served as President/CEO of the NM Chamber of Commerce, launching initiatives like Be Pro Be Proud and NMORCA. He has also held leadership roles at PG&E and served on several state advisory committees. He holds a J.D. from UC Law San Francisco and a B.A. from UNM.
Dana DeRego Catron
Interim Director, Arrowhead Center, NMSU; Interim President & CEO, Arrowhead Center Inc.
Dana Catron leads Arrowhead Center and Arrowhead Center, Inc. as Interim Director, President, and CEO. She has deep experience in technology commercialization, SBIR/STTR, and federal program leadership. She founded the NM Clean Energy Resilience and Growth cluster and serves as site director for ASCEND. She holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Washington State University and a Master’s degree from NMSU, where she is also pursuing a Ph.D.
Scott Eschenbrenner
Special Assistant to the President, NMSU; President & CEO, Aggie Development, Inc.
Scott Eschenbrenner is President and CEO of NMSU’s Aggie Development Incorporated and Special Assistant to the President. He oversees the university’s real estate and water assets, fostering public-private partnerships. Before joining NMSU in 2015, he ran Mesilla Valley Appraisal Services for 20 years, specializing in commercial real estate in Southern New Mexico and West Texas.
Dr. Valerio Ferme
President, NMSU
Dr. Valerio Ferme is President of NMSU, leading the system in research, teaching, and public service. He previously served as Provost and Dean at the University of Cincinnati, where he launched initiatives to support underrepresented faculty and student success. He holds degrees from Brown University, Indiana University, and a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. A dual citizen of Italy and the U.S., he brings global perspective and academic leadership.
Dr. Rolando Flores
Dean, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, NMSU
Dr. Rolando Flores serves as Dean of the College of ACES at NMSU. He holds a Ph.D. in Grain Science from Kansas State, an M.S. from Iowa State, and a B.S. from the Universidad de Costa Rica. His past roles include USDA researcher, professor at Iowa State and KSU, and department head at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His research has focused on food processing, grain utilization, and water optimization, earning over $2.5 million in grants.
Ricardo Gonzales
Regent, NMSU; Regional Vice President, El Paso Electric
Ricardo Gonzales is Regional Vice President for New Mexico at El Paso Electric and a Regent of NMSU. A seasoned public policy leader, he’s known for his work on the Energy Transition Act and for securing state funding through prior roles with NMSU and the NM Department of Agriculture. An NMSU alumnus with a B.A. in History, he brings expertise in legislative affairs, community engagement, and corporate strategy to higher education governance.
Lisa Henderson
General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, NMSU
Lisa Henderson serves as NMSU’s General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer. She previously held legal roles in Oklahoma state government, including deputy general counsel and general counsel for land and higher education agencies. Her expertise spans real estate, legislative drafting, and education law. She holds a J.D. and LL.M. in Healthcare Law from the University of Oklahoma and earned her bachelor’s in Sociology from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, graduating summa cum laude.
Dr. David V. Jáuregui
Interim Dean, College of Engineering, NMSU
Dr. David V. Jáuregui is Interim Dean of Engineering at NMSU. He previously served as Associate Dean, Department Head of Civil Engineering, and Director of the Bridge Inspection Program. His leadership supports international partnerships, accreditation, and multidisciplinary research programs. A licensed Professional Engineer, he earned his B.S. and M.S. from NMSU and a Ph.D. from UT Austin. He also serves as NMSPE Vice President of Education and has advanced student engagement in infrastructure innovation.
Ross Justus
University Controller, NMSU
Ross Justus is Controller at NMSU and a New Mexico CPA. He previously served as Chief Audit Officer and Audit Manager at the university and has prior experience at KPMG LLP and Moss Adams LLP. A graduate of NMSU’s College of Business and New Mexico Military Institute, Ross brings extensive experience in higher education financial compliance and reporting. He resides in Las Cruces with his wife and three daughters and remains committed to public service.
Dr. Rick Marlatt
Dean, College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation, NMSU
Dr. Rick Marlatt leads the College of HEST at NMSU, advancing diversity and educator pipelines. He previously served as Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Director of the School of Teacher Preparation. A published scholar in literacy and education, he’s received over $20M in sponsored project funding. Dr. Marlatt holds an MFA from UC Riverside and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He’s been a faculty member at NMSU since 2017.
Marisol Olivas
Student Regent, NMSU; Graduate Student, College of ACES
Marisol Olivas is a graduate student in Agribusiness at NMSU and currently serves as Student Regent. A native of Belen, NM, she earned her B.S. in Agricultural Economics & Business in 2024. Deeply involved in the agriculture community, she has participated in 4-H, NAMA, and international agricultural study programs. Marisol is a former ACES mentor and ambassador and was part of the NAMA team that won the 2023 National Championship.
Dr. Enrico Pontelli
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, NMSU
Dr. Enrico Pontelli is Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at NMSU. A researcher in AI, logic programming, HPC, and assistive tech, he has secured nearly $14 million in funding and published over 250 papers. He joined NMSU in 1997 and holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from NMSU. A Distinguished and Regents Professor, he also founded the Center for Research Excellence in Smartgrid Technologies and is a leading advocate for STEM education access.
Dr. Lakshmi Reddi
Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer, NMSU
Dr. Lakshmi Reddi is Interim Provost and former Dean of Engineering at NMSU. With over 25 years of academic experience, his interdisciplinary research in civil and environmental engineering has earned over $15 million in funding. He previously held administrative roles at Kansas State, UCF, and FIU. Dr. Reddi holds a bachelor’s from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University.
Dr. Patricia Sullivan
Interim Vice President for Research, Creativity, and Economic Development, NMSU; Interim Director, Physical Science Laboratory, NMSU
Dr. Patricia Sullivan is Interim VP for Research and Interim Director of the Physical Science Laboratory at NMSU, and Associate Dean for Outreach in the College of Engineering. She leads STEM outreach and undergraduate recruiting, with expertise in energy policy, workforce development, and supporting underrepresented populations. A three-time NMSU graduate, she holds a Ph.D. in industrial engineering and serves on the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education and the New Mexico Spaceport Authority.
Jackie Kerby Moore
President, JKM Consulting; Non-Position Director
Jackie Kerby Moore is President of JKM Consulting and former Manager of Technology and Economic Development at Sandia National Labs. She led key tech transfer programs including NMSBA, ESTT, and SS&TP, and helped establish the Center for Collaboration and Commercialization. A past president of the AURP board, Jackie earned degrees from NMSU and NMHU and was honored with the NMSU Distinguished Alum Award from the College of Business for her contributions to innovation.
Davin Lopez
President & CEO, Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance; Non-Position Director
Davin Lopez leads MVEDA, supporting business recruitment and economic growth across southern New Mexico. Prior to MVEDA, he served as VP at the New Mexico Partnership and held leadership roles in corporate real estate with General Growth Properties and Macerich. He earned a Bachelor’s in economics from UC San Diego and a Master’s from Yale University. A licensed broker, Davin brings deep experience in strategic development, investment, and regional economic planning.
James C. Manatt, Jr.
President & CEO, Thrust Energy, Inc., Managing Member, Blue Sierra Power, LLC, Non-Position Director
James C. Manatt, Jr. is Chairman and CEO of Thrust Energy, Managing Member of Blue Sierra Power, and a co-inventor of Directed Beam Seismic®, a patented geophysical technology. A former NMSU Regent and Distinguished Alumnus, he played a key role in the creation of Arrowhead Center. He has led multiple energy and R&D ventures and partnered with Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories. He holds a Bachelor’s in university studies, with a business emphasis, from NMSU.
David Perez
Founder, Perez Strategy Group; Non-Position Director
David Perez is the founder of the New Mexico Innovation Hub and leads the Perez Strategy Group, advising on executive and business strategy. He founded Latin Force, served as CEO of The Santa Fe Group, and is board chair of New Mexico Angels. A University of Vermont graduate, he enjoys music, fly-fishing, skiing, and restoring classic cars.
Mike Rogers
President & CEO, Prism Strategies Group; Non-Position Director
Mike Rogers is President and CEO of Prism Strategies Group and a former CMO at NMSU. He has held executive roles at IDG and Computerworld, and served on the board of Guidewire Group in Silicon Valley. Mike remains deeply connected to NMSU through alumni leadership, the College of Business Advisory Council, and as an adjunct faculty member. He holds a Bachelor’s from NMSU and is a James F. Cole Award recipient and Distinguished Alumnus.