With the advent of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham taking office, the landscape of New Mexico leadership is changing. Those changes include several appointments pulled from The University of New Mexico community.
Kate O'Neill, Secretary of Higher Education
Former CEO of the UNM-Taos campus, Kate O’Neill, has been appointed Secretary of Higher Education. In her 12 years with UNM, O’Neill developed a nationally accredited nursing program and grew the Taos campus’ budget by 250 percent.
"This is someone who took a fledgling UNM campus really struggling in rural New Mexico and has turned it around,” Lujan Grisham said.
William Scott Carreathers, Office of African American Affairs
William Scott Carreathers, director of African American Student Services at UNM since 2002, will head the state Office of African American Affairs. Carreathers was previously an associate dean for diversity initiatives at UNM and has continuously worked as an advisor for students and student groups.
Dr. David R. Scrase, Human Services Department
Dr. David R. Scrase will lead New Mexico’s Human Services Department. Currently a professor of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at the UNM School of Medicine, he also serves as the interim division chief for General Internal Medicine and the chief of Geriatrics at UNM.
Active in numerous New Mexico public policy committees and community organizations, Scrase also serves as a director and treasurer for Equality New Mexico.
Kathy Kunkel, Department of Health
Kathy Kunkel will oversee the Department of Health, Kathy Kunkel has a law degree from UNM, and spent eight years working at the UNM Health Sciences Center, first as a pediatric social worker and ultimately as assistant director of Care Management Services.