After a decade of dedicated service to the University of New Mexico (UNM), Barbara Morck, director of UNM Parking & Transportation Services (UNM PATS), has announced her retirement effective July 27.
Throughout her career, Morck played a pivotal role in managing, supervising, and facilitating all University parking and transportation operations and services. Her unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction led to continuous improvements in parking and transportation services for both internal and external customers. Under her guidance, the department efficiently coordinated daily operations, developed strategic plans in collaboration with other university departments, and ensured the responsible use of financial resources in accordance with university policies and regulations.
"I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have served as the director of Parking and Transportation Services at the University of New Mexico,” said Morck. “Working alongside a dedicated team and collaborating with our internal and external stakeholders has been a privilege. Together, we have strived to provide outstanding transportation services while continually seeking ways to enhance the overall experience for our campus community. I am proud of what we have accomplished, and I am confident that PATS will continue to thrive in the years to come."
Morck's journey at UNM began in 2013, following her tenure as director of Transit for the City of Dubuque, Iowa. Barbara has also served as a senior associate staff trainer for the Transportation Safety Institute, a position she still holds with the U.S. Department of Transportation. She brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role at UNM, allowing her to effectively lead The University’s Parking & Transportation Services department. Her extensive experience, coupled with her dedication to compliance with federal, state, and local laws, has contributed to the department's success and its ability to effectively serve the UNM community.
Throughout her career, Morck demonstrated a passion for creating a positive impact on campus life through leadership and the continuous enhancement of parking and transportation services. She actively sought opportunities for growth and innovation, ensuring that UNM remained at the forefront of parking and transportation best practices within its self-funded budget.
Morck's notable achievements include the implementation of an Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) system to accurately track passenger boardings and deboardings from shuttle buses, improving "real-time" shuttle location tracking through Where’s My Bus and PassioGo, transitioning most student permit sales to an online platform, introducing a "pay-by-day" parking option for faculty and staff who work a hybrid remote/in-person schedule, and establishing the Night Bus route for convenient inter-campus travel in the evenings. Morck also initiated bi-annual "Parking and Transportation Summits" to gather feedback and answer questions about budget, upcoming changes, and future plans. Additionally, she collaborated with university departments to develop additional surface parking to offset current and projected parking losses on the North and Central Campuses.
Throughout her career, Morck proudly served on various associations and organizations, including the Mid Regional Metropolitan Planning Organization (MRMPO), Mid Regional Council of Governments (MRCOG), New Mexico Transportation Association (NMTA), Southwest Parking and Transportation Association (SWPTA), Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT), and ABQ RIDE/CABQ's University Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study.
"Barbara Morck has been an invaluable asset to the University of New Mexico, and her retirement marks the end of an era," said Lisa Marbury, assistant vice president of Campus Environments & Facilities at UNM. "Her dedication to excellence, strategic planning, and financial stewardship has been commendable. We will greatly miss her leadership, but we wish her the very best in her well-deserved retirement."