CHESS Board of Directors

Hector Balderas, JD, CFE, brings years of experience in public service to his role as President at Northern New Mexico College, working to build coalitions and unify opposing constituencies. He is a champion of the underserved, those whose voices are not normally heard.

President Balderas was raised by a single mother in the village of Wagon Mound, New Mexico. Growing up in public housing and on food stamps, he learned the importance of compassion and respect, and gained the conviction that everyone—no matter their background—deserves the same opportunities to succeed.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from New Mexico Highlands University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico Law School. He served as a Bernalillo County Assistant District Attorney, as a New Mexico State Representative, and twice as New Mexico’s State Auditor.

During two terms as Attorney General, he transformed the Special Prosecutions Division, Special Investigations Division, and Human Trafficking Task Force and expanded the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. His Criminal Appeals Division obtained landmark Supreme Court opinions and his civil court victories include the largest Tobacco Settlement payment in state history. He focused on keeping children and families safe, empowering families and small businesses for financial success, and protecting New Mexico’s pristine environment. He is licensed to practice law in New Mexico and is a Certified Fraud Examiner. He also donates time working with at-risk children and the special needs community.

Santa Fe Community College President Becky Rowley, Ph.D., is a leader in higher education and a champion for students. Rowley is chair of CHESS (Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services). She has served as chair of New Mexico Independent Community Colleges since 2015.  

At SFCC, Dr. Rowley cultivates a collaborative environment with students, faculty, and staff to develop innovative programs and provide equitable learning environments for all students. She supports administrative efficiency and transparency; strong relationships with business, education, and government; and being responsive to the needs of the community. An advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion, she oversees the President’s Diversity Advisory Committee. She advances the College as a community hub for higher education and economic development.

Dr. Rowley is an ex officio member of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Board and chairs the Higher Education Advisory Committee. She has served on the New Mexico State Workforce Development Board, Eastern Area Workforce Development Board, New Mexico Higher Education Strategic Planning Committee, and New Mexico Higher Education Governance Committee. 

Previously, Dr. Rowley was president of Clovis Community College (NM), where she also served as Executive Vice President of Academics and Student Services and was a full-time English faculty member.

She holds a Ph.D. in English from University of New Mexico, a master’s degree in English from University of Virginia, and a bachelor’s degree in English and Latin with a minor in Political Science from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Luna Community College President Dr. Edward Martinez is a native of northern New Mexico and a former student of the college he now heads. He is committed to enhancing the partnership between Luna and the communities it serves. Since becoming president in 2021, Martinez has implemented community education, opened a community kitchen and a food pantry, initiated continuing education programs, and re-established academic and workforce programs placed on hiatus due to the pandemic.

During the 2022 historic wildfires, Martinez opened the campus to more than 1,000 emergency response personnel as Luna became the U.S. Forest Service Incident Command Center. Martinez has played a major role in bringing land restoration workshops to the community to help address erosion, bring back vegetation, and build marketable skills for those impacted by the wildfires and subsequent floods.

Previously, Martinez served New Mexico Highlands University as Special Assistant to the President, founding Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management and Professor of Forestry. In 2019, he was selected as an American Council on Education fellow, completing his fellowship at University of Nevada-Reno. Martinez’s numerous successful grant authorships and publications have received national recognition for their focus on supporting underrepresented populations to succeed in STEM fields.

Martinez graduated from Mora High School, received welding certification through Luna Community College, and has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences from NMHU. He earned a Master’s in Environmental and Regional Planning and a Doctorate in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University-Pullman.

Dr. Robin Jones was named Acting President of Clovis Community College in August 2022. She is also the Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs at CCC, a role she has held since 2011.

Dr. Jones has served the college for over 25 years, holding various positions including Dean of Allied Health, Chair of Allied Health and Human Services, and Nursing Program Director. She got her start at the college as a Nursing Instructor.

Before her time at CCC, she was a staff nurse in various departments at Plains Regional Medial Center.
Currently, Dr. Jones serves as a Higher Learning Commission Institutional Liaison, a Higher Learning Commission Peer Reviewer, and a New Mexico Curriculum Committee appointee. Throughout her tenure, she has also served as the Chair for the New Mexico Nursing Education Articulation Committee, a New Mexico Board of Nursing Board member, and as the New Mexico Board of Nursing Vice-Chair and Chair.

Dr. Jones earned a Doctorate in Education from New Mexico State University. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from West Texas A&M University as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an Associate Degree in Nursing, both from Eastern New Mexico University.

The Central New Mexico Community College Governing Board unanimously selected Tracy Hartzler to become the sixth president of CNM in November 2019; she began her presidency on Jan. 1, 2020.

Before becoming CNM President, Ms. Hartzler was CNM’s Vice President for Finance and Operations and has been at CNM since 2015. She has served the public sector for more than 25 years in education, government, and policy roles. Since 2011, Ms. Hartzler has played a significant role in shaping postsecondary education in New Mexico, first with the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, and later with CNM.

Before becoming CNM President, she served as treasurer for both CNM Ingenuity, Inc., and CNM Foundation. She has held various positions at the College, overseeing budgeting and finance, strategic planning, accreditation and research, human resources, facilities, information technology, and other operational functions. She also served on the state’s Complete College America team, advocating for policies that improve student retention and completion. In 2019, President Hartzler served as the Governor’s appointee to the New Mexico State Investment Council. 

Previously, Ms. Hartzler served as Special Assistant Attorney General for the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission and as Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. 

President Hartzler earned a Juris Doctorate from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America, a Master of Education Degree from the University of Virginia, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, from Saint Mary’s College in Indiana.