Alumni Award Recipients

Jerry Dominguez
Zia Award, 2010

In the 1970s and early 80s, Jerry Dominguez took educational opportunities to New Mexico’s communities personally. By car. Others called it onsite training and evaluation. He called it windshield time.

In the mid-80s, while serving as dean of the UNM Division of Continuing Education, Jerry began exploring ways to spread learning opportunities without getting behind the wheel. With help from Sandia National Labs, Jerry set up interactive TV classes between UNM and the labs, and then expanded his efforts to 75 “receive sites” around the state.

In 1999, Jerry became the founding vice provost of Extended University. Since then, students have traded Jerry’s windshield for their own computer screens – without having to pay for gasoline.

Extended University has taken off by leaps and bounds, reaching students in almost every New Mexico County. From a dozen courses in 2000 to more than 350 courses in 2010. From a couple of hundred students to many thousands of students. The notion of access to education at anytime from any place has become not just an option for students, but an expectation and a demand.

Jerry is an avid basketball and golf fan. Like the arc of a basketball or golf ball aimed unerringly toward the net or the hole – the arc of Jerry’s career has aimed toward one goal as well – extending education to all. For Jerry, there should be no barriers to learning.

We see this in his choice to major in speech pathology for his BS at Eastern New Mexico University and then in communication disorders for his MS at UNM.

We see it at the beginning of Jerry’s career when he worked on behalf of deaf and blind children with the state and UNM.

We see it in his outreach efforts to teachers and children – especially kids with disabilities -- across the state.

We see it in his doctoral work at UNM in special education.

We see it in his training programs for educators and counselors in the areas of alcohol and drug abuse.

We see it in his training program for bilingual teachers.

We see it in his selection as a Kellogg MSI Leadership Fellow by the Alliance for Equity in Higher Education.

And, of course, we see it in his work at Continuing Education and Extended University.

For Jerry, no sort of disability . . . no primary language difference… no distance… and no family or work obligation should keep New Mexicans away from the opportunity to better themselves and their lives.

A colleague says that Jerry is one of the “committed people.” His commitment has touched and continues to touch thousands.

We are grateful to you, Jerry. We’re grateful to you for keeping your focus through the years on educational access for all. We’re grateful to you for applying your spirit and energy to making UNM’s endeavors successful.

We’re also very happy to give you our Zia Award today.