Governor nominates Tripp for NMHU regent

RIO RANCHO — One of Rio Rancho Public School’s own has been nominated regent of the college he graduated from.

Gary Tripp, an RRPS school board member, former human resource director and chief strategy planning and engagement officer for the district, was one of 11 people nominated by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Jan. 3 to serve as regent of New Mexico Highlands University.

For Tripp, the nomination takes him back to his alma mater.

“I feel honored, especially since I grew up in Las Vegas and earned both my B.A. and M.A. degrees from New Mexico Highlands University,” he said.

NMHU has a personal connection for Tripp as well.

“My wife, Jeannette, and I have been married for 45 years. She also has a B.A. and M.A. from NMHU. We got married on August 18, 1979, just before she started her sophomore year and I began my freshman year at NMHU. Together, we are a team committed to supporting NMHU,” he said.

He also continues to support the campus in any way he can. When he coached and educated in Moriarty, he took his student-athletes on visits to NMHU “encouraging them to pursue college education,” he said.

Tripp, as the executive director of New Mexico Activities Association, organized golf tournaments to raise funds for the wrestling program at the university, which he says has produced many wrestling coaches in the state. He’s also been involved with athletic boosters and fundraising efforts there.

“I have spent most of my adult life volunteering and serving NMHU in various ways, always striving to advance the university. With my administrative experience in New Mexico K-12 education, I hope to assist many other departments within the university,” he said.

Among some of his goals for the regent position are to improve the facilities and increase the number of students on the main campus. Tripp additionally wants to learn about what the school offers the public and align it with the state’s future needs “to ensure that NMHU becomes the leading institution in meeting those needs. Also, to listen, identify where my skills are needed, and serve the citizens of Las Vegas and NMHU to the best of my ability,” Tripp said.

He says he is excited to see how he can benefit the university.

“I am blessed that the governor has recognized what NMHU has done for so many young people from Las Vegas, Mora, Wagon Mound and the entire northeast New Mexico area,” Tripp said.

Besides Tripp, Lujan-Grisham has nominated regents for Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, New Mexico Military Institute, New Mexico School for the Deaf, New Mexico State University, Northern New Mexico College and University of New Mexico. She is also reviewing candidates for Western New Mexico University after its board of regents resigned in recent days due to turmoil following the departure of university President. Joe Shepard.