Cruces CEO May Be UNM Regent

Gov. Susana Martinez on Friday nominated Suzanne Quillen of Las Cruces to be a University of New Mexico regent.

Quillen, if confirmed by the state Senate, would replace regent Carolyn Abeita, whose term expired.

Abeita has said she plans to serve until her replacement is confirmed by the Senate.

Quillen is the CEO of Advanced Care Hospital of Southern New Mexico, a long-term, acute care hospital in Las Cruces.

Quillen also worked for UNM in the past as a nurse educator, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

She has several degrees from the University of Albuquerque, which closed in 1986, the University of Phoenix and New Mexico State University. She also has certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner from the University of Colorado.

Quillen has also served as the director of marketing and business development at Mountain View Regional Medical Center and serves on the boards of the Bridge of Southern New Mexico, La Casa Women’s Shelter and the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce.

UNM will have three new regents this year. Student regent nominee Heidi Overton, a medical student, was picked to replace Jake Wellman, whose term expired. Former Republican state Rep. Conrad James of Albuquerque will replace Don Chalmers, who resigned soon after his term expired, opting to leave the board before his replacement was chosen. That means James can begin serving as a regent before the Senate confirms him.

Martinez also nominated regents for other state schools.

Dan Salzwedel, of Cedar Crest, was picked to serve on the Western New Mexico University regents. Hobbs resident Debra Hicks was nominated for the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology board and Kea Riggs, of Roswell, was nominated for the New Mexico Military Institute board.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal