The National Hispanic Cultural Center will be looking for another leader.
On Wednesday, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs relieved Margie Huerta from her duties as NHCC executive director.
Both the NHCC Foundation and the DCA didn’t not got into details about Huerta’s departure, but the foundation confirmed that Wednesday was Huerta’s official last day.
Huerta was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in Oct. 2021, after a nationwide search. She began her position Nov. 5, 2021.
During the NHCC Board of Directors meeting on Dec. 8, Huerta was absent from the meeting, as the DCA already placed her on leave.
At the time, the DCA said, “It’s a personnel matter and couldn’t discuss.”
According to the DCA, both NHCC Artistic Director Noël Bella Merriam and NHCC Deputy Director Alberto Cuessy are stepping in as co-acting directors, since Huerta was placed on leave.
“Noël and Alberto are co-acting directors until further notice,” said Daniel Zillmann, DCA spokesman.
Huerta’s salary was listed at $101,764, according to the DCA.
Prior to Huerta’s appointment, the NHCC had been without a permanent executive director since April 7, 2021, when Josefa Gonzalez Mariscal resigned after 11 months in the position.
DCA Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego stepped up to oversee the center in July 2021 until Huerta was appointed to the position in November 2021.
Huerta was a member of the NHCC board of directors, before resigning from the board to apply for the position. She was also on a previous executive search committee during her tenure on the board.
The NHCC Board of Directors conducted an executive search to identify candidates for executive director when Gonzalez Mariscal resigned.
Working closely with the board president and vice president, Garcia y Griego identified the need for a leadership model that was more responsive to the unique needs of NHCC.
Huerta and Merriam were the two finalists for the executive director position.
The DCA created the artistic director position, which Merriam is currently serving.
