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State senator Shendo to relinquish seat to take on job at University of Colorado Boulder
Sen. Benny Shendo Jr., D-Jemez Pueblo at a Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee meeting at the Roundhouse.
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New Mexico state Sen. Benny Shendo Jr., D-Jemez Pueblo, will relinquish his state Legislature seat in March to take on a job with his alma mater, the University of Colorado Boulder, according to a news release from the university.
Shendo has been hired into a newly created position, associate vice chancellor for Native American affairs.
Shendo has served as senator for District 22 since 2013. His district includes Bernalillo, McKinley, Rio Arriba, San Juan and Sandoval counties. He was the chair of the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee.
Shendo began at CU Boulder part-time on Monday and will be full time March 1, after he gives up his state Senate seat, according to the university news release.
In his new role, Shendo will liaise with tribal governments and communities in Colorado and the wider region. This would not be Shendo’s first time working in education. He was the senior manager of Native American programs for the University of New Mexico in the late 90s, and co-founded the San Diego Riverside Charter School in Jemez Pueblo, according to an old campaign website.
“I cannot wait to get started in this new role at CU Boulder to strengthen our relationships with the Tribes of Colorado and those historically connected to Colorado and to build a strong, supportive Native American community on campus for our students, faculty and staff,” Shendo said in a statement.
