Staff

We welcome anyone and everyone to our programs who want to engage in community, share in knowledge, and learn with us. Our team is committed to the ever-growing mission of Latin American Programs. Most of us speak Spanish and are happy to assist you with anything you need. We will be happy to support you find resources, identify individuals who can help you, provide mentoring and guidance.

TEMPORARY PROGRAM MANAGER


The image is a portrait of a woman smiling directly at the camera. She has long, curly dark hair that falls over her shoulders. She is dressed in a vibrant yellow blazer and underneath it, she is wearing a colorful striped top featuring vertical stripes in shades of blue, orange, pink, and white. The background of the image is blurred with tones of green and light brown, likely suggesting an outdoor setting. The woman's expression is joyful, and her smile is broad, showing her teeth.

ANGELA VELASCO

  (she/her/ella)

Angela Velasco is a temporary program manager with the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (EID). She is a New Mexico State University Alumni with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) and a Master of Arts (Agricultural and Extension Education).

Angela is also a New Mexico State University Retiree after 27 years of service. She first started her NMSU career with Facilities and Services while earning her bachelor's degree. Shortly after earning her degree Angela was hired in Human Resource Services serving in multiple roles. She retired after working 15 years as an Equity Officer/Investigator with OIE.

After spending several years as an After several years away from NMSU, Angela is excited to return in a new role where she will contribute her expertise to the ongoing development and support of the Latin American Programs and the Asian Pacific Islander Program.

Fun Facts: Angela enjoys spending time as possible with her family and friends, which includes hosting weekly Sunday dinners. When the opportunity arises, she enjoys reading suspense and thriller novels, watching crime drama series and watching live baseball, especially during the times her sons were playing.


 

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, INTERMEDIATE


Image of Joseph Duran Administrative Assistant, Intermediate. The image portrays a man from the chest up, standing outdoors. He is wearing a bright blue, button-up shirt with the collar open and glasses with dark, thick frames. He has short, neatly combed black hair and a short, well-groomed beard and mustache. His expression is calm, with a slight smile. The background is blurred with hues of green and white, suggesting greenery or an outdoor setting.

Joseph Duran 

Administrative Assistant, Intermediate

Joseph Duran is the Administrative Assistant for Latin American Programs and Black Programs. Prior to this role, Joseph was the administrative assistant for The Foundation and for the Dept. of Psychology. Joseph is born and raised in Las Cruces, NM and graduated from New Mexico State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in management and finance.

Fun Fact: Joseph enjoys spending time with his daughter, being outdoors (hiking, fishing, hunting, and camping), and traveling. Joseph and his daughter have a bucket list, where they want to go to every MLB stadium and watch a game!


 

 




Darien Salayandia Gardea

DARIEN SALAYANDIA GARDEA

GRADUATE ASSISTANT


Darien is a dynamic professional from Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, currently pursuing his MBA at New Mexico State University. He began his studies at the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua and later completed his undergraduate degree in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at NMSU through a prestigious exchange program.

His career reflects creativity, dedication, and a passion for sports. Before graduate school, he worked with AggieVision, an ESPN broadcast extension, as a cameraman for NCAA sports such as baseball, football, basketball, and soccer. This experience built on his earlier work with La Poderosa, a media outlet in Parral that covered games for his hometown baseball team, Mineros de Parral.

Darien has also contributed to STEM education as a tutor for the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM camp at NMSU, helping middle school students explore programming and coding in an engaging way. Currently, as a Graduate Assistant, he supports visual content creation, website management, and professional media design. He continues designing photography and video content for the Mineros, combining technical expertise with creativity.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Darien brings a multicultural perspective to every project. Known for his punctuality, charisma, and strong teamwork, he approaches tasks with discipline and efficiency, often completing assignments quickly and effectively.


Fun Fact: As a lifelong baseball enthusiast, Darien follows both the Mineros and the Boston Red Sox. One of his dreams is to visit all 30 MLB stadiums, he has already visited four. Passionate about travel, he also hopes to explore the world with his parents, younger brother, and girlfriend.

 


LATIN AMERICAN PROGRAMS STUDENT STAFF



NATALLIA SIERRA

NATALIA SIERRA

She/Her/Ella

Major: Political Science
Minor: Theatre Arts

GLINDIA CARTER

GLINDIA CARTER

She/Her

Major: Social Worker