Community Education Fine Arts

 

Theresa Boracci

Theresa has a Bachelor of Science degree from NM Tech.She has been an art instructor at Tech since 1996. A master of metal arts and jewelry making, she shows her work at various venues around New Mexico. She is certified in Precious Metal Clay and is a specialist in armor-making for the medieval enthusiast.

 

Judy Richardson

Judy is a sculptor who moved from Brooklyn to Magdalena, NM, just in time.  She has purposely lived all over the country and makes her work from discarded materials, both natural and manufactured, along with parts that she fabricates.  Her work is inspired by many different sources, from the political to the personal.  She is a former scenic artist for the San Francisco Opera, which had an enormous effect on her work.  She is a 2013 recipient of the Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant and has had a number of artist's residencies, from Roswell, NM to the Vermont Studio Center to Cochabamba,  Bolivia, to Mesa Verde, CO.  Judy's work is in permanent collections in New York, Vermont, New Mexico and California. 

 

Patricia Hatch

Hand Building in Clay, Wheel Thrown Ceramics I, Wheel Thrown Ceramics II

 

Jenny Blomquist

Jenny has a Bachelor's in Fine Arts degree in Studio Art from UNM and is currently working towards a Master of Fine Arts degree. She completed a teaching/painting apprenticeship under Midge Grace and has worked as a painting instructor at New Mexico Tech since 2006. Jenny's work sells around New Mexico and she accepts commission work, as well.

 

Ramona Montoya

Ramona's paintings are seen all over Socorro, including Wal-Mart, K-Bob's, Sophia's, Sonic, and other locations. Ramona has taught Acrylics at NMT since 2008.

 

Tony Perreault

Tony has a Bachelor in Science from NM Tech and is a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals since 2007, Tony is also a veteran of numerous digital photography workshops. His photography is shown around New Mexico, including the Festival of Cranes.

 

Elizabeth Gipson

Weaving I, Weaving II

 

Pirjo Berg (NEW)

Introduction To Watercolor Painting

 

Valerie Thomas (NEW)

Valerie Thomas has a BA in Psychology, with an 18 credit hour emphasis in Basics in Addiction Counseling (BAC) and a minor in English from UNM. I'm scheduled to complete my MS in Public Engagement in Science, Communication, & Design from NMT Dec 2024. I have been sewing and mending clothes and costumes since 1999. I work in the Office of Research Compliance & Safety as the Research Compliance Officer.  I have made costumes for personal cosplay including River Song from Dr. Who and Winnifred Sanderson from Hocus Pocus. My favorite project is my 1890s Edwardian Era overbust corset. I am currently making my own costume as Lady McDuff, a 1400-century kirtle dress and headcloth, in the Fall 2024 production of McBeth.

 

Community Education Physical Recreation 

 

Robert Adams

Weightlifting, Weightlifting for Women 

 

Melissa Begay

Melissa has a Master's degree in Health and Wellness from Highlands University and has taught Physical Recreation courses since 2000; Melissa has completed literally hundreds of hours of Yoga training. She is also certified in Spinning and Kickbox Aerobics. Melissa is a certified consultant on Exercise, Lifestyle & Weight Management.

 

Kim Padilla

Kim has been an aerobics instructor for 20+ years, and has been certified for Spinning since 2010. She also taught Aerobics for Tech and enjoys biking in her spare time.  She teaches the regular Spinning course and the Early Morning Spinning at 6:30am.

 

Sara Demorist

Spinning 

 

Brian Olney

Archery

 

 

Maggie Griffon-Taylor

Maggie has a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition and teaches in the CLASS department.  Maggie earned her first certifications in 2008, and has added hundreds of hours since then. Maggie is skilled in Hatha Yoga and Pranakriya. In addition to teaching at Tech, she has taught Yoga for Socorro Mental Health, Socorro Senior Citizens Center, and Yoga del Sol. 

 

Dezirae Armijo

Dezirae Armijo holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Adams State University and has a diverse coaching background, having worked with athletes in soccer, basketball, and track & field at levels ranging from youth to college. With experience in personal training, she is deeply passionate about empowering others to achieve their fitness and wellness goals. Dezirae is also the new Senior Event Coordinator for NMT's Advancement & Alumni Relations department, and you'll likely see her around campus as she works to create impactful events for the NMT community.

 

April Sandoval

Beginning Volleyball, Intermediate Volleyball 

 

Carrie A Marsyla

Carrie has an MBA with a minor in Accounting. She has also been a certified instructor in a variety of fitness areas since 1989. She has served as a personal trainer and taught Yoga, Pilates, Prenatal, and Aerobic fitness. She has also trained in fitness instruction with the Arthritis Foundation.

 

Alexander George

Alex has two degrees from NM Tech, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and in Electrical Engineering.  He has taught our Taijutsu courses on and off for 3 years now. Alex has a 1st degree Black Belt in Taijutsu.

 

Pnina Miller

Tia Chi Chuan 

 

Sabino Grijalva

Sabino has been a PGA golf professional since 2004. He has taught golf in the Socorro area to both college and high school students. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Western New Mexico University.

 

Julie Johnson

Julie Johnson, MS Physics, New Mexico Tech. Julie took up belly dancing as a hobby in 1977 and has been performing, directing, and teaching it for the last 45 years. She has been the choreographer and director of the Et Alia Mid Eastern Dance Troupe since 1979. She has been teaching belly dance at New Mexico Tech since 1986. She is the adviser for Aditi Natesa, the belly dance club at New Mexico Tech.

 

Scott Roberts

An active climber since 1991, Scott is an Eagle Scout with bronze, silver, and gold. He has been an instructor of wilderness survival, orientation, and backpacking, and he has served as a rock climbing guide. He is the most prominent and active route developer and area steward in the local Socorro Climbing Community. Scott has served as a climbing instructor, co-instructor, or substitute instructor at Tech for a number of years. He is currently working on a state-of-the-art rock climbing wall at our very own NMT Gym! 

 

Jason Olyphant (NEW)

Jason Oliphant is a dedicated rugby coach with extensive experience developing players and fostering high-performance environments. Since 2012, he has held various coaching roles, including with East Rand United, Valke Rugby, and North West University, focusing on training programs, performance analysis, and team management. He emphasizes creating a balanced approach to coaching, ensuring the development of players both on and off the field. His leadership extends to various high-performance programs, where he has successfully recruited and developed players, many of whom have gone on to professional rugby careers. His coaching philosophy centers on personal growth, motivation, and creating positive team cultures

 

 

Community Outreach Non-Credit

 

Niel Haverstick

Rock, Blues, & Folk Performance 

 

Gaby Benalil

Gaby Benalil has a Masters in Music from UNM in Vocal Performance and has participated in many performances like "Larina" in Eugene by Tchaikowsky. She has played the cello for the Chamber Orchestra here at New Mexico Tech.

Certifications 

 

Kenith Gonzales

Kenneth (Kenny) Gonzales, is a lifelong resident of the Socorro area. He served in the United States Marine Corp. After the Corp he has contributed countless hours serving Socorro County and Socorro Consolidated Schools. He has substitute taught, coached baseball and is now serving as the Community Education Welding Certification Instructor. 

 

Past Instructors  

 

Bill Stone

Dr. Stone is a Mathematics professor at NMT but has shared his knowledge of wine since 2007, teaching Zymurgy (wine tasting) to thirsty Techies for 8 years now.

 

Brad Hoffman

Bradley holds a Masters in Psychology Counseling from Dominican University, and a BA in Political Science from Swarthmore College. He currently coaches Basketball at Swarthmore, Dominican, and the University of California at Davis.

 

Dug Corpolongo

Sifu Dug Corpolongo has been practicing Martial Arts since 1979 and teaching Martial Arts since 1989.  He has acquired many awards, appointments, memberships and certifications during his lengthy career. Presently, he teaches in Albuquerque, Los Lunas and in Socorro.

 

Leslie Johnson

Dr. Johnson is a local physician here in Socorro receiving her MD from the University of New Mexico.  She teaches the Ceramics and Handbuilding courses.  Leslie has shown her works at the Festival of the Cranes and at the Alamo Gallery.

 

Marisa Wolfe

Marisa Wolfe has a Bachelor's degree in Rural Development and is an E-RYT Kripalu Yoga Teacher and owner of Yoga del Sol Studio in Central New Mexico, where she teaches a diverse roster of classes and offers bodywork as a licensed massage therapist and certified Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner.

 

Maureen Wilks

Maureen switched careers from the earth sciences in 2016 after 22 years with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology to become a compassion-based mindfulness teacher. She has been meditating on a daily basis for over ten years. In 2017, she trained locally in New Mexico, undertaking a 9-week one-on-one meditation course. In 2019, she went to Stanford University to take their 8-week Compassion Cultivation Training course. In 2020, she completed an 11-month program with the Applied Compassion Academy in Conjunction with the Center for Compassion Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford to bring compassion-based mindfulness back to her community.

 

Scott Teare

Scott Teare has studied several martial arts systems and has been a Karate instructor at NMT for more than 10 years. Each semester he also conducts a New Mexico Department of Public Safety approved concealed carry class. On campus, he is a professor in the Electrical Engineering Department.