Meet the Board
The UNM Parent & Family Association hosts annual board elections every spring. If you would like to get involved, please send us an email at parenta@unm.edu!
Aaron Miscenich
Aaron Miscenich is currently the Executive Director of bwtech@UMBC, a 70+ acre research park located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home to over 525,000 square feet of office and lab space, bwtech houses over 130 companies. For 14 years Miscenich was President & CEO of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, a life science business incubator focusing on university-based technologies. During this time Miscenich also managed New Orleans BioFund, an evergreen capital source. In 2012, Miscenich served as Interim Executive Director of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center. Miscenich holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of New Mexico and an M.B.A. from Tulane University.
Angelica Gallegos
Angelica Gallegos was born and raised in Albuquerque NM as the daughter of two immigrants who taught her to work hard. A mother of two, her son and daughter are both college students. Angelica’s son will graduate from UNM in 2023 and her daughter from NAU-Flagstaff in May of 2025. Angelica has been married for 24 years and still going strong. Her husband is a UNM graduate and through him learned about UNM. She has been in the financial industry for now 13 years, in marketing for 7 and in customer service for 32 years. Angelica likes to cook, bake, hike, craft, garden, and create memories with her family and friends that will last a lifetime. Her goal is to make a difference for upcoming students, highlight UNM to encourage them to attend and not only further their studies but to help grow the beautiful state of NM.
Caroline Weaver
Caroline Weaver has a rising sophomore from North Carolina majoring in Computer Engineering. The whole family loves New Mexico. She works at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Francie Cordova
Francie Cordova is the mother of UNM Sophomore Adiana Cordova. Adiana is considering a major in speech pathology. Francie is a native New Mexican born and raised in Espanola, NM. Francie received her law degree from UCLA and has practiced law for over 25 years. Francie is currently the Chief Compliance Officer for the University of New Mexico and is committed to making UNM campus the best place to live, work and learn.
Heather Rom Bratton - PFA Board President
Heather Bratton lives in Issaquah, Washington and is the proud parent of a UNM Fine Arts student studying Film and Digital Arts. Her background studies were in design and elementary education, and Heather has worked as a teacher, landscape designer, project and curriculum designer, and project manager, as well as an enthusiastic volunteer. Heather’s free time fills up with reading, knitting, gardening, travel, binge watching programs, spoiling my dogs, and exploring new arts and crafts. Her family is happy to be part of UNM – Go Lobos!
Liz Abeyta
Monica McNitzky
Monica McNitzky lives in San Antonio Texas with her husband Rich. They have 2 great children and 2 crazy dogs. Monica’s daughter is a Junior at UNM majoring in Psychology.
Rich McNitzky
Rich McNitzky is from San Antonio, Texas where he practices law and lives with Monica, his wife of 28 years, and two dogs, Tango and Icee. They have a son, Rich, who is a second-year law student at Tulane, and their daughter, Cat, is a junior at UNM. Fun fact: Rich’s wife is also a UNMPFA board member.
Sarah Charai
Sarah, her husband and three boys reside in St. Paul, Minnesota where she leads the Supply Chain Operations for Allina Health. Her son, Amine, will be entering his 2 nd year at the University of New Mexico. Amine was looking to experience a different climate and culture during college and UNM has certainly offered him that. Sarah joined the UNMPFA because she feels that just because they are off to college, it doesn’t mean that the parents and families can’t stay connected and involved in their education. “I have gained a lot of insight and guidance simply by attending the monthly UNMPFA meetings – it has definitely made the transition to college easier for us as a family. I feel comfortable knowing we have a network of UNM parents we can connect with for questions and support.”
Sarah Smith
Sarah lives in the high desert of central Oregon. She is the cofounder and President of SEND Transportation, an employee-owned logistics company. When she isn’t working, she enjoys gravel biking, gardening and practicing yoga. Sarah’s daughter is a junior at UNM studying English and Chemistry. She is excited to be a part of the UNMPFA Board and looks forward to helping to build connections between parents, students and the university.
Susanne O. Mahoney
Susanne O. Mahoney is from Kansas City KS. Her daughter Molly will be a Junior in Fall 2022 and is studying at the University of Salamanca, Spain for her Junior year. Susanne is an early childhood speech language pathologist. Her family has hosted eight high school aged foreign exchange students and Anastasiia, from Ukraine, will continue to be with her family for the upcoming school year.
Yolanda Beavers-Campbell
Yolanda Beavers-Campbell is married to Darwin Campbell and has three adult children, grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Yolanda has worked as a Kindergarten teacher for the past five years at Buckeye Elementary, District #33. Yolanda is also an Air Force Veteran who served 20 years. Her son, Patrick, will be a Sophomore in August 2022 at UNM. Yolanda's family is blessed with the opportunity for Patrick to attend college.
