New Mexico
New Mexico Highlands University tackles social worker shortage
As the state of New Mexico faces a shortage of social workers, one university is working with high school students to introduce them to careers in the field.
NEW MEXICO — As the state of New Mexico faces a shortage of social workers, one university is working with high school students to introduce them to careers in the field.
“New Mexico is really a social work desert in some respects. And we really need to find a way to grow this workforce,” Melissa Riley said.
Melissa Riley is the director of the Native American Social Work Studies Institute at New Mexico Highlands University.
The institute receives funding from the New Mexico Legislature to develop better training for the current workforce – and a better curriculum for students looking to enter it.
Now, they’re visiting schools across the state to see what they need to do to help and spur students’ interest.
Even if social work isn’t their first career option.
“We do have some young minds that are very interested and very concerned with the future. They’re looking at community safety, looking at child welfare,” Riley said. “Those are the students we wanna open our doors to and say, ‘We need you to be a part of this growing movement to increase our social work workforce.’”
Riley says students often hear about social workers in crisis or turmoil. However, when they talk about the full scope of careers in the social work field, it opens their eyes.
It also chips away at the stigma around the field.
“When you talk about being a medical social worker, working with veterans, working with elderly and disabled populations, that’s when you see the a-ha moment of ‘Wow I didn’t really know you could do all of those things with a social work degree.’ It is piquing the interest.”
The Institute also offers training for students so they can get a head start on their careers.
“If you have the group, even the administrators or staff that are interested, give us a call. The New Mexico Legislature has been investing in the institute for several years now. There’s no fee. We just want an audience. We just want to see how we can make a difference here,” Riley said.
If you’d like to learn more about the Native American Social Work Studies Institute at New Mexico Highlands University, click here.
Native Vote 2026
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Laguna Pueblo woman is the front runner to be New Mexico’s next governor.
Shortly after polls closed Tuesday night, Deb Haaland was declared the winner over Bernalillo County district attorney Sam Bregman in the state’s semi-open Democratic Party primary. As of 11:00 p.m., Haaland carried support from 72% of the Democratic primary voters to Bregman’s 28%, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State.
“We’re showing everyone that a better future in New Mexico is possible,” she told supporters gathered in Albuquerque’s historic Old Town Plaza. “New Mexicans want a leader who will stand up for working people, and who is ready to take on Donald Trump. I proudly accept your nomination as a Democratic nominee.”
Haaland spoke for 13 minutes, at times through a scratchy throat that required her to pause for water breaks. “Excuse me, I’ve been talking with voters all day,” she said while grabbing a water bottle before hitting her campaign stump notes on affordability, health care and public safety.
She will face Republican Gregg Hull, a former mayor from suburban Rio Rancho that won his party’s three-way primary with 47% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State.
Haaland will be the Democratic Party nominee in a state dominated at every level by Democrats, and is expected to be heavily favored in the general election. With that insight she said her campaign message does translate to Republicans and Independent voters.
“We want our kids to thrive. We want our kids to have a quality, public education. We want every New Mexican to have health care. Everybody wants to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and everybody wants to be able to afford to put a hot meal on their table every night and have a roof over their children’s heads,” she said. “Those issues transcend whatever political spectrum we’re trying to slice and dice people into.”
Shortly after the race was called, Haaland campaign staff, major donors, surrogates, and their families walked from a building on the west side of Albuquerque’s Old Town Plaza to the historic plaza core, where the Haaland campaign had set up a stage and reserved the entire plaza for its victory celebration.
“We are now witnessing history in the making,” New Mexico state Rep. Derrick Lente (Sandia Pueblo) said to supporters immediately after Haaland was declared the winner.
Denise Wilie (Dine) also joined the celebration of Haaland’s victory. Wilie said she worked on get-out-the-vote efforts with the Native American Voters Alliance in McKinley County.
“It just is so exhilarating to even think about, a woman and a Pueblo woman,” she said. “Indigenous all the way, is how I feel. I’m like, yes, let’s get more of our voices.”
Haaland was introduced by her two sisters and walked to the stage escorted by a mariachi band.
Speaking to reporters after the event Haaland reflected on voting for a Pueblo woman (herself) for governor.
“I got emotional, quite frankly, when I went to vote for myself because you do that when you’re a candidate,” she said. “We’ve never had a Native American governor in New Mexico. We’re a multicultural state. I think representation matters, especially in a political era such as this one. So, I’m really proud and honored to carry on the legacy of my ancestors, who worked so incredibly hard to make sure that I had a place here today.”
Related
When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
But they don’t have to do it alone thanks to an organization helping New Mexico families with some of those burdens.
Watch the video above for more.
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