About the Rio Grande Chapter
The CUPA-HR Rio Grande Chapter brings together HR professionals in higher education to exchange best practices, connect with others in our field, and provide meaningful educational opportunities on topics important and relevant to our field. We are always looking for higher ed HR professionals in our area who want to get involved and help out. If this sounds like you, please contact us.
Learn more about CUPA-HR's mission, values and priorities here.
2025-2026 Rio Grande Chapter Board
Vanetta Busch
President
Director, Hazing Prevention and Organizational Development Adjunct Professor for HR Management/Development, School of Business, Management Department
New Mexico State University
Franci Phelan
President- elect
Chief Human Resources Officer
Central New Mexico Community College
Shannon Siderius
Past President
Strategic Support Manager
University of New Mexico
Tina Rodriguez
Treasurer
Senior Director, HRIS & Benefits
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
LaRee Boyle
Secretary
Sr. Faculty Affairs Consultant
University of New Mexico, School of Medicine
Denisha Garcia
Member at Large
Unit Administrator 3
University of New Mexico
Cherisse Smith
Member at Large
Senior Advisor
Texas Tech University
Arizve Ochoa-Retana
Member at Large
Director, Human Resources
University of Texas El Paso