COEHS New Student Orientation 2024

About our Undergradute Academic Programs

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Welcome Messages from our Program Coordinators.

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Dr. Shixi Zhao

Community Health Education Program Coordinator

The Community Health Education Program (CHED) prepares students to innovatively work and partner with New Mexican urban, rural and tribal communities in responding to the diverse public health needs of New Mexico and the Nation. Our students actively work with medical, health and public institutions, community-based agencies, and schools to design, develop and implement culturally appropriate health behavior enhanced interventions/programs.

Our faculty are student-oriented and possess a broad range of experience, skills, expertise, and knowledge. The faculty are strongly grounded in public health research and practice; and social justice in addressing equities in public health and social determinants of health. Faculty are committed and dedicated to a high caliber of teaching, research and service to UNM students.

Join us to improve community health in New Mexico!! We welcome you to Community Health Education.

Penny Zink

Elementary Education Program Coordinator

Welcome to UNM’s Professional Program in Elementary (K-8) Education!

In this rigorous and challenging program, we expect pre-service teachers to do the following:

exhibit ethical and caring behavior toward all students
develop academic and classroom skills that reflect competency in the areas of content knowledge, social and cultural understanding, and the art of pedagogy
complete the established professional sequence as outlined in the program

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Penny Zink

Elementary Education Program Coordinator

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In this program, you also have the opportunity to work in cohorts to form a learning community that builds lasting bonds – where genuine care and rigor matters as you learn to teach K-8 students. In your cohort, you will also have access to passionate faculty, supervisors, and cooperating teachers, who exhibit sincere interest in your personal development.

While you take your first two semesters of professional licensure classes with your cohort classmates, you also have the opportunity to apply your knowledge to classroom teaching for two days/week, before starting your final semester of full-time student teaching.

In your final semester, you will have opportunities to be creative in your teaching and will be expected to work toward taking over full-time instruction in that classroom for three weeks.

At your school site, you will also participate in community and program sponsored activities, and you learn to become an advocate and ambassador for education.

The UNM faculty and staff are excited to support you through this gratifying journey!

Dr. Len Kravitz

Excercise Science Program Coordinator

Exercise Science prepares students for careers in physical therapy, occupational therapy, personal training, and strength and conditioning.

Our Exercise Physiology laboratories are a hub for research and educational activities conducted by faculty and students in the program.

All students learn how to do physical performance tests including cardiovascular and pulmonary function, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, as well as blood lipid profiles.

We welcome you to Exercise Science.

Dr. Alex Davis

Family & Child Studies Program Coordinator

Family and Child Studies is a unique program that prepares students for a variety of careers working with youth and families! We offer three concentrations for undergraduate degrees:

1. Early Childhood Multicultural Education – License
This pathway is a state licensure pathway that prepares teachers for pre-k through grade 3 with a focus on culturally competent early childhood education.

2. Early Childhood Education and Development
This pathway focuses on early childhood and prepares students for a variety of careers working with young children

3. Human Development and Family Relations
This pathway focuses on development across the lifespan and emphasizes how social relationships shape development

Dr. Jean Cerami MS RD LD

Nutrition Program Coordinator, Director UNM Dietetic Internship

These are exciting times in the field of Nutrition! It is a dynamic science that is constantly evolving. We offer programs of study leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), a Master of Science (M.S.), a minor in Nutrition and an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship.

The Nutrition & Dietetics Program prepares nutrition professionals to work in public health, clinical care and management. Our faculty is student–oriented with a focus on evidence-based practice.

Thank you for considering the UNM Nutrition & Dietetics Program. We look forward to welcoming you to our team!

Dr. Karen Gaudreault

Physical Education Teacher Education Program Coordinator

Do you enjoy sport? Exercise and activity? Working with kids and young people? If you answered 'yes' to any of these, courses in the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program are FOR YOU!

The PETE program is dynamic, engaging, and personal: small class sizes, strong relationships with professors, and classmates that care about helping others live a healthy life.

Students who complete the program are certified to teach K-12 PE in New Mexico and many of our students go on to careers in group fitness, personal training, and higher education.

Join our team!

Dr. Sherry Jones

Secondary Education Program Coordinator

Do you enjoy working with adolescents and young adults in grades 7-12?

Are you interested in teaching in one or two academic subject areas such as: Mathematics, Social Studies/History, Sciences, Language Arts, or World Languages? If so, becoming a Secondary Education teacher in Middle or High Schools might be a good fit for you!

While learning to become a Secondary Education teacher is complex and challenging, it is also a rewarding profession that permits talented adults to share their content-specific knowledge with capable youth.

Student teaching is an apprenticeship that straddles two places to learn — a working classroom and the university. Like an apprentice, Preservice Teachers gradually become more involved in a classroom over the course of the year. In the fall semester, student teachers develop basic skills about teaching while spending 10 or more hours/week in the Cooperating Teacher’s classroom.

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Dr. Sherry Jones

Secondary Education Program Coordinator

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During this experience, student teachers gain experience, observe, assist, and they also deliver their first solo lessons. In the spring semester, student teachers will be present at the host school full time and assume greater responsibilities.

During the spring semester, student teachers, with the support of the Cooperating Teacher, take over planning and instruction for a minimum of 1⁄2 of the Cooperating Teacher’s course load.

By the end of the year, preservice teachers who have met the requirements for licensure as New Mexico Secondary Education teachers, will be equipped to assume full responsibility for their own classrooms.

Your experience in a working classroom and the mentoring you receive from a team of caring teacher educators and staff, will prepare you to be a competent, caring, and reflective practitioner.

Dr. Erin Jarry

Special Education Program Coordinator

Do you have the knowledge and skills to teach ANY student?

The UNM Dual License Program prepares teachers for today’s diverse classrooms with a comprehensive double major in Special Education and Elementary Education.

You will learn a variety of teaching strategies to support all learners
You will learn how to collaborate with a variety of individuals
You will receive one-on-one support from Faculty and UNM Clinical Supervisors
Upon graduation you will be eligible for NM teaching licenses PK-12 Special Education and K-8 Elementary Education