New Mexico State University (NMSU) announced Friday that Mariana Ortega has been appointed as the first assistant vice president for diversity initiatives within the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. The appointment follows a national search, and Ortega will begin her new role on July 15.
“Mariana brings with her extensive experience working in higher education, particularly with diversity programs and various campus and community partners,” said Teresa Maria “Linda” Scholz, NMSU’s vice president for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. “She has a strong understanding of public institutions and will bring innovative approaches to EID work at NMSU.”
In her new position, Ortega will oversee student-facing programs and services within the EID division. These include the American Indian Program, Asian and Pacific Islander Program, Black Program, Chicanx Program, and LGBT+ Program. Additionally, she will support systemwide EID initiatives aligned with NMSU’s LEADS 2025 Strategic Goal 6 aimed at advancing equity across the university system.
“I am excited to be in a role where leading with solidarity and collectiveness will be at the core of what we do alongside our EID team and as a campus community,” Ortega stated. “I strongly believe in the urgency of creating a more equitable future for all... It excites and honors me to have the ability to invest in a school and community that gave so much to me during my early years in my career; I still have colleagues and peers, and this feels like a homecoming for me.”
Ortega's previous tenure at NMSU spanned from 2013 to 2019 where she held multiple roles including residence director, college instructor, new student registration specialist, orientation program specialist, as well as faculty advisor for Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
Born in Guatemala and raised in Boaco, Nicaragua, Ortega is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Resources Development at the University of Illinois' College of Education. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of West Florida.
Most recently serving as director for La Casa Cultural Latina at the University of Illinois, Ortega led her team to expand several signature programs such as the Black & Latinx Summit among others.
“In my role,” she said about her upcoming responsibilities at NMSU,“I plan to continue to build on the legacy the current EID programs have started... My goal is to ensure our efforts are sustainable and we are building for future generations of Aggies.”
