UNM presidential candidate Carlos Santiago said he wants the position because he is interested in the diverse population of New Mexico and because his administrative experience closely parallels the responsibilities of the job.
"I know all the aspects of running a large research university," Santiago said. "Coming from a faculty background and having served in various capacities all over the world, I have developed sensitivity for all cultures."
Santiago, provost and vice president of academic affairs at the University of Albany, began his two-day visit to UNM to become familiar with the community and the issues surrounding the University. He said that for the next president to do his job, they have to make sure that others are successful.
He said that the overall success and growth of UNM's students and organizations should be a top priority for whoever is chosen to fill the role as president, and that will improve the overall quality of the education available here and open new doors for the University to grow.
"Students are the bedrock of New Mexico's future," Santiago said. "Their success and the prosperity of the organizations on campus have a direct impact on the future of the state."
Santiago, who said that he's most proud of his accomplishments in fundraising and capital development at the University of Albany, said that while he does not advocate consistent tuition increases, he feels that they are sometimes necessary to provide the best education possible.
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"Universities need to remain competitive in order to produce the most highly trained graduates that they possibly can," he said. "While access to higher education needs to remain open, you get what you pay for."
He is also a professor in the Latin American and Caribbean Studies, as well as the Economics Department. Santiago said he believes his experience running a large research university makes him an excellent candidate for UNM president and that he will bring a variety of perspectives to UNM if chosen for the role.
He added that the role and scope of public higher education have changed dramatically over the past 20 years and that in order for universities such as UNM to remain helpful in society and ensure their prosperity, they need to increase their involvement with the community.
"Universities hold a multitude of opportunities and talent," Santiago said. "Collaborating in research programs and striving to push the technology envelope with outside organizations will not only benefit the University and increase the nations standing nationally, but it will ensure the opportunity of public higher education for generations to come."
Santiago said he is also familiar with UNM from an educator's point of view. He said he looked into the University's Economics Department in 1988 and has had a scholarly interest in UNM as a professor and former chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Department at Albany.
He earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Miami in 1973 and two master's degrees in economics from the University of Puerto Rico in 1975 and Cornell University in 1979. He also earned his doctorate from Cornell in 1982.
