Acting Director Ricky  A. Serna

Ricky Serna is a first-generation college graduate from Española, NM. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership, both from New Mexico Highlands University. He has worked in public education and state government for more than a dozen years. Ricky joins the State Personnel Office from the Department of Workforce Solutions where he served as the Deputy Cabinet Secretary. Prior to joining the Lujan Grisham team, he served as the interim president at Luna Community College, where he successfully led an effort to overcome significant accreditation and governance challenges. He also worked as the Vice President for Advancement at Northern New Mexico College and spent nearly five years with the New Mexico Higher Education Department, providing field oversight for a statewide project aimed at increasing student graduation rates within 21 school districts. Ricky has served on the New Mexico Highlands University Board of Regents, the Las Vegas City Schools Board of Education, New Mexico’s ACT Council, the New Mexico Educational Assistance Foundation, and as president of the Española Valley Chamber of Commerce Board.