As a freshman majoring in sociology at New Mexico State University, Karim Martinez followed her mother’s advice. In the fall of 1996, Maria S. Martinez was finishing her degree in family and consumer sciences when she suggested that her daughter enroll in one of the department’s courses.
“Through her encouragement, I started taking classes in FCS, and I really enjoyed it. I thought it meshed very well with sociology,” Martinez said. “I was learning about societies, cultures and families, and with family and consumer sciences, I was learning practical skills for family well-being. Everything that you learn in FCS, you can apply directly to your own life. I loved it so much, I ended up double-majoring.”
Since 2004, Martinez has been a Cooperative Extension Service faculty member at NMSU. The Las Cruces native became an Extension family life and child development specialist in 2018 after earning a Ph.D. in educational leadership and administration at NMSU.
In her current role, Martinez provides statewide leadership in family life education along with resource materials and training for county Extension personnel. Her areas of focus include stress and resilience, behavioral health and wellness, interpersonal communication and family relationships.
A new priority of Extension’s behavioral health and wellness initiative is addressing issues such as mental health challenges and suicide. Martinez had led the efforts in programs such as Mind Matters, Question, Persuade, Refer Gatekeeper Training, Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid.
“Mental health is not a topic that Extension has typically been known for, but because we are a trusted resource in communities, I think that we’ve been able to provide valuable support in this area,” Martinez said.
“Karim’s work strengthens the fabric of communities across New Mexico, and her dedication to improving the lives of families is truly remarkable,” College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Associate Dean and Extension Director Jon Boren said. “Karim’s thoughtful guidance, willingness to support colleagues and positive impacts for families and individuals across the state make her an invaluable member of our Extension team.”
At the county level, Martinez often taught programs in parenting education and health and wellness, including diabetes education and chronic disease management, to Doña Ana County residents. Martinez served as the program director for the Doña Ana County Extension Office for 10 years.
“Because I am bilingual, I was able to reach Spanish-speaking audiences with all of my county Extension programs,” she said. “I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful families throughout the county.”
She added, “In my specialist role, my clientele has shifted from directly reaching community members to supporting county agents. Even when resources are limited, agents rise to meet community needs, and I have really enjoyed and appreciated working with so many dedicated Extension agents.”
Dianne Christensen, an FCS agent at the Bernalillo County Extension Office who works with Martinez, recalled how she helped the team transition to online learning opportunities.
“She is effective, she’s efficient, but she’s also a servant,” Christensen said. “During COVID, FCS pivoted very quickly, and at that time, webinars were a big deal. We came up with the idea of doing a stress webinar, and she headed it up. Having been an agent, she gets what it’s like to be an agent.
“K is for kind,” Christensen added. “She’s just so kind and thoughtful. She has this amazing ability to be so caring, but professional at the same time.”
A version of this story appears in the spring 2026 issue of ACES Magazine. For more stories, visit https://nmsu.news/ACES-Magazine-Spring-2026.