For Stella Johnson, earning her high school equivalency wasn't simply about completing something left unfinished. It was about opening doors she once believed had closed.
“I wanted to finish what I started,” Johnson said. “The support from the staff and instructors had a huge impact on my confidence. Earning my credentials means I have more job opportunities, and I can go to college and learn more about computers, which is the future.”
Johnson's experience reflects a broader transformation taking place at New Mexico State University's Grants Campus, where Adult Education has become more than a pathway to a credential. The program emphasizes relationships, individualized support and helping students discover what comes next – whether that's college, a career or a new beginning.
“Our relationship building starts with understanding,” said Ron Morales, director of Adult Education. “Understanding who you are as a person and understanding the people who participate in your program. Relationships are key.”
That philosophy became the foundation for rebuilding a program that had experienced years of underperformance and significant staffing turnover. After a new leadership team came together in late 2024, the staff focused on creating an environment where every participant was encouraged to learn, grow and define success on their own terms.
“Through relationships, we were able to build our retention,” Morales said. “People wanted to come to the program, stay in the program and do what's necessary to complete.”
For Blade Morris, senior administrative assistant of the program, that approach carries special meaning.
“I graduated from this program myself back in 2016,” Morris said.
Having experienced the challenges of returning to school firsthand, Morris now helps students navigate many of the same obstacles he once faced. His own journey shaped one of the team's guiding philosophies: trust students, listen to their goals and give them the opportunity to succeed.
Photo of Blade Morris working with students. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)
“My message was to allow students the opportunity,” Morris said. “When a student feels like they're ready, listen to them and trust them.”
That student-centered approach has transformed more than individual lives; it has reshaped the program itself. Just over a year ago, the Grants Campus Adult Education program ranked last among New Mexico's 26 Adult Education agencies in measurable skill gains, a statewide performance indicator that tracks student progress through high school equivalency testing, educational skill advancement or workforce training certificates. Today, it has remained the state's number one program for the past 18 months.
The results extend far beyond the rankings. During the past year and a half, 89 participants have earned their high school equivalency credentials. Graduates have entered the workforce, enrolled in colleges and universities, joined skilled trades and even pursued military service, with faculty and staff continuing to mentor many of them long after graduation.
“Along with entering the workforce, we help with every step along the way,” Morales said. “Whether that's preparing a resume, conducting a job search or transitioning into postsecondary education, we want students to be successful.”
That support often continues after students leave the classroom.
“We really try to figure out what's going to set each student up for success,” Morris said. “Some of our students still stop by our office to ask how to navigate life as a college student.”
As students gained confidence in themselves and the staff around them, Morris said the atmosphere inside the program began to change.
“People didn't come here because they felt obligated to,” he said. “They came because they felt comfortable and like they were making progress.”
Another one of those students is Santana Cheromiah, who enrolled determined to earn her high school equivalency during what would have been her original high school graduation year. With encouragement from the Adult Education team, she achieved that goal, enrolled at NMSU Grants and now works alongside the same staff members who once supported her as a student.
“My consistency and determination helped me reach that goal,” Cheromiah said. “The staff impacted my confidence through my journey. They helped me enroll at NMSU Grants after I earned my credentials, and now I work with them in the Adult Education program as a work-study student.”
Cheromiah hopes her experience reminds others that their circumstances don't define their future.
“No matter what is going on in your life, you are capable of achieving anything,” she said. “There are limitless possibilities and new opportunities. You can start anytime and believe you deserve the best for yourself.”
For Johnson, Cheromiah, Morris and dozens of other graduates, the Adult Education program has become more than a place to earn a credential. It's a place where second chances become new beginnings – one student, one success story and one opportunity at a time.
For more information about the Adult Education program, visit https://grants.nmsu.edu/webpages/campusservices/adult-ed.html.