Due to her countless roles in the community, Jessica Munoz, program coordinator for New Mexico State University’s STEM Outreach Center, was named the 2022 Ralph B. Crouch Memorial Award recipient.
The Crouch Award recognizes staff members who make outstanding contributions to the university. Munoz will receive the award during NMSU’s Employee Appreciation Picnic at Preciado Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31.
“Being nominated and rewarded with this was shocking,” Munoz said. “It was definitely a nice surprise, a very pleasant surprise. I am very blessed and grateful that I was picked.”
For five years, Munoz has worked as the program coordinator for the STEM Outreach Center, which is housed in NMSU’s College of Health, Education and Social Transformation. She is from Chaparral, New Mexico, where she worked at an elementary school for six years before joining NMSU. As program coordinator, she establishes after-school programs through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center grant.
Wanda Bulger-Tamez, director of the STEM Outreach Center, nominated Munoz for the award because of her dedicated work ethic.
“While Jessica is outstanding at her assigned work duties, she does so much more to support our local community, students, teachers and our staff,” Bulger-Tamez said. “Jessica is an amazing team member who cares for the success of everyone on our staff. She often spends her weekends and evenings at school-based learning events, such as Family STEM nights, and creates activities that promote fun family STEM learning.”
Munoz serves different schools in the Las Cruces and Gadsden communities by providing professional development for the teachers through writing curriculum and activities, in English and Spanish, and purchasing and delivering supplies to school sites. She is also a member of the Borderland Out-of-School Time Network.
“I love my job, I love working in education,” Munoz said. “I want our kids to have the best possible stuff, and me being in the position that I am, I can push for that and provide more resources for those families and work with kids. Our department is great because we impact so many, and it is not just one or two people, it is all of us together. I hope this recognizes just how hard everyone works.”
Bulger-Tamez said Munoz also goes out of her way by supporting and assisting other coordinators and specialists.
“Our staff has grown to rely on Jessica’s knowledge, generosity and amazing tech skills,” Bulger-Tamez said.
For more information on the Crouch Award, visit https://recognition.nmsu.edu/formal-awards.html. To learn more about NMSU’s STEM Outreach Center, visit https://stemcenter.nmsu.edu/.
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CUTLINE: Jessica Munoz, program coordinator for New Mexico State University’s STEM Outreach Center, was named the 2022 Ralph B. Crouch Memorial Award recipient. (NMSU Photo by Josh Bachman)