Nicole Heckathorn has worked at NMSU for 17 years and currently serves as an administrative assistant in the Sociology Department in the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation. She also serves as the secretary for the union that represents non-exempt NMSU employees (AFSCME NMSU) as well as a Title IX adviser for the Office of Institutional Equity, and has held various roles on the Labor Management Committee for the past eight years.
“I enjoy working with our union members,” Heckathorn said. “Our union educates our members on their rights and benefits and negotiates for higher wages. A Gallup poll recently reported that unionization reached its highest level since 1965. The headlines — from Starbucks to Amazon — show it too. Solidarity works, and I’m happy to be a part of it."
In her current role in the Sociology Department, Heckathorn provides administrative support to faculty and undergraduate and graduate students. She also prepares and assists the department head in setting weekly and monthly goals for the department. This responsibility entails mass emails, meetings, events and marketing for the department. She also works with students to educate them on free mental health campaigns, food insecurity locations and clothing banks.
Heckathorn has several degrees from NMSU and Doña Ana Community College, including a bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s degree in agriculture extension and education, two associate degrees in education and general science, a graduate minor in family and consumer sciences, and two additional minors in gender and sexuality studies and business management.
In 2021, Heckathorn was nominated for NMSU’s Roberts Memorial Staff Award.