The New Mexico State University College of Education has selected Ramon Dominguez to serve as the Stan Fulton Chair for the Improvement of Border and Rural Schools.

The Stan Fulton Chair was established to enhance communication among NMSU faculty, staff and students and pre-kindergarten through 12th grade constituents to improve border and rural schools. In this capacity, the chair works to expand, improve and coordinate existing outreach programs and research activities. In particular, the Fulton Chair coordinates the Alliance for the Advancement for Teaching and Learning, a collaborative among NMSU, K-12 education and other agencies that support teaching and learning in New Mexico.

The chair was established in 2005 and is funded in part by an endowed gift from Stan Fulton, a benefactor to the university and owner of Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

"Dr. Dominguez is an outstanding educational leader who continues to work tirelessly for students and our educational community. He truly represents the type of educational leader that is characterized by his appointment as the Stan Fulton Chair in the College of Education," said NMSU College of Education Dean Michael Morehead. "During Ramon's career he has provided excellent leadership at many academic levels and continues to successfully coordinate outreach and educational initiatives in our region."

An experienced higher education administrator, Dominguez agreed to hold the chair for one year while he formed a committee to review the criteria and responsibilities of the position. The committee will include representation from each of the college's departments. The committee also will make a recommendation on the next recipient in spring 2013.

"Since 2005, when the Stan Fulton Chair was established in the College of Education, Dr. Eric Lopez honorably served in the position. In January, Dr. Lopez accepted a dean's position in San Antonio, Texas. With his departure and the changing global educational environment, a re-evaluation of the position is appropriate," Dominguez said. "I am honored to serve the College of Education in this capacity."

Dominguez has been a faculty member in the College of Education's Department of Educational Management and Development since 2001. He previously was president of El Paso Community College and had also served as EPCC's executive vice president, associate vice president for student services, and in various other roles over a 30-year period. He also has served NMSU as the interim NMSU Carlsbad president and as an interim associate provost.

Dominguez holds four academic degrees - a bachelor's in secondary education and a master's in counseling and guidance from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Specialist in Education and Ph.D. in educational administration from NMSU.