August 26, 2024
Española, NM – The LANL Foundation has selected Dr. Gwen Perea Warniment to serve as the organization’s next President and Chief Executive Officer following an extensive national search to identify the Foundation’s next leader.
Dr. Perea Warniment returns to the LANL Foundation after serving as Director of the influential Legislative Education Study Committee, the staff organization responsible for advising public education policy statewide. Previously, she served as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment at the New Mexico Public Education Department where she directed a budget of more than $100 million, oversaw the statewide literacy initiative, student assessment system, college and career readiness initiatives, and development of strategies to build the educator workforce.
From 2013 to 2019, Perea Warniment served as a program director for the LANL Foundation, establishing and directing programs that have expanded and endured, including the ISEC program, scholarships for educators to gain National Board Certifications, and establishing the Foundation’s Teacher Leader Cadre, which was expanded to a fellowship this year.
An accomplished lifelong professional, born-and-raised New Mexican, and advocate of education at all levels, she brings over two decades of experience in education, ranging from teaching at the K-12 and university level to statewide policy and administration.
“I am deeply honored to step into the role of President and CEO for the LANL Foundation. It is an immense privilege to be entrusted with leading the LANL Foundation into its next chapter. The Foundation’s legacy of investing in education and learning across Northern New Mexico is both humbling and inspiring. I am eager to collaborate with the extraordinary team and committed Board to build upon their success, continuing to champion innovative solutions and uplift communities, while also recognizing the profundity of talent and wisdom that already exists in our communities,” Perea Warniment said.
She will transition to the Foundation on September 16th.
Perea Warniment holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and Bilingual STEM Education from New Mexico State University, a Master’s Degree in Education and Reading from New Mexico Highlands University, and Bachelor’s Degrees in English and Spanish from the University of New Mexico.
She succeeds Jenny Parks, who led the foundation from 2015 until 2023 and now serves as Senior Vice President of Strategic Philanthropy at the Anchorum Health Foundation. State Representative Susan Herrera was inaugural CEO prior to Parks.
The Foundation Board of Directors and Staff express deep gratitude to Tony Fox, who led the foundation as Interim President and CEO over the past eight months. Fox will continue serving as Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Scholarship.
“It is exciting to be able to hire someone like Gwen Perera Warniment whose roots are deep in Northern New Mexico and whose understanding of all aspects of education is impressive. In the national search process, Gwen surpassed several exceptional executives. We are delighted to welcome her aboard the LANL foundation as our new President and CEO,” said Kathryn Harris Tijerina, Immediate Past LANL Foundation Board Chair and head of the Executive Search Committee.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Perea Warniment as the new CEO serving the LANL Foundation. With her extensive education experience in New Mexico and her visionary leadership, we are confident that Dr. Perea Warniment will drive our efforts and contributions to new heights, continuing our mission to inspire excellence in education and learning in Northern New Mexico through innovative programming, collaboration, and advocacy. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the LANL Foundation, and we look forward to achieving even greater success under her guidance leading us toward our vision that all New Mexicans have the skills and confidence they need to be self-sufficient, lifelong learners who are engaged in our communities,” said LANL Foundation Board Chair Dr. Denise Montoya.
Established by a congressional act and appropriation in 1997, the LANL Foundation was created to further educational opportunities for K-12 students in the seven counties surrounding Los Alamos National Laboratory. It has since expanded its work into early childhood education as well as college and career readiness and placement via supplemental grant funding. The Foundation has also given over $12 million in scholarships to more than 2,500 students over the past 26 years.
In addition to grantmaking to community-based organizations, the Foundation funds services directly benefiting Northern New Mexico students and families from cradle to career, including the Inquiry Science Education Consortium (ISEC) program, which brings hands-on science lessons and materials to K-3rd grade students in 20 schools. Since 2019, the LANL Foundation has doubled its capacity, employing nearly 40 staff and raising over $18 million in individual contributions, grant and contract funding. The Foundation has also expanded its advocacy role, championing state policies and funding that improve child and family wellbeing in Northern New Mexico and statewide.
As the largest education-focused nonprofit in the state, overseeing endowments over $115 million and acting as an anchor organization for convening multiple regional and state coalitions, the LANL Foundation is poised to continue growing in its work to advance education in New Mexico.
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Since 1997, the LANL Foundation has been investing in education, learning, and human potential in Northern New Mexico. Through diverse programming and collaboration with key partners, the LANL Foundation works to ensure that all New Mexicans have the skills and confidence they need to be self-sufficient lifelong learners who are engaged in their communities. LANL Foundation is dedicated to the enhancement of students’ access to academic and technical opportunities, leading to quality jobs by supporting college and career readiness in schools, districts, communities, Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations. For more information visit: https://www.lanlfoundation.org.
