LANL Foundation President & CEO Graduates the 2019 Leadership New Mexico Core Program
LANL Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Jenny Parks made a commitment over the past year that aligns with the Foundation’s vision that all New Mexicans be “self-sufficient, lifelong learners who are engaged in their community.” Parks expressed her personal dedication to that principle by participating in the 2018–2019 Leadership New Mexico Core Program.
Leadership New Mexico was founded in 1995 to identify current and emerging leaders throughout New Mexico, enhance their leadership skills and deepen their knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing our state. The organization is dedicated to the development of informed leaders who understand issues, define problems, develop solutions and achieve positions of higher responsibility in New Mexico.
Parks was one of 42 applicants chosen to participate in the 10-month 2018–2019 core program. Each Leadership New Mexico class represents a cross-section of public, private and nonprofit sectors. Parks joined other participants in traveling all over the state in order to experience the unique culture of each community and learn about local issues important to each region. This enables program graduates to have a broad-based and comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing a state with such geographic diversity.
“Each of the sessions was held in a different place in our state and featured multiple speakers who were experts in their field,” Parks said. “The sessions were all very informative and interesting and gave me a deeper understanding of New Mexico.”
Core Program sessions are designed to address topics relevant to New Mexico. Each session features speakers who are local leaders and subject matter experts, while program participants actively engage in discussion and debate. The process offers an opportunity for inquiry, analysis and development of solutions to the most pressing concerns facing our communities and state.
The program year included a two-day retreat and orientation, followed by five educational sessions on the topics of health and human services, economic development, education, environment and natural resources and government, crime and justice and leadership.
“One of the best things about participating in the program was the opportunity to interact with wonderful people from all over our state with whom I wouldn’t normally have the chance to meet. We made friendships and bonds that will continue,” Parks said. “I am already using things I learned and drawing upon some of the expertise of people I met to help in my work in Northern New Mexico. It was a really good experience.”
