SANTA FE — On Wednesday, New Mexico Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez will participate in education panels at the White House and U.S. Department of Education as part of the Biden Administration’s Classroom to Career Summit.
At the White House, Secretary Rodriguez will join White House officials including President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Later, the secretary will participate in a panel at the U.S. Department of Education on expanding free college tuition for community colleges to build a future workforce. Other panel participants include C.E.O. Martha Kanter of College Promise, Mayor John Giles of Mesa, Ariz., and City Council President Shannon Hardin of Columbus, Ohio.
The Department of Education panel, scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. Mountain Time, will be viewable by registering here.
“I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made in New Mexico in expanding access to tuition-free college,” said Secretary Rodriguez. “And national recognition and inclusion in these conversations is incredibly rewarding — New Mexico can continue to be a leader in building career pathways for more and more people from all different types of backgrounds.”
The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship has provided free college tuition to tens of thousands of New Mexicans, the majority of which are from traditionally under-represented communities.
Enrollment has increased at New Mexico colleges and universities for three consecutive academic years, and first-time freshman enrollment for the fall 2024 semester has increased almost 10 percent over last year.
Secretary Rodriguez has participated in past White House events highlighting New Mexico’s efforts to deliver tuition-free college to more residents, in particular first-generation students and students from traditionally under-represented groups.