LEADING THE WAY

Tracy Hartzler

Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)

Tracy Hartzler is the President of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), which serves the largest undergraduate student body in New Mexico. She began her presidency in January 2020 and previously served as CNM’s Vice President for Finance and Operations.

Under President Hartzler’s leadership, CNM was one of five community colleges nationwide that helped found and launch Unmudl, a national skills-to-jobs marketplace that provides working learners with the shortest, most flexible and affordable options for skilling up quickly and improving their career prospects. Businesses use the service to find the skilled workers they need to grow. President Hartzler serves as Chair for the Unmudl Steering Committee.

President Hartzler also successfully led transformative reorganizations at the college that were implemented in 2021 to better serve the needs of students, employers and the community. The new Division of Workforce & Community Success was created to put more focus on strengthening partnerships with employers and economic development leaders to better meet workforce needs while providing students with more work-based learning opportunities and job-placement services.

President Hartzler has served the public sector for more than 25 years in education, government, and policy roles. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. She earned her Master of Education Degree from the University of Virginia with highest honors; and she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, from Saint Mary’s College in Indiana. She is a member of the New Mexico, Indiana (inactive), and District of Columbia Bars. In 2021, she was selected as one of the 25 most promising community college presidents in the early years of their tenure to participate in the Aspen New Presidents Fellowship, managed by the prestigious Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.