Karen Walter is a native New Mexican and an Instructor at the University of New Mexico Valencia Campus. She grew up in Albuquerque’s North Valley and studied at the University of New Mexico. Karen’s graduate degree in Educational Thought and Socio-Cultural Studies informs how she engages with students and teachers. Her educational philosophy drives her work in the community as well.

Karen is passionate about social justice and works with organizations to create inclusive and democratic spaces. When she’s not working, Karen is an avid reader and loves to swim and spend time with family. She also enjoys gardening and living in the community where she works. She encourages students to “drop by” and visit if they see her out working in the yard.

Email Ms. Walter.

Kathy has been the director at the Belen Public Library and Harvey House Museum since 2020.
She was born in Washington, D.C., was a professor emerita in anthropology at Colorado State
University, has a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a J.D. from the New York
University School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of William and Mary
in Virginia.
Email Dr. Pickering

Email Ms. Schauer

While as the ED for the City of Belen Public Library, Dolores became aware that
many people did not know how to read or write.

Thus, in 1987, Dolores and two other women working on adult education sent 65 invitations to recruit board
members.  All invitees responded positively wanting to be part of the new organization.  Dolores was the first president of the Board.  In 1991, Senator Michael Sanchez proposed her name as a New Mexico Mediator for the Human Rights Commission Board.  She was approved by the legislature and served until 1999.

Dolores raises funds for VCLC through her memberships with some local Organizations.

Dolores is a New Mexican native.  She is bilingual.  She has a greatpassion for justice in literacy.

Email Ms. Padilla.

Born and raised in Tome NM. A U.S. Marine, Fermin did public speaking, taught
military tactics in the Marine Corps, and learnt about mediation, whether it be
mediation between the troops or marriages.

After the Marine Corps, Fermin was a
volunteer mediator with the NM Center for Dispute Resolution with focus in
communication; “Listening to understand”.

Community services has been exerted
by helping to feed the homeless and by helping the less fortunate veterans, most of whom are from the mental health system, access the VA medical system. Fermin is a certified ESL Tutor and volunteers as such at VCLC.

Summer moved to Valencia County from Kansas in 2018 and immediately fell in love with the community and wanted to contribute.

She works as the Grant Coordinator for the City of Belen and owns a small web development company that focuses on helping local small businesses and non-profits establish an online presence. Summer sits on various boards and volunteers for several organizations.

Summer is passionate about improving the lives of all of our community members and knows that literacy is a key part of that.

It is with a heavy heart that the VCLC  reports the lost of Cynthia in February 2021.
Cynthia’s contribution to the Literacy Council has been highly valuable and will
continue to guide VCLC’s  future goals in our rural New Mexico communities.