interviewed by Wendel Sloan
Communication Services

"I have always had a lifelong love for a good story." - Dustin Delaho

Editor's Note: Dustin Delaho, the new Department Secretary of Enrollment Services' Transfer Center, began work at ENMU on July 20. In the interview below he discusses his life and career.

Q. What are the main duties of your job?
A. My position with the Transfer Center consists of many typical secretarial duties. I contact both future and current transfer students, informing them of missing documents or just lending direction as to which objectives they should be completing, as far as enrollment goes. I set up appointments for the students to register for courses, assist them with the steps of declaring majors. I am also available to answer general knowledge questions about the university.

Q. What have you enjoyed most about your job, and what have been the biggest challenges?
A. I enjoy the knowledge that I played a small part in the beginning of some young person's educational career here at Eastern.

Q. What were you doing before you came to ENMU, and what other jobs have you held?
A. Before becoming a full-time employee at ENMU, I served under a few part-time work study positions. I first served as a lab assistant with the University Computer Center for six months. Then I served as warehouse personnel with Purchasing and Central Receiving, where I spent the next three years up until my graduation.

Q. What are your degrees and majors?
A. I obtained a bachelor's of science in biology in 2015 from Eastern New Mexico University. I plan to eventually continue my education.

Q. Where were you born, raised, and what was your life like growing up?
A. I was born in Clayton, New Mexico. With my grandfather's deteriorating health, my sister and I moved with our mother to help care for him and tend to his ranch, where he raised sheep and cattle. My sister moved away and joined the Navy in 2008, and she currently resides in Virginia. I went to high school in Roy, New Mexico, and graduated in 2010.

Q. What are your hobbies?
A. I have always had a lifelong love for a good story. Whether by books, film, or video games, I am drawn to the child-like wonder that accompanies the exploration of exciting new worlds, or from a shocking third act twist. I am also a budding sports fan, and am very excited for the start of football season.

Q. What is your ultimate career goal?
A. My ultimate goal is to obtain a Ph.D. and conduct biological research. I do not currently know where I would like to complete my education, nor do I know specifically what I want to study. I came to work at ENMU so that I could have some time to save money and think about what academic areas I am most passionate.

Q. What is your general impression of Portales, and ENMU?
A. I love everything about this campus. From the beautiful groundskeeping to the friendly and knowledgeable staff, everyone does the best they can to ensure you feel at home and have the tools required to succeed. Coming from such a small town like Roy, I graduated with 10 other students.

And it was the largest class size at the time. That says a lot about the size of the town in general. Coming out of an area like that, Portales seemed like the perfect size to me. It's not too small to where you are knocking elbows with your neighbor, but the right size where you can always run into a friendly and familiar face.