New Mexico Public Education Secretary Aresenio Romero resigned today, effective immediately, amid speculation about his potential future as the next president of New Mexico State University (NMSU).
The announcement, made by the governor’s office after 5:30 p.m., comes just weeks after Romero was named as one of five finalists for the top leadership position at NMSU.
Romero’s resignation marks a significant shift in the state’s education leadership, as he was appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham just a year and a half ago in February 2023.
Romero was the fourth education secretary under Lujan Grisham’s administration; his departure now leaves a vacancy in the state’s top educational role.
Governor Lujan Grisham acknowledged Romero’s service in a brief statement following the resignation. “I appreciate Secretary Romero’s service to the New Mexico Department of Education and the children of our state,” she said.
Michael Coleman, communications director for the Office of Governor Lujan Grisham, said, “The Secretary of Public Education is critically important in New Mexico and the governor believes it’s imperative that the person serving in this role be fully committed to the job.”
For this reason, Coleman said, the governor gave Romero the choice “to either resign and continue pursuing the NMSU position or stay on the job and withdraw his candidacy at NMSU.”
Coleman said the search for Romero’s replacement will begin immediately, with interviews of potential candidates set to take place over the coming days. Any permanent appointment will require confirmation by the state senate.
Romero’s resignation comes at a crucial time for both NMSU and the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED).
NMSU has been searching for a new president since March, following a tumultuous period under former Chancellor Dan Arvizu, who resigned in April 2023. Finalist interviews are expected to be complete by the end of August, the university is expected to announce its new president by the end of next month.
Romero’s tenure as secretary of education began with filling many empty roles in his administration, and continued with the resuming of accountability measures to improve student outcomes. While these were positives, his time in the role was also marked with late data releases.
“I wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Lujan Grisham wrote. The governor will now begin the search for her fifth education secretary.
News of Arsenio’s departure follows an announcement earlier this week that Gwen Perea Warniment, who has served as the director of the Legislative Education Study Committee since mid-2022 has announced that she will be leaving the LESC to start a new role as the Executive Director of the LANL Foundation.
