February 3, 2025 - By Steve Carr

Educators are a special group of people. Their desire, willingness and determination to go the extra mile to improve education is nothing short of heroic—especially in New Mexico, where the educational challenges are plenty.

Viola “Vi” Florez (Tighe) was one of those special educators who was passionate about improving the educational outcomes of students throughout New Mexico, and for decades, she succeeded on many different levels. Florez, 77, died recently, leaving behind a lasting legacy.

A native New Mexican born in Bloomfield, Florez was a dean emeritus and professor of Educational Leadership and Organizational Learning, PNM Endowed Chair in the College of Education, and a titan in the field of education in New Mexico. She was always there to answer the call when asked to serve in various roles, including twice as dean of the College of Education, now the College of Education and Human Sciences (COEHS). Following her period as an interim provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs (2007-2008), she worked at the State of New Mexico as the Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary under Gov. Bill Richardson from 2008-2010 before returning to UNM where she eventually retired with the title of dean emeritus.

“Vi was a great mentor and supporter to many in the College,” said current Dean and Professor Kris Goodrich. “She was the Dean who was actually responsible for hiring many of the individuals in the College’s current senior leadership. Vi helped the College to navigate many difficult transitions during her tenure in leadership, both at the beginning of her experience as dean, as well as when she came back to serve as interim dean later in her career.  The COEHS wouldn’t be what it is without her influence, and her loss is felt strongly among our faculty and staff. Her passion and commitment to education live on.”

Florez served for 15 years in the Texas A&M University System and as a professor, interim dean and acting vice president before she decided to move home to begin her more than 25-year career at The University of New Mexico. Her dedication, passion and love for the educational system in New Mexico was exemplified by her service to the state and UNM.

"Dr. Vi Florez was an amazing administrator and colleague who upheld the highest standards of integrity,” said current Texas A&M-San Antonio President Salvador Hector Ochoa, who succeeded Florez as dean in 2014. “She earned both the professional and personal respect of those who were privileged to work alongside her. Her profound commitment to transform the lives of her students serves as an exceptional model for all of us in higher education."  

Florez was the original architect for what is now known as the Teacher Residency program, which started here at UNM nine years ago and expanded statewide three years ago. That program has carefully responded to the teacher shortage in the state by providing intentional clinical experiences that better-prepared teacher candidates for the classroom and has resulted in far greater teacher retention rates as compared to traditional student teaching experiences.

“Dr. Vi Florez was an educational leader at the University and for the State of New Mexico. Her participatory leadership style included others in her decision-making,” said Professor Marjori Krebs. “She was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the teacher residency teacher preparation program at UNM and eventually across the state. Her future-thinking set New Mexico up as a leader in statewide teacher residencies. Most importantly, she took the time to get to know each of her faculty and to establish relationships with them to find the way to best support their work and success.”

In 2015, Florez also helped the state meet the need for STEM teachers as part of the Accelerated Alternative Licensure Program (AALP), designed to help meet that need. The collaboration with the Albuquerque Public Schools and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, funded by the New Mexico Department of Education, recruited highly motivated STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) professionals and veterans into the middle and secondary education to become licensed teachers in the field of STEM education.

Later that year, she was instrumental in the creation of the START or ‘Supporting Transformative Action in Reciprocity Together,’ a project supported by sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. It included the formation of three Transformative Action Groups, or TAGS, which were comprised of COE faculty from across disciplines to increase effective teachers by enabling them to teach across disciplines to a diverse group of students by increasing the number of effective teachers in early childhood, elementary and secondary schools by providing rural, and tribal cultural field experiences and integrating coursework to support development of cultural competency for students studying to become professional educators.

“Vi invited me to serve on the leadership team that she constituted to implement a grant-supported project to transform educator preparation at UNM,” said Educational Leadership Professor Emerita and Chester C. Travelstead Distinguished Faculty Fellow Dr. Allison Borden. “For the next five years, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness up close how a servant leader promotes and sustains collaboration for human flourishing and the common good.

“She demonstrated how to find strength in community to do the good but very demanding work of education. Throughout that project, and in all aspects of her life, Vi was, in the words of John Goodlad (2002), our “chief worrier,” the person who always listened to us carefully, considered differing views, facilitated deliberation, and gently but firmly guided us to accomplish our goals.”

“Vi initiated many partnerships with school districts around the state that brought internships and placements for our students,” said Breda Bova, an assistant professor and associate dean and chief of staff for several UNM presidents. “She brought on board a development director and throughout her tenure raised thousands of dollars for scholarships for many students.”

There were other accomplishments and milestones including the title of PNM Endowed Chair, a prestigious chair first established at UNM in 1985, that she held for 20 years. The endowed chair was thanks to a gift from the PNM Resources Foundation with matching funds from the state of New Mexico.

She was also significant in the naming of the College’s iconic signature building, Travelstead Hall. The building’s history began in 1956 when the new dean of the College of Education, Chester Travelstead, proposed the construction of an all-new facility. Travelstead cited the College’s existing, “dilapidated” buildings as the reason for the new building. Created by architect Max Flatow, the new building represented a sharp contrast to the Pueblo Revival-style buildings that the University’s architecture is known for.

“Vi was an excellent educator with versatile talents able to fill so many diverse roles,” said Chester’s son, Coleman Travelstead. “I have huge gratitude for the work she did in the naming of the signature building of the College of Education and Human Sciences complex after my father - Travelstead Hall.”

Florez was an active member of many civic and community organizations, including Mission Graduate: United Way Community Partnership, and chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Education committee and received numerous awards throughout her storied academic career.

“For Vi, the people and the relationships were the work. I just saw her in December, and, with her wide smile and her laugh, she recounted having hired me as an assistant professor in the first group of faculty she hired as dean,” said Jay Parkes, senior associate dean for COEHS Student Success. “We visited about my family, her kids and grandkids, and the wonderful time she and Jerry were having these days. Then we talked a little business.”  

Florez earned her Education doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1980; Master’s Degree in Education, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo., 1976; and B.A in Liberal Arts and Humanities, Fort Lewis College, Colo., 1970.

Florez is survived by her husband of 44 years, Girard Tighe; daughter, Kathryn Ramsey; son, Joseph Tighe and siblings, Steve Florez (Dolores), Louella Florez Evans (Jesse), Frank Florez (Gloria), Katrina Florez Fitt (Jeff), Bill Florez (Abby), Kenneth Florez (Joanna), Corine Florez, Susan Florez Chavez (Ken), Robert Florez (Charrise), and Carmen Florez Mansi (Tom). 

A mass of Christian burial will be held Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church in Blanco, N.M. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Our Lady of Desert Monastery, P.O.  Box 556, Blanco, N.M., 87412, or online at www.ourladyofthedesert.org.