Chancellor Sabrina Ezzell delivers closing remarks during the inaugural Adult Basic Education Graduation Ceremony inside Zollinger Library at UNMGallup on April 28, 2026.
UNMGallup Chancellor Ezzell announces retirement
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伊人久久 interim provost to appoint interim chancellor; competitive search to be launched in fall 2026
By Richard Reyes, Monday, May 11, 2026
GALLUP, N.M. 鈥 UNMGallup Chancellor Sabrina Ezzell announced that she will retire from her position on June 30 after nearly four years of service in the top leadership role of the branch campus.
In her retirement message shared with students, staff and faculty on April 27, Ezzell said that serving as chancellor at UNMGallup has been the greatest professional honor of her life.
鈥淲hen I first stepped into this role, my goal was to ensure that students, staff, and faculty felt valued,鈥 Ezzell said. 鈥淥ver the past four years, we have worked together to make that happen. As a campus, we have improved multiple aspects of our learning and working environments. Each of these improvements 鈥 from classroom renovations and new technology to cultural events and employee recognition 鈥 is a testament to the collective dedication of our faculty, staff, and campus leadership.鈥
In this April 19, 2024, file photo, Chancellor Sabrina Ezzell guides a tour of UNMGallup campus with Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Rodr铆guez thanked Ezzell for her service to UNMGallup, which has benefitted not just the University but also the larger Gallup community.
"Chancellor Ezzell鈥檚 work has made a difference in ways both visible and lasting,鈥 Rodr铆guez said. 鈥淲hile we will miss her, I know her influence will continue to guide UNMGallup forward."
The provost鈥檚 office will appoint an interim chancellor after accepting nominations from UNMGallup faculty and staff.
Rodr铆guez said the interim chancellor will serve throughout the search process and will be responsible for maintaining academic, administrative and operational stability; supporting students, faculty and staff; and advancing the mission and strategic priorities of UNMGallup. A competitive search for a permanent chancellor will take place during the 2026 fall semester.
An 鈥渁mazing asset鈥 to UNMGallup
UNMGallup Local Advisory Board Chairman Raymond Calderon lauded Ezzell for being an 鈥渁mazing asset鈥 to the branch campus and the community at large.
鈥淚鈥檓 so happy for her in this next chapter of her life,鈥 Calderon said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a pleasure getting to work with her and getting to know her personally.鈥
Over the past four years, Ezzell led UNMGallup through a period of expansion and innovation. Highlights of her time as chancellor include:
- Guiding the formation of UNMGallup鈥檚 2024-2028 Strategic Plan to focus improvement in the areas of student experience and educational innovation, sustainability, belonging, inclusive excellence, and advancing our communities.
- Increases in student recruitment and retention.
- Expanding the Nursing, Community Education and Workforce Development, and Adult Basic Education programs.
- Strengthening the partnership with Gallup-McKinley County Schools, resulting in the construction of a new McKinley Academy building on campus as well as the expansion of career pathway programs for dual-enrollment students.
- Reopening the campus daycare in partnership with GMCS to give student-parents access to a much-needed service to help them succeed academically.
- Establishing a new Law Enforcement Academy to educate and train police recruits locally.
- Establishing a new Campus Clinic in partnership with Gallup Community Health to provide convenient medical and behavioral health services to students and employees.
In this April 17, 2026, file photo, Chancellor Sabrina Ezzell asks a question following a keynote speech during the 2026 Statewide Diversity Summit inside Calvin Hall Center Auditorium at UNMGallup.
In her message to the branch campus community, Ezzell said that while she鈥檚 looking forward to the next chapter in her life, she remains committed to ensuring a smooth leadership transition over the coming months. She concluded her message by expressing gratitude to the campus community.
鈥淭hank you for your partnership, your counsel, and your belief in the mission of UNMGallup,鈥 Ezzell said. 鈥淭his institution is more than a workplace; it is a valuable resource for all who seek a better life through education, and each of you make it possible.鈥
A career dedicated to service
Ezzell started as interim chancellor in July 2022 and was officially appointed as chancellor in January 2023.
Originally from Clovis, Ezzell has a long history of working in healthcare in the Gallup area, a place she鈥檚 called home since 2002. Prior to serving as chancellor, Ezzell accumulated 20 years of experience in higher education.
After a rewarding career as a registered nurse, Ezzell began her academic career with a stretch from 2003 to 2005 as a clinical instructor in the UNMGallup Nursing Program. From 2007 to 2008, Ezzell worked another stint at the branch campus as a lecturer/clinical instructor.
In this Aug. 2, 2024, file photo, Chancellor Sabrina Ezzell delivers an update about the branch campus during a meeting of the New Mexico Legislature's Interim Indian Affairs Committee inside the Student Services & Technology Center at UNMGallup.
From 2013 to 2015 Ezzell taught in the nursing program at Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint. In 2015, Ezzell became a nursing instructor at UNMGallup and worked in a variety of roles over the next seven years, including as an assistant professor and associate professor. During this time, Ezzell served as program director for the nursing program and as chair of the Education, Health and Human Services Division.
Ezzell belongs to the American Nurses Association and the New Mexico Nurses Association. Her community service work includes efforts with Battered Families Services, New Mexico Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board, and Special Olympics as a volunteer coach.
Ezzell holds a doctorate in education from Creighton University (Omaha, Neb.), a master of science in nursing from Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and a bachelor of science in nursing from 伊人久久 in Albuquerque. She also earned an associate of science in nursing from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.
In this Feb. 5, 2025, file photo, UNMGallup Local Advisory Board Chairman Raymond Calderon and Chancellor Sabrina Ezzell share a laugh during a roundtable meeting with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at the New Mexico State Capitol in Santa Fe.
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