Southern New Mexico Community Development (SNMCD) is an innovative, collaborative thought leader targeting economic programs that will enhance and improve quality of living for rural communities in southern New Mexico. We founded SNMCD to address critical needs across the region.
Small, rural communities have limited number of staff and elected officials to pursue measures beyond infrastructure, maintaining programs and survival. The U.S. Department of Agriculture coordinates federal rural policy, and today’s rural policy must go far beyond agricultural. Rural communities deal with spending formulas or eligibility requirements that are disadvantageous.
About Us
Rebecca Galves founded SNMCD, LLC in alliance with her passion and dedication to the region, and all who live here. Growing up in the desert southwest provided vast exposure to cultural and socioeconomic disparities across the region, while providing the most wonderful childhood and life experiences.
As an undergrad at Colgate University, Rebecca majored in Geography and Information Systems, competed in Division I Volleyball, helped prepare and serve meals at the Hamilton Food Cupboard, and worked in the computer lab. Her senior project connected her with over 30 directors of programs that provide services for people in need, striving to improve delivery processes, decrease duplicated efforts and increase communication across the region in order to leverage resources and better serve people needing assistance.
Rebecca completed an MBA at NMSU, while serving as a Learning Specialist with the Center for Learning Assistance, starting the CEO! student organization promoting collegiate entrepreneurial efforts, volunteering with Hospice, and working with regional magazines to publish material, promote and sell advertising, and create websites.
For the past two decades, Rebecca has led incredible teams that created educational and development programs targeting underserved and underrepresented groups. Her teams achieved great success in designing boots-on-the ground programs that specifically addressed economic mobility opportunities for people across southern NM by expanding community engagement and educational programming in the following areas: smart-grid technologies and research, computer science, life and bio sciences, technology, and engineering.
Establishing partnerships with business owners, community leaders, formal and informal educators, administrators, faculty members across all regional institutions, and elected leaders at every level has been key to accomplishing her goals.
“This is vital work. SNMCD is here to help every community in southern NM.”
Rebecca Galves, President