The Office of Organizational Culture and Effectiveness

Office of Organizational Culture and Effectiveness

About the听Office of Organizational Culture and Effectiveness

The Office of Organizational Culture and Effectiveness (OOCE) is committed to creating a thriving and inclusive organizational culture, ensuring that every learner and employee has opportunities for success, and authentically engaging and collaborating with community partners in service of 午夜影院鈥檚 Mission and Vision.

Contact Us

If you need the assistance of the OOCE, please do not hesitate to send us an email.听

Email 午夜影院 OOCE

Available Resources

The Office of Organizational Culture and Effectiveness provides听resources to support 午夜影院 students, faculty, and staff.听

Upcoming OOCE Events

Meet the OOCE Team

Felecia Caton-Garcia Headshot

Dr. Felecia Caton-Garcia

Dr. Caton-Garcia (she/her/ella) serves as the Executive Director of听the Office of Organizational Culture and Effectiveness at 午夜影院. Prior to this role, Dr. Caton-Garcia taught English, American Studies, and Chicana/e/o Studies at 午夜影院 for fifteen years. She has spent her life working within and without institutions to advance justice, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism efforts in education. As an educator, scholar, writer, and South Valley resident, Dr. Caton-Garcia is deeply invested in creating communities of care that embrace difference and celebrate our shared humanity.

Email Dr. Caton-Garcia or call (505) 224-4000 ext. 50285

Renee Quintana-Romero smiling in an outdoor courtyard

Renee Quintana-Romero

Renee Quintana-Romero (she/her) is a Senior Research Analyst in the Office of Data Strategy (ODS) and serves on the OOCE Leadership Team. Renee has been with 午夜影院 since 2018 and is heavily involved in telling 午夜影院鈥檚 OOCE Data Story. Her work involves mandatory reporting of college data to federal and state entities and overseeing survey processes for the college. Renee鈥檚 work with data started as a student employee hand-entering survey data and continued her data journey obtaining skills in survey research, focus groups, qualitative analysis, and institutional research. Renee has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Art History as well as a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Mexico.

Email Renee or call (505) 224-4000 ext. 53820

Jamie Wilson wearing a black hat

Dr. Jamie Wilson

Dr. Jamie Wilson (she/her/ella) is full-time Spanish and American Studies faculty. In her role as the faculty fellow for OOCE, she is developing the Actionable Equity Institute for faculty with the Cooperative for Teaching and Learning (CTL).听 The institute will听couple culturally sustaining and anti-racist pedagogies with critical data analysis of course-level and institutional key performance indicators for categories of race, ethnicity, and gender and their intersectionality. Dr. Wilson is a scholar of U.S.-Mexico border studies and is committed to immigration justice efforts. Many of her efforts at 午夜影院 center on improving outcomes for Hispanic/x and Latinx students, as well as providing anti-racist training opportunities for faculty and staff.

Email Dr. Wilson or call (505) 224-4000 ext. 53560

Sandra Vazquez

Sandra Vazquez (she/her/ella) was born in Mexico City and grew up in Albuquerque, NM. Having attended both UNM and 午夜影院, she graduated from UNM with a BA in International Studies in addition to a BA in Spanish and Portuguese in 2019. She previously worked for 午夜影院鈥檚 Accessibility Services and Enrollment Services helping newly enrolled students jumpstart their educational path at 午夜影院. Sandra joins OOCE as the Associate Director of Student Life, bringing her passion for learning, helping students, and making education accessible and equitable for all.

Email Sandra or call (505) 224-4000 ext. 54574

Travis Thompson Headshot

Travis Thompson听

Travis Eli Thompson (he/him) was born and raised in New Mexico. Travis started at 午夜影院 as an HR Tech and is now serving as the Manager of Employee Learning and Organizational Development under Human Resources. He is a member of the OOCE leadership team,听a member of the 午夜影院 Equity Council, and a member of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board for 午夜影院. His love and passion for 午夜影院 drive him to do his best every day.听

Email Travis or call (505) 224-4000 ext. 53520

Religious and Cultural Observances or Celebrations听

The information below does not contain an exhaustive list of听religious and cultural celebrations and observances, but it does include festivals, holy days, and New Mexico Pueblo Feast Days.听When planning events, please consider a wide variety of religious and cultural celebrations and observances. Be prepared to make accommodations for students and employees who observe a religious or cultural event.

View Religious and Cultural Observances or Celebrations听

Observance or Celebration and Corresponding Religion or Culture听	Dates	Important Details
Shabbat听 Judaism听	Weekly, ongoing听	Holy day of rest beginning at sundown on Fridays and ending sunset on Saturdays. Jews may leave work late afternoon/before dusk to prepare.
Transfer of Canes Taos, Santo Domingo, Jemez, Ohkay Owingeh, and Picuris Pueblos听	January 1	Various dances听
Gantan-sai听 Shinto听	January 1	Celebration of the Shinto New Year.听Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines,听events, and activities on this date.听听
King鈥檚 Day听 Picuris, Nambe, Sandia, Santa Ana, Taos, and Santo Domingo Pueblos听	January 6	Various dances.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
Guru Gobind Singh鈥檚 Birthday听 Sikhism听	January 17听	Celebrates the birthday of the tenth Sikh Guru.
Bodhi Day听 Mahayana Buddhism听	January 18听	Celebrates the Buddha鈥檚 enlightenment.听
World Religion Day听叠补丑补鈥檌听	January 21听	Celebrates the shared themes and beliefs in global faiths.听
St. Ildephonsus Feast Day听 St. Ildephonsus Pueblo听	January 22-23听	Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Tu Bishvat听 Judaism听	January 24-25	New Year of the Trees听
Imbolc听 Neo-Pagan traditions,听Wicca听	February 1	Occurs at the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. A celebration of the springtime return of life.
Governor鈥檚 Feast听 Acoma Pueblo听	First - second week of February听	Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Deer Dances听 Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo听	First - second week of February听	Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Lailat al Miraj听 Islam听	February 6-7听	Commemorates Muhammad鈥檚 journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and ascension into heaven.听
Parinirvana or Nirvana Day听听 Mah茫y茫na Buddhism听	February 15	Marks Buddha鈥檚 death and attainment of final nirvana.听
Festival of Ayyam-i-Ha听叠补丑补鈥檌听	February 26-29	Festival of hospitality, charity, and a preparation for New听Fear fast.听
'Ala' 叠补丑补鈥檌听	March 1 - 19	19 day (daylight) fast marking the month of loftiness.听Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. 叠补丑谩鈥櫭�听students and employees may be fasting.听
Maha Shiravatri听 Hinduism听	March 8-9	A festival honoring Shiva.
Ramadan听 Islam听	March 10 - April 9	Holy month of prayer and introspection characterized by fasting.听Muslims fast for the month of Ramadan during daylight hours. Avoid scheduling lunch/coffee meetings unless you discuss with your Muslim colleagues first. Early morning meetings may present a challenge during this time as well. Be sensitive to the fact that students and employees celebrating Ramadan will be fasting during the day (continuously for 30 days) and will likely have less stamina as a result.听
Ostara听 Neo-Paganism,听Wicca听	March 19	The celebration of the spring equinox.听听
St. Joseph鈥檚 Feast Day听 Laguna Pueblo听	March 19	Harvest Dance and other various dances.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听听
Naw Ruz听 Zoroastrian听	March 19 - 20	Zoroastrian New Year.听
Naw Ruz听叠补丑补鈥檌听	March 19 - 20	叠补丑补鈥檌 New Year and the end of the 19 day fast.听Work is suspended and children do not attend school.
Purim听 Judaism听	March 23 - 24	Celebrates the survival of ancient Persian Jews who were marked for death.听
Holi听 Hinduism听听	March 25	Spring festival of colors that welcomes spring and new harvest.听Celebrated for two days.听
Hola Mohalla听 Sikhism听	March 25 - 27	A three-day festival centered valor, skill, and defense preparedness.听
Navaratri Hinduism听	April 9 - 17	A nine-day festival that celebrates the Goddess Durga.听Some Hindus will fast. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities.听
Eid al-Fitr听 Islam听	April 11	Marks the end of Ramadan. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Employees and students will likely ask to take this day off.听
Vaisakhi听 Hinduism听	April 13听	Hindu festival celebrating the solar New Year and marking the spring harvest.听
搁颈诲惫谩苍听(first day of Most Great Festival) 叠补丑补鈥檌听	April 20	Festival which symbolizes the time that 叠补丑谩始耻'濒濒谩丑 entered the garden.听Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first听day, ninth听day, and twelfth听day of 搁颈诲惫谩苍 as work is suspended for听叠补丑谩鈥櫭璼.
Mahavir Jayanti听 Jainism听	April 21	Celebrates the birth of the founder of Jainism, Lord Mahavira.听
Pesach听(Passover) Judaism听	April 22 - April 30	A seven-day festival focusing on themes of freedom.听Jews eat a restricted diet for the entire holiday.听Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on the first two and last two days of the holiday.
St. Phillip Feast Day听 San Felipe Pueblo听	May 1	Annual Feast Day, includes听Corn Dance.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Beltane听 Neo-Paganism,听Wicca	May 1	Festival celebrating the arrival of summer and the fertility of the next year.听
Santa Maria Feast Day听 Acoma Pueblo听	First Sunday of May	Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Santa Cruz Feast Day听 Taos Pueblo听	May 3	Blessing of the Fields听with the Corn Dance.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
Birthday of Buddha听 Buddhism听	May 15	Celebrates the Buddha鈥檚 birthday.听
Vesak听 Theravada Buddhism听	May 23	This festival honors the life, death, and enlightenment of the Buddha.听
Declaration of the Bab听叠补丑补鈥檌听	May 22 - 23	Marks the prediction of the Bab as the Messenger of God in the 叠补丑补鈥檌 faith.听Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Work is suspended for听叠补丑谩鈥櫭璼.听
Ascension of Baha鈥檜鈥檒l谩h听叠补丑补鈥檌听	May 28	Marks the anniversary of the death of 叠补丑谩鈥檜鈥檒濒谩丑, the founder of 叠补丑谩鈥櫭�.听Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Work is suspended for听叠补丑谩鈥櫭璼.听
Blessing of the Fields听 Tesuque Pueblo听	First Saturday of June听	Blessing of the Fields听with听Corn Dance.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
Race Unity Day听叠补丑补鈥檌听	June 9	Day to promote racial harmony and understanding in the 叠补丑补鈥檌 faith.听
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib听 Sikhism听	June 10	Commemorates Sikh Guru and his martyrdom.听
Shavuot听 Judaism听	June 11 - 13	Commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai and also marks the ancient grain harvest.听Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first two and last two days of the holiday.听听
St. Anthony鈥檚 Feast Day听 Sandia, Taos, Ohkay Owingeh, Santa Clara, Picuris Pueblos听	June 13	Various dances.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
The Hajj听 Islam听	June 14 - 19	Annual pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca.听
Eid al-Adha听 Islam听	June 15 - 16	Holiday marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.听Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on the first day.
Litha听 Neo-Pagan,听Wicca听	June 20	Celebration of summer solstice and midsummer.听
St. John the Baptist Feast Day听 Ohkay Owingeh and Taos Pueblos听	June 24	Annual Feast Day for Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo and Corn Dance at Taos Pueblo.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
St. Peter/St.Paul Feast Day听 Santa Ana, Santo Domingo Pueblos听	June 29	Various dances.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
St. Persingula Feast Day听 Jemez Pueblo听	July 2	Annual Feast Day and Corn Dance.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
St. Dominic Feast Day听 Santo Domingo Pueblo听	July 4	Annual Feast Day and Corn Dance.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
Taos Pueblo Powwow听 Taos Pueblo听	Second weekend of July听	Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
San Lorenzo Vespers听 Picuris Pueblo听	July 9	Vespers and Sunset Dances.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
San Lorenzo Feast Day听 Picuris and Acoma Pueblos听	July 10	Picuris Annual Feast Day and Traditional Dances. Various Dances at Acoma Pueblo.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe. This date is also the anniversary of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.听
St. Bonaventure Feast Day听 Cochiti Pueblo听	July 14	Annual Feast Day and Corn Dance.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Assumption of Our Blessed Mother听 Zia and Laguna Pueblos听	July 15	Zia Pueblo Annual Feast Day and Corn Dance. Harvest Dance at Laguna Pueblo.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Birthday of Haile Selassie听 Rastafarianism听	July 23	Celebrates Haile Selassie, believed to be the incarnation of God.听
Santiago Feast Day听 Taos Pueblo听	July 25	Corn Dance.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
St. Anne Feast Day听 Santa Ana, Laguna, and Taos Pueblos听	July 26	Annual Feast Day at Santa Ana Pueblo, Harvest Dance at Laguna Pueblo and Corn Dance at Taos Pueblo.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
People鈥檚 Day听 Santa Ana and Pojoaque Pueblos听	July 28	Santa Ana Feast Day. Summer Feast Day and Comanche Dance at Pojoaque Pueblo.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Lughnasadh听 Neo-Paganism,听Wicca听	August 1	A festival marking the start of the harvest season.听
Santa Clara Feast Day听 Santa Clara Pueblo听	August 12	Annual Feast Day. Buffalo, Harvest, and Corn Dances.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.听听
Tisha B鈥橝v听 Judaism听	August 12 - 13	A Jewish holiday that remembers the destruction of the Jewish temple, once in 586 BCE and once in 70 CE in Jerusalem.听Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Jewish students and employees may be fasting all day.听
Arbaeen听 Islam听	August 25 - 26	A day of observance concluding the 40-day mourning period after the Day of Ashura.
Sri Krishna Jayanti听听 Hinduism听	August 26	Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines on this day, since it is likely that Hindu students will be operating on very little sleep. Some may fast during the first day.听
St. Augustine Feast Day听 Isleta Pueblo听	August 28	Isleta Pueblo Annual Feast Day and various Dances.听Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Paryushana-Parva听 Jainism听	August 30	An eight-day festival about forgiveness that is the faith鈥檚 most important observance.听Jains may be fasting during the festival.听
St. Esteban Feast Day Acoma Pueblo	September 2听	Annual Feast Day and Harvest Dance. Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Feast听 Laguna Pueblo听	September 8	Harvest and Social Dances. Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Mawlid听 Islam听	September 15 - 16	Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Muslim may be fasting.
Pitru Paksha听 Hinduism听	September 17 - October 2	A time for Hindus to pay homage to their ancestors.
St. Joseph鈥檚 Feast Day听 Laguna Pueblo听	September 19听	Laguna Annual Feast Day and Harvest Dances. Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Mabon Neo-Paganism, Wicca	September 22	Celebration of the autumnal equinox.
St. Elizabeth Feast Day Laguna Pueblo	September 25	Harvest and various Dances.Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
San Geronimo Feast Day听 Taos Pueblo听	September 30	Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Rosh Hashanah听 Judaism听	October 2 - 4	The Jewish New Year celebration and the beginning of a period of reflection. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Some Jews observe two days of Rosh Hashanah.
St. Francis of Assisi Feast听 Nambe Pueblo听	October 4听	Annual Feast Day and various dances. Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Yom Kippur听 Judaism听	October 11 - 12	Single holiest day of Judaism; day of atonement and reflection. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Most Jews fast for a 25-hour period.
Dussehra听 Hinduism听	October 12	Tenth day of the Hindu festival honoring Asuj Navratras.
Ayathrem Gahabar听 Zoroastrianism听	October 12 - 16	Days celebrating creation. This is a obligatory time of prayer and study with a feast. There are other, similar, Zoroastrian days of observance throughout the year. Be prepared to make accommodations for students observing this holiday or who are tired from religious ritual obligations.
Sukkot听 Judaism听	October 16 - 24	A week-long festival that commemorates the period after the biblical exodus and a desert wandering. Only the first day and the last day (by some traditions) or the first two days and last two days are considered work-abstaining holidays. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on the first two days.
St. Margaret Mary Feast Day听 Laguna Pueblo听	October 17听	Harvest and various dances. Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Simhat Torah/Shemini Atzeret听 Judaism听	October 23 - 25	End of Sukkot festival and High Holy Day period; honors the Torah and completion of annual reading. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date.
Samhain听 Neo-Paganism,听Wicca听	October 31 - November 1	Festival marking the end of the harvest season.
Dia de los Muertos听 Day of the Dead	October 31 - November 2	A multi-day festival celebrated in commemoration of friends and family members who have died.
Diwali听 Hinduism,听Sikhism,听Jainism听	November 1	Five-day festival of light that honors various deities and seasonal events. Hindu employees will likely request time off for this holiday.
Jain New Year听 Jainism听	November 1	Celebrated on the first day after the month of Kartika.
Birthday of the Bab听叠补丑补鈥檌听	November 2	Day honoring the birthday of God鈥檚 messenger. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. 叠补丑补鈥檌 employees and students avoid work on this day.
Birth of 叠补丑谩鈥檜鈥檒濒谩丑听叠补丑补鈥檌听	November 3	Celebration of the birth of the found of 叠补丑补鈥檌. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. 叠补丑补鈥檌 students and employees will suspend work on this day.
San Diego Feast Day听 Tesuque and Jemez Pueblos听	November 12	Annual Feast Day and various dances. Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Birthday of Guru Nanak Ji听 Sikhism听	November 15	Celebrates the birth of the founder of Sikhism.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast听 Pojoaque and Jemez Pueblos听	December 12	Annual Feast Day at Pojoaque Pueblo with various Dances. Matachines Dances at Jemez Pueblo. Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Yule听 Neo-Paganism,听Wicca听	December 21 - January 1	Celebrates the winter solstice.
Chanukah听 Judaism听	December 25 - January 2	Eight-day festival that honors an ancient military victory and centers on themes of freedom and light.
Turtle Dance Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo	December 26	Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.
Holy Innocent鈥檚 Day听 Picuris and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblos	December 28	Children鈥檚 Dances at Picuris Pueblo. Turtle Dance at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. Be prepared to make accommodations for students who observe.

听The OOCE referenced the following sites for information on many religious or cultural observances or celebrations:听

If you would like to see an event added to this list or if you need additional information about references, please email the Office of Organizational Culture and Effectiveness.听

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