NMSU recognizes HEST professor, staffer for outstanding work

Two members of HEST earned high-profile awards in recognition of their scholarly work and contributions to NMSU.

Rebecca Palacios, a health psychologist and professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, received the Distinguished Career Award during the spring 2024 convocation. Recipients of the award have a lengthy record of scholarly accomplishment that has attracted outside recognition. 

Palacios has more than 25 years of experience conducting community health research along the United States-Mexico border. For the past seven years, her research has focused on making cancer education programs more culturally engaging and efficacious for Latina mothers diagnosed with cancer. 

During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Palacios completed a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of the culturally adapted Conexiones program. She is also working to refine the program for Latina mothers diagnosed with advanced cancer.

Jessica Muñoz, a program coordinator for the STEM Outreach Center, received the 2022 Ralph B. Crouch Memorial Award. The award honors a living current or former employee of NMSU for outstanding contributions to the life of the university community. 

Muñoz has served in her role at the STEM Outreach Center for five years. She has established after-school programs through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. She also works with schools in Las Cruces and Gadsden by providing professional development for the teachers and donating supplies to schools. She is also a member of the Borderland Out-of-School Time Network.