DACC to recognize four alumni for leadership in public health, engineering and education

The 2025 Distinguished Alumni will be honored during the April 11 Block Party at the East Mesa campus

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - Doña Ana Community College has announced its 2025 class of Distinguished Alumni, recognizing four graduates for their leadership in public health, education, engineering and business.

The honorees will be celebrated during a reception at the DACC Block Party from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 11, inside the Student Resources Building at the East Mesa campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd.

The Distinguished Alumni Award honors individuals who reflect DACC’s mission through their career accomplishments and service to their communities.

The 2025 honorees are:

Selena Gomez
Gomez earned an associate degree in public health and community health work from DACC in 2019, then completed a bachelor’s in public health at New Mexico State University in 2022. She is now the executive director of Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach, where she leads efforts to address chronic illnesses like diabetes. She is also a graduate of the Association of State Public Health Nutrition Equity cohort and a member of the REALIZE executive leadership program at the Paso del Norte Health Foundation.

Bonnie Rinkels
Rinkels graduated from DACC’s dental hygiene program in 2009 and now holds a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, two master’s degrees in education and public health, and certificates in online teaching and public health. After working in private practice, she joined DACC as a part-time clinical faculty member and now teaches full-time. Her work focuses on community collaboration, improving access to care and providing students with hands-on experience.

Ricardo Serrano
Serrano began his college journey as a dual-credit student at DACC while attending high school in Chaparral. He earned an associate degree in pre-business in 2014, followed by business degrees from New Mexico State University and the EM Normandie Business School in Caen, France. Now a senior brokerage underwriter with Risk Placement Services in Scottsdale, Arizona, Serrano manages a team and leads operational improvements to support the company’s growth.

Stephanie Zertuche
Zertuche earned an associate degree in drafting and graphics technology from DACC in 2008 and a bachelor’s in engineering technology from NMSU in 2010. She is a professional engineer and certified floodplain manager with 14 years of experience in design and project management. As executive vice president of Diaz Engineering, a woman-owned firm in Houston, she oversees capital improvement planning, land acquisition and projects funded by FEMA.

For more about DACC and its alumni programs, visit dacc.nmsu.edu.