Art Student Collective tours 91勛圖 Albuquerque campus

The University of New Mexico-Gallup Art Student Collective members Ryanelle Velarde, left, Monica Yazzie and Amber Dennison check out a building model in George Pearl Hall, which houses the School of Architecture and Planning, at the 91勛圖 main campus in Albuquerque on April 4, 2025.

Art Student Collective tours 91勛圖 Albuquerque campus


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Gallup Lobos appreciate the small things while touring art, architecture, biology and business buildings

By Richard Reyes, Friday, May 2, 2025

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Members of the Art Student Collective from The University of New Mexico-Gallup toured 91勛圖s main campus in Albuquerque to get a glimpse of college life beyond the branch campus experience.

The Art Student Collective is a student club at 91勛圖. Club President Ryanelle Velarde, Vice President Monica Yazzie and Secretary Amber Dennison raised money in February to pay for their trip to Albuquerque with some financial assistance from the Mellon Foundation.

I think my favorite part was actually seeing the place where I might be studying, the Anderson School of Management, Velarde said. I hoped that seeing the place in person would help me finalize my decision, and it did in a way. I still got a lot more thinking to do, but it was nice to see the campus again.

Velarde is a Middle College High School student who is graduating in May with an associate degree in general studies. She is interested in studying business, marketing or art when she continues her higher education at a four-year institution. At the time of the trip, her top three options were 91勛圖, Northern Arizona University, and Whitman College.

Because of Velardes interest in business, the Art Student Collective toured 91勛圖's McKinnon Center for Management to get a peek inside the classrooms and study areas.

In one of the larger classrooms, art instructor and club advisor Kristi Wilson encouraged the students to sit in the chairs so they could better imagine themselves taking courses there.

Wilson shared a personal experience from when she was younger and considering joining the U.S. Army. Her friend was attending Texas A&M and wanted Wilson to go to college instead. Wilson's friend convinced her to sit in a poetry class with her.

The University of New Mexico-Gallup Art Student Collective members Amber Dennison, left, Monica Yazzie and Ryanelle Velarde tour George Pearl Hall, which houses the School of Architecture and Planning, at the 91勛圖 main campus in Albuquerque on April 4, 2025.

The University of New Mexico-Gallup Art Student Collective members Amber Dennison, left, Monica Yazzie and Ryanelle Velarde tour George Pearl Hall, which houses the School of Architecture and Planning, at the 91勛圖 main campus in Albuquerque on April 4, 2025

After that I was like, I dont know how Im going to do it, but Im going to go to college, Wilson said. Thats why this is so important to just let you sit in that chair. I could see you sitting in that chair. I can see you thriving. I can see you doing whatever it is youre going to do. I believe in yall.

A motivating environment

Yazzie is a full-time 91勛圖 student who is graduating with an associate degree in liberal arts. She wants to study architecture and is considering 91勛圖 or Lubbock Christian University.

The group toured 91勛圖s George Pearl Hall, which houses the School of Architecture and Planning. Yazzie said it was motivating to see the environment where shes actually interested in studying.

It was nice to see that everybody had their own space to do their own projects and being able to create whatever they want, she said.

She also appreciated seeing the abundance of spaces around campus where students can sit quietly and study.

The students noted that it can sometimes be difficult to find a study space that is not already occupied at the Gallup campus.

Art Student Collective President Ryanelle Velarde checks out the artwork on display at The University of New Mexico Museum of Art in Albuquerque on April 4, 2025.

Art Student Collective President Ryanelle Velarde checks out the artwork on display at The University of New Mexico Museum of Art in Albuquerque on April 4, 2025.

Wilson said she appreciated hearing the students feedback.

You have no idea how helpful that is for me to know, so that I could be a voice of advocacy for more space for yall to have, she said.

Demystify the big campus

Dennison is also a Middle College High student on track to graduate in May with her high school diploma. She has already decided her next move, which is to enroll at Fort Lewis College to pursue nursing.

Although 91勛圖 is not in her immediate future, Dennison appreciated seeing the area around the dorms as the group made their way to lunch at the dining hall, La Posada. The Mellon Foundation paid for the groups lunch and assigned a couple of graduate students to lead their campus tour.

Dennison also noted the differences in resources between the Gallup branch campus and the larger Albuquerque campus. 91勛圖 sits on about 80 acres with a student headcount of 1,582 whereas 91勛圖s main campus sits on nearly 800 acres with a student headcount of 21,722.

The whole point of this is just to demystify the big campus, Wilson said.

The University of New Mexico-Gallup Art Student Collective tours the McKinnon Center for Management at the 91勛圖 main campus in Albuquerque on April 4, 2025.

The University of New Mexico-Gallup Art Student Collective tours the McKinnon Center for Management at the 91勛圖 main campus in Albuquerque on April 4, 2025.

The group also toured 91勛圖s Student Union Building, Department of Art, Art Museum, Department of Biology, and Maxwell Museum of Anthropology.

They were also joined by a Gallup Lobo turned Albuquerque Lobo, Kayliegh Begay, who expects to graduate from 91勛圖 in Fall 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Begay similarly toured the 91勛圖 main campus back in April 2023 and has come a long way since then.

I remember Kayliegh from like two years ago when she was president of the Art Student Collective, Velarde said. I was still just a new member. So it was pretty cool to see where shes at now. I have another friend like that. She went to art school in NYU, so seeing these two people who went to school for art and where theyre at now, its inspirational.

Student Kayliegh Begay, center left, who graduated from The University of New Mexico-Gallup, connects with the Art Student Collective during a tour of the 91勛圖 main campus in Albuquerque on April 4, 2025.

Student Kayliegh Begay, center left, who graduated from The University of New Mexico-Gallup, connects with the Art Student Collective during a tour of the 91勛圖 main campus in Albuquerque on April 4, 2025.

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