Our people: Grant project director well-traveled

Clovis Community College's Nohemi Lara-Miller had an international upbringing.

Born in Mexico's "Estado Grande" or "Grand State," Chihuahua, Miller said she grew up in two different countries, The Republic of Mexico and the United States.

"Most of my memories are from when we moved to the U.S. permanently. I started kindergarten in El Paso, but then we moved back to Mexico. When we returned to the U.S., my parents bought their home in Chaparral, New Mexico, where I lived most of my life," Miller said.

More about her:

Q: Where were you born?

A: I was born in Jimenez, a small town in Chihuahua, Mexico. I was naturalized in the United States many years ago, but we lived in Juarez, Mexico, until I was 10 years old.

Q: What brought you to Clovis?

A: The military.

Colt Miller, my husband, is in the Air Force and he received orders to Cannon Air Force Base.

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: My husband Colt is a master sergeant in the Air Force.

We have been married for over five years. My son is Nathan, he is 2 years 10 months old.

My dad is a truck driver, originally from Jimenez, Chihuahua, and my mom is a stay-at-home wife, born in Juarez, Chihuahua.

Growing up, we always celebrated Mexican traditions, and our parents encouraged us to prioritize education. I am proud of both of them. They immigrated to a new country, learned a new language and obtained their GEDs.

I have one sister who is a family medicine physician and one brother who works at New Mexico State University and is working on his master's degree.

Q: Where did you meet your husband?

A: I met my husband in my hometown of Chaparral between Alamogordo and El Paso.

He is originally from Texas, but he was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso.

He says he loved my hometown because it's just outside the big city and you get to experience country life.

It's a small town like Clovis, which is why we both enjoy living here. It reminds us of home.

Q: What do you do when you're not working?

A: I have a 2-year-old son and most of my time I spend with my husband and my son.

We go to the park or out to eat. We have explored a few nice places in Lubbock and El Paso. Also, I volunteer planning Hispanic cultural events at the base, I volunteer as a Key Spouse and love to read ... when I have time because I have a toddler.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?

A: Growing up, I wanted to be either a teacher or a lawyer. Eventually, I realized law school wasn't for me, and my love for working with kids led me in a different direction.

I attended New Mexico State. I'm a proud Aggie.

After my first year in college, I changed my major and earned a bachelor's degree in applied studies and a master's in educational administration. I get to experience the best of both worlds.

I am an online instructor for NMSU, where I teach college students, and I work as an administrator in higher ed.

It's fulfilling to combine both roles and make an impact in education.

Q: Are you multi-lingual? Tell us about that.

A: Yes, I am bilingual. I speak both English and Spanish.

I am also multicultural, having experienced life in two different countries.

I'm a proud Mexican-American. Spanish is my first language and, growing up, my family only spoke Spanish at home. Since I went to school near the Mexican border most of my friends spoke Spanglish. Even now, sometimes my siblings and I speak Spanglish.

I get to celebrate different traditions. I'm proud to teach my husband and my son about my culture and my husband loves Mexican food and our traditions.

Q: If someone wanted to learn a different language, what tips would you offer?

A: Do it! You will not regret it.

There are better job opportunities, you can get to travel, and most importantly help others.

People say that if you want to learn Spanish you can watch telenovelas but my husband tried watching movies and telenovelas and so far he loves reading the subtitles and has learned only a few words.

Q: What do you do at CCC?

A: I'm a project director for a grant and a volunteer for the Military Community Group. I coordinate a department, manage a budget, and make sure we accomplish our grant goals.

Our grant consists of Partnership for Teacher Preparation and focuses on meeting a large community need for K-12 educators, especially in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Q: What do you see as the importance of your work?

A: I get to make a difference and help others.

Not only the importance of making sure we spend the grant wisely but also planning projects around the campus.

Doing something for our students and our college.

Q: Tell us about your travels south of the border.

A: I have visited a couple of states and nice places in Mexico like Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Morelia, Sinaloa, Durango, Monterrey, Sonora, and of course Chihuahua.

Not Central America or Southern Hemisphere but I would love to.

I went on a cruise and visited Jamaica, Cozumel, and Cayman Islands.

Q: Having attended NMSU, where's the best place to eat in Las Cruces?

A: My sister's home. Just kidding. She doesn't like cooking.

I love La Posta de Mesilla and Lorenzo's but there are plenty of nice restaurants and a lot of Mexican restaurants.

Q: What's the best sandwich?

A: The Mexican sandwich torta de carne asada. It has steak, lettuce, avocado, and toasted rolls.

Q: Where's your favorite place to vacation?

A: Disneyland. It's the happiest place on earth. You spend all your money.

Q: Where have you not been but you'd love to visit?

A: Spain and Italy. I wish my husband had orders there but seems like Fort Bliss and Cannon were our only options.

Q: You are hosting a fantasy dinner party. Who are your guests, what are you serving, what are some of the topics of conversation?

A: I'd invite Salma Hayek and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Salma is a successful Mexican woman and her interviews are always funny, but she is genuine.

Leonardo, well, I am a woman. He is interesting and was my crush when I was younger.

As for what's for dinner? I don't know because Leonardo is paying. He is the famous one.

We'd talk about life and their journeys.

Q: What is your favorite saying or quote?

A: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."