Project Éxito
Project Éxito, A project designed to excite learning and improve access and success in student education and the workforce. We are in the Science, Engineering, and Math (SEM) Division of Dona Ana Community College. Our project targets the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) career fields. DACC has the mission and goal of increasing access and success for students using innovative practices and advising strategies to advance students. At DACC, we strive to meet all students' needs, and this project is integral to this mission.
Project Éxito’s primary function is to increase the retention and graduation rates of Hispanic and first-generation students in STEM majors with the goal of an associate degree or transfer to four-year institutions. This is a Title 3 Grant project with the mission of helping our Hispanic, first-generation, and lower income students finding success in the STEM education fields. Join us at DACC and we will help you find your STEM career path.
Our Éxito Team
Dr. Lorraine O'Donnell
Dr. O’Donnell serves as Director for Grants and External Funding, as well as Project Director for the Title III STEM Grant for DACC, New Mexico State University.
Dr. O’Donnell comes to us from our sister city, El Paso, where she served as UTEP’s Executive Director for the Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) Division and taught in the graduate school’s Principalship Preparation Program. Dr. O’Donnell is a former principal of a Texas Recognized High School in Clint, Texas, has served on the El Paso ISD Board of Trustees as Vice-President, and was in charge of the Leadership Academy in the EPISD, preparing future principals for their leadership roles in the district’s schools. Dr. O’Donnell served as Department Chair for the Education Department of the University of Phoenix in Okinawa, Japan, serving military personnel and their dependents. She is currently on the doctoral faculty of Capella University, and serves as a Doctoral Mentor.
Dr. O’Donnell earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UTEP, graduating with honors, and earned her doctorate in education from NMSU. She won commendation for her doctoral dissertation on the border principalship.
Dr. O’Donnell’s work now with the Title III Grant has placed a focus on providing professional development for faculty members who are dealing with the considerable challenges associated with students in a post-pandemic environment. A result of that focus is the creation of the STEM Institute of Teaching Excellence (SITE), which provides professional learning, equipment, and support for faculty who work with STEM students.
Dr. Patricia McClure
Dr. Patricia McClure, a Title III Éxito Team member, is the lead DACC instructional designer and a part-time NMSU faculty member in the Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership (TPAL) and Education & Design with Learning Technology (EDLT) programs who leverages her expertise in online learning to support full and part-time DACC educators. She has a Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from NMSU and a Bachelor of Fine Arts earned at Texas Woman’s University.
Having lived in the Borderlands for over 30 years, she is passionate about creating equitable learning spaces. This passion stems from experiences as a former El Paso public school social studies teacher, domestic violence resource director and an executive director for a nonprofit substance abuse organization. Her ongoing commitment to higher education is to develop and promote anti-racist, culturally sustainable online pedagogy while grounding continuing scholarship in Critical Whiteness Studies.
Mark Steward
Éxito Title III team member, Mark Steward is DACC’s new instructional technologist and Canvas sub-account administrator.
As DACC’s Canvas expert, Mark provides technical support to faculty. His responsibilities include troubleshooting gradebook and quiz issues, resolving Canvas connectivity issues with third-party tools and publisher courses, assisting with course imports and setup, and guiding faculty on using Studio for accessible video lectures and quizzes. Basically, faculty can contact Mark with any Canvas issue, great or small.
Mark brings a unique blend of technical expertise and classroom experience to DACC. With a strong background in instructional technology and a 30-year teaching career, he is well-equipped to support our faculty. He holds a B.S. in Science Education from the University of Wyoming and an M.A. in Educational Technology from Grand Canyon University.
Jiaqi Zhang
Jiaqi Zhang is the newest Title III Éxito Team member and DACC instructional designer, intermediate. With a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and a Master’s in Educational Technology and Applied Learning Science from Carnegie Mellon University, Jiaqi brings a unique blend of technical expertise and educational passion to her role.
Her previous experience as a Learning Designer and Game Developer at CMU’s Center for Transformational Play has equipped her with a strong foundation in creating innovative and engaging learning experiences. Jiaqi is eager to collaborate with faculty to develop effective instructional materials and resources that enhance student success at DACC.
Sarah Mendoza
I am originally from El Paso, Texas. I was awarded the Presidential Excellence Scholarship by the University of Texas at El Paso. There I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. I currently am working toward obtaining my Master’s degree in Leadership Communication. I have over 15 years of experience working in training and leadership roles. I am a creative problem solver with the ability to accommodate and diffuse difficult obstacles with the intent of finding positive outcomes. My strengths lie in my approachable and empathetic nature, my collaborative leadership, and determination to find the best balance in any given situation. I believe communication and knowledge is key to success so I greatly enjoy engaging with people from all backgrounds, age groups, and life paths. Having experienced working toward a STEM degree while enduring hardships such as few resources, food insecurity, low-income, and lack of social and emotional support, I knew success coaching would be a great opportunity for students to learn how to face obstacles with confidence and continue on their path to success. I greatly look forward to collaborating with students to point them in the right direction to keep them focused on obtaining their STEM degree.
Outside of the professional field, I enjoy spending time with my husband, his son, and my beagle, Oliver. I love visiting the San Francisco Bay Area where I get to spend time with extended family. I enjoy watching classic movies and documentaries and am an avid music enthusiast.
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending” C.S. Lewis
Melinda Wallace
I was born and raised in central Wisconsin, and i am a life-long science enthusiast. After graduating from UTEP with a degree in Anthropology, I spent the next fifteen years working as an archaeologist and raising my family. I have been on the move all around the southwest, but I have recently returned to southern New Mexico. I began taking classes and working at DACC, and I am now a proud DACC alum. I started with Project EXCITO Feb.1, 2024. I am the administrative assistant and grant manager for Project EXCITO.
Joe Butler
Joe Butler has served as the Dean of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics at Doña Ana Community College for the past 7 years. He also served as the Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs for a year. He has worked in higher education for 34 years as a math teacher and administrator specializing in distance learning, concurrent enrollment, and transfer programs. Joe earned the BS and MS in Mathematics at the University of North Texas. Outside of work, Joe enjoys hiking and spending time with family.