Our Éxito Team

Dr. Lorraine O'Donnell

Director of Project Éxito, Director for Grants and External Funding

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.

Mark Steward

Interim Lead Instructional Designer and Instructional Technologist

Mark Steward is DACC’s 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

Instructional Designer/Graphic Artist/QM Coordinator

Jiaqi Zhang is the 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.

Katie Pineda

Faculty Support Specialist/SITE Coordinator

Katie Pineda holds the role of Faculty Support Specialist as a member of the Title III ID and Faculty Support Team and teaches part-time for the Math and Statistics Department. Katie is a proud first generation college graduate with a strong foundation in mathematics. Katie earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from NMSU (2020) followed by further study of mathematics at the graduate level. Dring graduate studies Katie found a passion for math education. Driven by the belief that math can become accessible to all, Katie is passionate about math education and the work to advance student success in STEM courses at DACC. Katie moved to Las Cruces in 2013 and has found a home in this community.

Ivan Cadena

Interim STEM Academic Coordinator

Ivan has lived around the border his whole life. He earned his Bachelor's in Educational Leadership because education gave him the opportunity to take his life in a ebtter direction. now, as part of Project Éxito, he enjoys working with the mentors to help others attain a brighter future. After joning the project, Ivan quickly became indispensable. Currently working to support our Mentor program and as an instructional techlogist, he has quickly become the resident expert on Upswing.

James C. Frederickson

Internship Coordinator

James C. Fredrickson is an experienced professional with over 25 years in mechanical engineering, project management, and education. He holds a B.S. in Engineering, an A.A. in HVAC, and an M.A. in Educational Learning Technologies. Currently, he serves as the STEM Internship Coordinator for the Title III Project Exito grant, focusing on enhancing student internship opportunities in STEM fields. His career includes significant roles such as the Department Chair of Architecture and Construction Technologies at Dona Ana Community College and an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Technology, where he has taught a variety of courses and developed online curricula. Fredrickson has supervised faculty, advised students, and engaged with industry partners to enhance educational opportunities, while also contributing to the design and analysis of mechanical components in aerospace applications during his tenure as a Senior Mechanical Engineer. His commitment to education and industry collaboration is evident through his extensive involvement in community outreach and curriculum development efforts.

Melinda Wallace

Administrator

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

Dean, SEM Division

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.