University General Counsel Staff

Download the complete University General Counsel Organizational Chart (7/11/2023)

Please direct all new requests for legal assistance to gencounsel@nmsu.edu.

INTERIM GENERAL COUNSEL

J.D. 2008, Arizona State University.

Scott Field joined the NMSU University General Counsel office in 2016 after seven years as a commercial litigator. Field’s primary areas of focus include NMSU’s Real Estate Office and Aggie Development, Inc., the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, NMSU’s Athletics, Arrowhead Center, Inc., contract negotiation, litigation support, data privacy, and sponsored research. Field also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a Bachelor’s of Science from Texas A&M University.

ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL

Jeffrey N. Jensen
jnj@nmsu.edu

J.D. 1994, University of Wisconsin

Jeff Jensen joined the NMSU University General Counsel’s office in 2022. Jeff brings more than 25 years of higher education legal and compliance experience to New Mexico, having worked previously for public universities in three different states. Jeff’s focus during his first year with the UGC has been employment law, academic personnel, litigation support, and student affairs matters. In addition to his law degree, Jeff holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

UNIVERSITY POLICY ADMINISTRATOR

Ermelinda Quintela
eqintel@nmsu.edu

Ermelinda, a licensed CPA, currently serves as university policy administrator. She leads and supports policy efforts and work of the Policy Steering Committee for NMSU where she earned a master of accountancy, BA, BBA and associate degrees. Over 20 years with NMSU, she has served in various capacities, including chief audit executive; auxiliary services assistant VP; alumni executive director; PSL financial and business operations; Athletics chief financial officer; NMSU Foundation controller; and grant and contract accountant. Over the last 34 years, Quintela has gained a broad range of knowledge through her experiences in addition to public service has held positions in industry as banking senior vice president, controller, business operations and trust officer, auditor for Arthur Anderson, and internal auditor for El Paso Electric. Ermelinda has volunteered with numerous community outreach programs and professional associations in Las Cruces and El Paso and currently serves as board member for the Association of College and University Policy Administrators (ACUPA).

LEGAL AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Estela Heredia
eheredia@nmsu.edu

B.B.A. New Mexico State University.

In 2015 Estela Heredia joined the University General Counsel’s office as the Legal and Executive Assistant. In addition to managing all aspects of the UGC office and the electronic file system, Heredia works with garnishments and litigation support. Heredia previously worked in various offices across the NMSU campus including Procurement Services, the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Center, University Registrar and University Accounts Receivable. Heredia also has previous legal experience working for several private practice attorneys in Las Cruces.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, SR.

Carol Gumm
cgumm@nmsu.edu

B.S. Martin Luther College

Carol Gumm joined the University General Counsel’s administrative staff in 2022. Carol provides support to the Legal and Executive Assistant and the UGC attorneys. Carol assists with bankruptcies, contracts and IPRA requests. She has an extensive background in office administration and human resources that includes previous roles at the Seattle Times, Aspen Technology, Inc., ABN AMRO Bank, NV and several nonprofit organizations, along with a recent assignment at New Mexico State University in its Auxiliary Services department. Upon relocating to Las Cruces in 2017, Gumm’s family has continued to provide leadership in helping children with Autism.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR
(formerly GENERAL COUNSEL and CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER)

Roy Collins, III
collins0@nmsu.edu

LL.M. 1991, The John Marshall School of Law; J.D. 1986, University of Houston Law Center.

Roy Collins III joined NMSU as General Counsel July 2019. Before joining NMSU, Collins served as Associate General Counsel at the University of Hartford (2010-2019) (also as Interim General Counsel 2016-2017), as Associate General Counsel at Idaho State University (2006-2010), and as Assistant General Counsel at Texas Southern University (2003-2006). Prior to his in-house positions representing institutions of higher education, Collins worked in private practice and held positions at Chrysler Corporation, Texas Engineering Experiment Station, McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company and General Dynamics.