Shelly McLaughlin has deep roots in New Mexico, sharing the values of her native New Mexican family. She has lived in New Mexico for nearly 30 years, and is a 29-year UNM employee and lifelong Lobo. She has served in numerous faculty and staff leadership roles at UNM, including in the School of Medicine, across the Health Sciences and University, and in the Department of Emergency Medicine. As Associate Dean she has demonstrated a strong student advocacy background, as well as in policy development, decision making and perspectives from the faculty and administrator view.
As Associate Dean for the Health Professions Programs Ms. McLaughlin is fluent in student matters for undergraduates, graduates and certificate programs. She has a long record of accomplishment in expanding and enriching student educational opportunities, including her leadership serving in many roles in the Emergency Medical Services Academy, where she served as director of Rural and Distance Education, director of the BS in EMS degree, , Medical Student Education Coordinator, , and as an active faculty member.
She has played key leadership roles in clinical education and curriculum development, injury prevention, principles of education and community engagement, as well as student advisement and program administration. She has been integral to the development of the Interprofessional Education programs where she has served as the SOM Health Professions Programs Interprofessional Education Coordinator for the last six years and served on countless university committees and workgroups including her leadership on many Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees
In addition to her work on rural health inequities, her impact has also included a focus on diversity and health equity through her engagement in developing a statewide health care workforce initiative for underserved workforce and as a UNM faculty advisor for the CAUSE (Community Action for UNM Student Empowerment)Student Organization where they provided years of fundraising and support services to the S.A.F.E. House Domestic Violence Shelter and Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women
Associate Dean McLaughlin has been recognized for her national leadership roles in the National Association of EMS Educators, as well as invitations to deliver numerous lectures and presentations. She is also a published book editor, author and scholarly papers developer. She has been awarded with a university Student Affairs Louie Award, the New Mexico EMS Rural Service Award and the Curriculum Committee Evaluation Award. She is an outstanding academic advisor with a long list of student mentees.
In her current interim director for Health Sciences Student Academic Affairs role, she oversees student academic affairs from the Health Sciences perspective, including student services, Interprofessional Education and the Simulation Center. She works closely with the deans, chairs, vice presidents and leaders across the Health Sciences and University on all student related matters.
