Written by Wendel Sloan
Melissa Sena is Senior Secretary for Alumni Affairs. .
In addition to day-to-day responsibilities, her job includes assisting with keeping alumni connected with several events throughout the year.
One is the homecoming parade. Melissa obtains city and state permits, and asks ENMU organizations and city groups to participate.
Her office also handles the new graduate reception in the fall and spring after commencements. She orders food for the reception, makes sure tables and chairs are set up and helps serve.
In July she helps with the Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament in Albuquerque to raise money for scholarships for children of alumni.
She also arranges food for the reception that night at the Tamaya Resort on the Santa Ana Pueblo.
“In the Alumni Office I really enjoy putting on the events. I like making all the plans — ordering, food, venue and meetings,” Melissa said.
Melissa worked for Roosevelt County Insurance in Portales from 1991-93, then worked for Northern Insurance in Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Santa Fe. She moved back to Portales in 2007, and started working at ENMU in 2009.
Melissa is also pursuing a degree by taking basic classes, and ones in psychology and sociology.
“Criminal justice interests me because I want to see how the justice system works. I also want to learn about all the different laws that we have,” she said, adding that her favorite crime show is “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Born and raised in Portales, Melissa said, “I like it here. It’s not too big of a town and that makes it easier to know people. I like the way the community pulls together in times of need.
“I have experienced this in my own family when my granddaughter got leukemia — twice. We had raffles, car washes and the community helped out greatly even though I had moved away for 15 years.”
Melissa says she enjoys working at ENMU because she gets “to meet so many people and learn about them and their culture. I really enjoy working with the students, helping them and learning about them also. Sometimes you get attached to the students.”
A Portales High School graduate, Melissa “didn’t do sports,” but was involved in DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America).
When she moved back to Portales in 2007, there were not too many insurance agencies in town. She went to work with Farm Bureau, but, after about a year, business slowed down. She started applying with Eastern and successfully landed the job at Golden Library.
Her fantasy career goal is to be a translator in a court. She is fluent in Spanish, but says she still has a lot to learn.
Melissa’s main hobby is reading, but taking classes makes it hard to find time. Her favorite author is Danielle Steele.
Melissa says her “happiest moments were when my granddaughters were born, and when my oldest granddaughter went into remission from leukemia. It has been three years now.
“My saddest moments were when my parents and my sister passed away.”
Melissa, born and raised in Portales, is the youngest of three, with two older sisters. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a custodian at ENMU.
Her three children are Amanda, Chantel and Mario. Her granddaughters are Jaelyn, Jalyse, Jarynn and Zoey.
“I want to be able to retire and still enjoy life,” Melissa said.
She added, “I think you need to respect other people and their feelings and opinions.”
