Empowering Adult Learners: Inside New Mexico’s Adult Education Movement
In this inspiring episode of Tried and Tested, host Isabelle Gonthier sits down at the COABE Conference with two powerhouse leaders in adult education from New Mexico: Dr. Amber Gallup, State Director of Adult Education, and Jamie Trujillo, Executive Director of the New Mexico Adult Education Association.
Together, they explore how New Mexico is transforming its adult education landscape—tackling systemic barriers, passing groundbreaking legislation, and creating bold new pathways through programs like HiSET. From student ambassador initiatives to free testing and living stipends, Amber and Jamie share the strategies, stories, and policy wins that are making real impact in learners’ lives—and offer powerful advice for states looking to do the same.
🎙️ P.S. Want to hear even more from Jamie? Tune into her own podcast, Connect with Adult Ed: the NMAEA Podcast for powerful topics and perspectives from across New Mexico’s adult ed community.
If you care about education, equity, and workforce readiness, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
Jamie Trujillo
Executive Director of the New Mexico Adult Education Association
Jamie Trujillo is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Adult Education Association. She oversees all state-funded professional learning offerings and engages in legislative advocacy in support of adult education and literacy, including the training and support of student ambassadors. She serves on the Mountain Plains Adult Education Association (MPAEA) and Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) boards. She has worked in the adult education field for 20 years in various capacities including instruction and administration. While both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees are in Psychology, Jamie has made adult education her lifelong career.
Amber Gallup
State Director of Adult Education at the New Mexico Higher Education Department
Dr. Amber Gallup is State Director of Adult Education at the New Mexico Higher Education Department, overseeing the adult education, adult literacy, and high school equivalency statewide systems. She serves on the boards of the New Mexico State Workforce Development Board and the National Association of State Directors of Adult Education (NASDAE). Amber holds a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences from The University of New Mexico with a research focus on registered apprenticeship design for frontline workers. She also has M.A. in TESOL and an M.A. in Hispanic linguistics, both from Indiana University.
To hear more from Jamie, NMAEA and Propel are pleased to bring you Connect with Adult Ed: the NMAEA Podcast!
In this podcast, host Nadia Kader & co-host Jamie Trujillo will explore various adult education topics that are relevant to all adult education practitioners and students in New Mexico.