Mendiola was hired by then-NMC President Tony Deleon Guerrero as special assistant to the board of regents and the NMC Foundation director in Dec. 2005. He also performed other duties assigned by the college president.
At that time, NMC was still functioning as the CNMI’s state licensing board for post-secondary institutions.
In 2007, Mendiola was named director of the office of institutional advancement to oversee NMC’s marketing and public relations.
NMC President Carmen Fernandez, in a statement yesterday, lauded Mendiola’s contributions to the college.
“[He] has been an invaluable member of the college’s management team,” said Fernandez. “Unfortunately for NMC, he has elected to leave the college to pursue other professional opportunities.”
Mendiola’s replacement will be selected through a recruitment process which is already underway.
According to Fernandez, “We continuously work on attracting and hiring the best candidates for our team. This is why I am not surprised that other organizations may actively recruit our faculty and staff…. Although we do not like to lose any of our team members, we will always support their personal choices to further their professional and personal growth elsewhere.”
In an e-mail to Variety, Mendiola said: “I’m glad to have received this rare opportunity to be part of one of the most dynamic and energetic teams in the CNMI.”
He added that the “dedication of staff and faculty at the college is unmatched.”
Mendiola is confident that NMC will overcome any challenge that comes its way.
“I have no doubt that that NMC will play an increasingly critical role in the personal and professional development of the people here. I’ve benefited professionally under the guidance and leadership of former NMC President Tony Guerrero, NMC President Dr. Carmen Fernandez, and the committed members of the board of regents and the NMC Foundation.”
