2 pm to 5 pm
Join the National Hispanic Cultural Center in celebrating the life of Dr. Orcilia Zuniga Forbes on October 8, 2016, in the Albuquerque Journal Theatre and Cayetana Romero Lobby, both within the NHCC’s Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts.
Dr. Zuniga Forbes was born on June 17, 1938, in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and passed on August 28, 2015. The eldest of eight children and mother of two, Dr. Zuniga Forbes was a remarkable woman who cared deeply about her family and community. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of New Mexico in 1960, and masters degrees in nursing and public policy — one from the Oregon Health and Sciences University in 1966, and one from the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health in 1972. She worked as a public school nurse, then became assistant director of health services at Portland State University before completing her doctorate in educational policy and management from the University of Oregon in 1992. Orcilia spent a distinguished, four decade-long career in higher education administration. She served as Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs at Portland State University before returning to her alma mater in 1989, to become Vice-President of Student Affairs and later, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the University of New Mexico. She returned to Oregon in 1998 to serve as Vice-President of University Advancement at Oregon State University, retiring in 2004.
Free public event
Dr. Zuniga Forbes also served on the boards of many community, health, cultural and civic organizations, including the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in both Albuquerque and Portland, Providence Health and Services System, Foundations for A Better Oregon/Chalkboard Project, the University of New Mexico Foundation, the Spanish Colonial Arts Society, and the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation. In 1991, she received the MANA de Albuquerque’s Brindis a la Mujer Hispana Award, and the NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. Award. In 2009, University of New Mexico’s Alumni Association honored her with the Bernard S. Rodey Award for her contributions as an alumna. Orcilia is survived by her daughter Eryn, son Bryan, daughter-in-law Colleen and granddaughter Sabina.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dr. Orcilia Zuniga Forbes Memorial Fund: amando los ninos, with the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation, for the benefit of the NHCC’s education program.