ABOUT YOLANDA “PANCHA”

Yolanda “Pancha” Jaramillo is a lifelong educator, acequia leader, and advocate for Northern New Mexico’s land, water, and families. Born and raised in Rio Arriba County and rooted in the traditions of Dixon, she comes from a long line of farmers and acequieros who have protected the land and water for generations. From her parents, Elias and Carolina Romero, she learned the values of hard work, faith, education, and service.

Following in her father’s footsteps as a school teacher, Yolanda built a career in education, serving as Director of the Language Learning Center at New Mexico Highlands University, a university instructor and visiting professor of Spanish, and a teacher at Española High School and other districts across New Mexico and Texas.

She was married for 38 years to the late Nick Jaramillo, a dedicated educator and coach, and lovingly cared for him during his courageous fight with dementia — deepening her commitment to healthcare access and support for caregivers.

Since 2009, Yolanda has served as Secretary/Treasurer of La Acequia de La Plaza de Dixon and sits on the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Acequia Association, and the Embudo Valley Regional Acequia Association. In 2024, she was appointed to the New Mexico Acequia Commission. Yolanda  works to protect historic water rights, and safeguard New Mexico’s water, land and environment.

In 2003, she and her daughter Ane Romero founded New Mexico’s first youth suicide prevention program, Yellow Ribbon, providing lifesaving trainings to schools and rural and tribal communities across the state.

A proud mother of three and grandmother of one, Yolanda is fighting for water, land, healthcare, education, behavioral health, and job creation — delivering real results for rural communities, not rhetoric.

Education

  • University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. Completed one year of doctoral studies in Latin American Literature and Linguistics, 1992–1993

  • M.A., Spanish Literature, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM, 1987

  • B.A., Spanish/ Theatre, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM , 1983

  • Graduate, Menaul High School. Albuquerque, NM, 1976

Work and Community Experience

  • Secretary/Treasurer, La Acequia de La Plaza de Dixon, 2009–Present
    Re-elected to consecutive two-year terms; oversees governance, financial stewardship, and protection of historic acequia water rights.

  • NM Acequia Commission, Appointed by Governor Michelle Luján-Grisham, 2024

  • Board of Directors, Concilio, New Mexico Acequia Association, 2010-Present
    Advocates for acequia communities statewide, supporting policy, education, and land and water protection initiatives.

  • Chapter Coordinator/Trainer, Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program of New Mexico, 2005–Present
    Leads suicide prevention training and outreach efforts in local communities.

  • Teacher, Española High School, 2016

  • Instructor, Bilingual Strategies Institute, Taos, NM, 2015

  • Interim Director, Language Learning Center, New Mexico Highlands University, 2007–2008

  • Instructor, Spanish, Heritage Spanish, Literature, New Mexico Highlands University, 1987-1991; 2006–2008

  • Secondary Language Skills Tester, Las Vegas City Schools, Las Vegas, NM, 2005

  • Instructor, Intermediate Spanish, Graduate Assistant, University of NM

  • Office of Academic Support and Career Services, New Mexico Highlands University, 2004

  • Teacher, English to Speakers of Other Languages, Spanish, Directed The Diary of Anne Frank, Aldine Senior High School, Houston, TX, 2002–2003

  • Youth Development Specialist, La Jicarita Enterprise Community Youth Development, Mora, NM, 2001–2002

  • Teacher, West Las Vegas Family Partnership & Valley Middle School, West Las Vegas School District, Las Vegas, NM, 2000–2001

  • Fundraiser Communicator/Supervisor, IDC Communication Centre, Henderson, NV, 1997–1998

  • Free-Lance Voice Overs, Translator and Language Consultant, OR; Directed educational video, Umatilla Dam Visitor’s Center, OR

  • Teacher, Grants High School, Grants-Cíbola School District, Grants, NM, 1998

  • Instructor, Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR 1996

  • Visiting Professor of Spanish, Literature, Director of Theatre in Spanish, New Mexico Highlands University, 1991–1992

Community Involvement

  • Community Event Organizer, 300th Anniversary of Las Acequias del Embudo, Dixon, NM. As a result of this event, Governor Luján -Grisham declared September 20, 2025, NM Acequia Heritage Day.  Currently collaborating on an upcoming 301st Anniversary event. Co-sponsored, organized, visited with acequieros from the Peñasco and Embudo Valleys, and recruited presenters, and musicians for this all-day commemorative event.

  • Las Vegas 4th of July Fiesta Committee. Co-initiated and organized the first Las Vegas 4th of July Veterans Parade and Ceremony.

  • Maestra de Ceremonias, Fiestas de Santa Rosa de Dixon

  • Stage Actress, Director, among the many roles, I portray La Agua en El Trovo del Aceite y La Agua

  • Radio Personality, KXRT FM, Taos; KDCE; KNMX Las Vegas, NM 1979-1985

  • Active advocate for acequia, clean water,  land issues, and suicide prevention awareness throughout New Mexico.

Personal

Yolanda is passionate about prayer, acequia and land stewardship, behavioral health, genealogy, the Spanish language and its dialects and teatro. She was married for 38 years to the late Nick Jaramillo, a dedicated educator and coach, and lovingly cared for him during his courageous fight with dementia. She is a proud mother of one son and two daughters, a grandmother to one grandson, and a devoted companion to Holly Dog and her beloved parakeet.