Aimee Villarreal, PhD, Associate Professor of Comparative Mexican American Studies, has been nominated to serve on the Advisory Committee for Reconciliation in Place Names. 

The committee nomination is for a federally appointed position to review the names of national parks to ensure they are not offensive to Indigenous people and to change those that are in collaboration with local communities.

Nominated by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Dr. Villarreal is completing background checks before her appointment can be confirmed later this month.

“I am thrilled to be nominated to serve on the Advisory Committee for Reconciliation in Place Names and to work with one of my heroes, Secretary Deb Halaand, the first Native American Secretary of the Interior,” Dr. Villarreal said. “I have a personal connection to wilderness areas as well as historic monuments and archeological sites. 

“My father was the Deputy Director of the New Mexico State Parks for 23 years, and I was raised with a deep appreciation for the natural environment and the preservation of cultural heritage. I think I became an anthropologist for this reason.”