Editor's Note: Vee Lucas, who began her position as Eastern New Mexico University's coordinator of Disability Services and Testing on June 23, works in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure all Eastern students are afforded a quality education.

Her office works in close conjunction with faculty, staff and student programs, like the College Success Program, to offer students the assistance they need. She coordinates with other agencies, including the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Commission for the Blind, to provide students with funding and accommodations to be successful in school.

She will serve as a liaison in resolving issues related to students with disabilities. It is her duty to manage all aspects of the internal testing program and to administer CLEP and Dantes/DSST exams.

Ms. Lucas orders online books for students who need them for their classes and scans books for them. Her office offers quiet rooms to test, finds note takers and people to read exams to students when required. It provides equipment for students to use, such as e-readers for textbooks and software programs, like Dragon Speak, to assist them in writing.

Q. What have you enjoyed most about your job, and what have been the biggest challenges?

I think that I need to learn the position and better understand a bigger picture before I start suggesting changes.

Q. What were you doing before you came to ENMU, and what other jobs have you held?

Before coming to ENMU, I worked at the Xerox/RTS call center in Clovis since 2008 as the supervisor for quality assurance. The RTS call center supports hardware and software issues for all McDonald's restaurants in the United States. It's a very busy place.

Before that, I was the director for the Older Adults Department for the City of Clovis. Before that, I was an academic advisor for Wayland Baptist University at the Education Center on Cannon Air Force Base.

Q. What are your degrees and majors?

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Sociology from ENMU.

I obtained my Master of Education with a specialization in Psychology Degree from Wayland Baptist University

Q.  Where were you born, raised, and what was your life like growing up? 

I was raised in a US Military family.  I was born in Tokyo, Japan.  I grew up all around the United States, but my home is in Detroit, Mich.  I married into the military and was able to travel extensively throughout the world. It was a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a military family. 

I studied music in Germany every summer while I was in high school. My favorite place to live besides the United States was Panama. 

Q.  What are your hobbies?

I have several hobbies, my favorite being playing music. I play the bass guitar, the flute and the piano. 

I have two small dogs, both of whom I absolutely adore and would like to spend all of my time with if I could. 

I like to sail and have a sailboat docked on Lake Huron in Michigan, but now that I live in New Mexico, all I can do is dream about sailing. 

Q.  What is your ultimate career goal?

My ultimate career goal is to excel at being the disabilities coordinator and to help students unleash their ultimate best in their educational experience.  I want to help students improve their lives and reach their goals.

Q.   What is your general impression of Portales, and ENMU?

Portales is quite different from any other place in the world. I love the weather, not necessarily the weather this past year, but for the most part the sunny days and little rain that is the norm. ENMU is a wonderful school. As a student, I had the best time going to school here.