ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — Wayland Baptist University honored two of its alumni Oct. 1 in Albuquerque. Michelle Garcia Holmes was named the Distinguished Alumni Award winner from the Albuquerque campus for 2024, and Thomas Valenzuela was named winner from the Clovis campus.
“We love that our Wayland alumni are not just great at their vocations and jobs but that they are really impacting the cities in which they live, and Michelle Garcia Holmes is an excellent example of that,” said Alumni Director Jeffrey Vera. “Her accomplishments fighting against human traffickers and child predators make her a great choice for Distinguished Alumnus of the Albuquerque campus, and we’re so proud to honor Michelle in this way.”
“Similarly, we love that our alumni database includes many counselors who represent the frontline of mental health efforts across our country and are really helping people,” said Vera. “Thomas Valenzuela has distinguished himself in that career and has made an impact worthy of this award.”
A 2005 graduate of Wayland, Garcia Holmes is retired Chief of Staff for the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, where she worked on the creation of the first New Mexico Government Corruption Investigative Division, legislation against child abusers and human traffickers. She also managed statewide education on internet predators and the dangers of methamphetamine and prescription drug overdose issues as well as a teen dating violence outreach.
Her impact with the AG’s office was great, serving as liaison to the Joint Terrorism Task Force and working on national human trafficking issues, leading to passage of New Mexico’s first anti-trafficking bill. She also worked on money laundering issues in collaboration with national organizations. Most notably, she was part of a team that indicted the DNA of later-convicted “Ether Man Rapist” Robert Howard Bruce, now serving a 276-year sentence.
An Albuquerque native, Garcia Holmes came to the AG’s office after retiring as detective from a 20-year career with the Albuquerque Police Department. She served in various units such as Violent Crimes Against Children, Sexual Assault, Property Crimes, and Auto Theft , in addition to serving on chief’s staff.
Married to husband Earl for 23 years, Garcia Holmes is an ordained senior chaplain, a Blue Star Mother, a pro-life advocate, and a mother to five children.
Valenzuela was raised in Albuquerque and joined the U.S. Air Force after high school graduation in 1997. During his 20 years of service, he participated in multiple deployments in support of Operation Northern Watch, Operation Allied Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. He received numerous commendations and service medals during his time, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Award and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He retired in December 2017.
During his service, Valenzuela earned his bachelor’s degree at Wayland-Clovis in 2017, graduating with honors. He started his graduate degree just a few months later, earning his Master of Arts in Counseling in November 2019.
Valenzuela returned to Albuquerque after retiring from the Air Force and began working as a Clinical Mental Health Therapist at Southwest Family Guidance Center while finishing his master’s degree. He continued after graduation, focusing his work on school-based therapy for children ages 5-18. He also worked at A Child’s Voice as a community support worker from June-September 2023, helping clients and their family navigate and find assistance in many areas.
Working closely with school administrators, teachers and counselors inspired Valenzuela to change his counseling focus, so he is currently studying for the licensure exam while serving as a substitute teacher. Valenzuela and wife Michelle, also a mental health counselor, have three children.
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