My name is Justin Lucero, I was born and raised in the South Valley New Mexico. I’m currently the Executive Operations Officer for the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Centers Office of Research. I provide strategic leadership and administrative management to a major Level 3 Office of Research. I oversee the establishment and maintenance of effective administrative processes, procedures, and controls related to the biomedical and clinical research conducted under the auspices of the Division. I have my BBA in Finance, a Masters in Accounting all from the University of New Mexico. I’m also a professor at the University of New Mexico, teaching graduate Accounting courses.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I’m currently engaged to my wonderful fiancé Smraa. I am an only child, my parents are Leonard and Sara, who have been married for 39 years now. We’re a typical Hispanic family with lots of love and lots of love for food.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
As I mentioned before I am currently the EOO for UNM HSC, in charge of Research Compliance and it’s operations. In the past I have worked for FBI Inspector General as a Forensic Auditor, I led the Inspector General Audit of the year in 2019, titled “Audit of the FBI’s Strategy to Deter Illicit Activity on the Dark Web.” What I love most about my job are my team, I am a Servant Leader and nothing is more rewarding than watching my team grow in their careers and personal lives, having any part in that brings me the greatest joy.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My fiancé Smraa inspires me everyday to be better each and every day. To always work hard, be kind, be humble and never lose our golden hearts.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
My biggest advice to people is to always be kind and just, no matter the situation or how hard we think we have it, someone has it much harder. So be kind and strive to just be a good human being. Success is 80% showing up everyday and the other 20% is insane hard work. That simple.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Something on my bucket list is to watch the Yankees live in the World Series
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was an All State baseball player in Albuquerque, I red shirted my freshman year of college, however I found out I was better at math and accounting than I was at baseball!
