Great Alumni Stories

Work ethic drives success of Ron Maestas,

Alumnus Ron Maestas, Ph.D., is motivated to work hard in all aspects of his life. A San Luis Valley native, he finished his undergraduate studies in three years while working as a student manager for the Adams State Bookstore.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in business with a minor in Spanish in 1968 and a Master of Arts in business in 1970, Dr. Maestas completed his Ph.D. in education from Arizona State University in 1979.

“Had it not been for Adams State, I don’t know where I would have ended up.” Dr. Maestas appreciates the guidance from Luis Trujillo, Ph.D., (emeritus professor of Spanish); Arthur S. Wellbaum (emeritus associate professor of business); Roland Wick, Ph.D., (emeritus professor of business); and Joe I. Vigil, Ph.D., (emeritus professor of health, physical education, and recreation).

After graduation, Dr. Maestas moved to Taos, N.M., where he worked as a business teacher and became a racquetball champion at the local, state and national levels.

“I ended up seeing a vacancy notice for a business professor at the New Mexico Highlands University. They had six racquetball courts, so I became a sports coach and played racquetball. I had a very unique serve, like wallpaper, leaving the opponent unable to do an offensive shot, and having to resort to doing a defensive shot.”

He won seven national titles in racquetball alongside his son, Raymond Maestas, whom he credits with being the better player between them.

In the mid-to-late 1970s, Dr. Maestas would go on to help beta test early versions of Microsoft operating systems, back when the computer technology industry was just beginning.

He wrote 13 books on Microsoft operating systems, including educational materials on Microsoft Word and Excel. In 1982, he received a fellowship to do post-doctoral work at the University of Minnesota, followed by a year at Indiana University in Bloomington. “Ironically, most of my work now is done on a MacBook Pro.”

Teaching at New Mexico Highlands University, Dr. Maestas developed an interest in silver-gold smithing, taking many classes in the art form. “I’ve done many images, bracelets and bolo ties including an Our Lady of Guadalupe tie.”

As an author, Dr. Meastas has written over 150 biographies of prominent families that shaped New Mexico, Colorado and the San Luis Valley. His book, “The Faith of my Friends, Neighbors, Relatives, and Parents,” is about the development of traditional Hispanic art in the San Luis Valley including religious image artists (santeros and santeras).

A devout Roman Catholic, Dr. Maestas attended the canonization of Juan Diego as a Saint in 2002. “I came within five feet of Pope John Paul II.”

Dr. Maestas is an avid genealogist who traced his family lineage back to Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Emperor who ruled from 768 until 814. His research led to Dr. Maestas’ admission to the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne. He was additionally selected as a state historian for the state of New Mexico.

Dr. Maestas met his wife, Monica Muniz Maestas ’68, at Adams State. She received her M.A. from New Mexico Highlands University. They are proud of their three children, Lisa, J.D.; Raymond, J.D.; and Dominic, Ph.D.

by Garrett Carroll