Undergrad Paints the Town

By Robert Graham

Alumna Debralynn Soza (BS 11) directs Portales Mainstreet, an organization dedicated to revitalizing the core of Portales.

Debralynn prioritized art as a part of that revitalization, commissioning the services of future alumnus Jacob Lee (BS 14). Jacob’s three murals along the Floyd Highway caught the eye of Portales Mainstreet. The first one features two faces and the second hummingbirds buttressed by the term ‘Hope’. The third mural also features a hummingbird along with the term ‘Faith’; it sits on the wall of Quality Sales, a local discount store.

Jacob Lee

Photo by Maria Garcia

Jacob hopes to complete his fourth mural in time for December graduation. Located in the Mainstreet parking lot, the mural depicts the partnership between Portales and ENMU on one wall, emphasizing agriculture, commerce and education. The second wall represents Jacob’s Native American culture while simultaneously weaving imagery of Portales, Clovis and Cannon Air Force Base into the composition. Jacobs says that the complete mural will also look ahead to the future.

Jacob embraces the past too; he is a member of Tódik’ǫzhi, the Salt Water clan. Jacob grew up on the Ramah Navajo Reservation, which is an hour south of Gallup, New Mexico near the Zuni Pueblo. He is the Director of Native American Affairs at ENMU and says that “Eastern has been the biggest gift of my life. I’ve made a family here. Eastern is my new home.”

Jacob anticipates his next step with excitement and awareness. He says that his “focus is to pay it forward” while staying committed to his long-term vision of entrepreneurship.