Our People: Upward bound from here

Elizabeth Acosta was born at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota and was raised there until age 11, when her family was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base. She has lived in New Mexico ever since. She graduated from Clovis High School in 2000 and is pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in social work at Eastern New Mexico University.

She is the wife of Harvey Acosta of Portales. The two married in December 2015 and have six children between them. Acosta was the Administrative Secretary for the Upward Bound Program at ENMU. She is an alumni of the program from her junior and senior years of high school. She said no matter what age she is, she wants to set a good example for her kids and continue her education. She attends Faith Christian Family Church and enjoys spending time with her family.

Acosta accepted the position of the ENMU Nursing Department Secretary this month.

What do you like about working at the college (Eastern New Mexico University)?

As the secretary of the Upward Bound program, I processed all the applications and made sure all the required pieces were there before we interviewed. I still feel very strongly about the (Upward Bound) program because the department reaches out to the kids who don't think they can go to college. They're given the resources and information they need so that they can actually attend. The program preps these kids for college. The program also assists low-income families and offers tutoring on how to build resumes and prepare for interviews. Upward Bound has been at Eastern since the 1960s and I think it's great.

What's your idea of a perfect day?

Staying at home and watching Netflix (laughing). But seriously, it is just having all of my kids and sitting at the dinner table and talking about our day. My life is very busy, so spending quality time with my family is a perfect day.

What's your favorite TV show, past and present?

Past is 'Friends' and for a current pick is 'Grey's Anatomy.'

When you were a kid, what did you think you'd be doing as an adult?

My ultimate dream job was to be a cosmetologist. I wanted to be the big time lady who did all the best makeup for the stars. I wanted to be that glam girl.

What's your favorite taste?

Mexican food.

What's your favorite smell?

I love Bath and Body Works scents. I like fall scents like pumpkin, cinnamon apples and so on.

If you could master one instrument, what would it be?

I would want to learn to play the piano. My favorite artist is Alicia Keyes. She's so great at playing. I like that you can play just about anything on the piano.

Who's invited to your fantasy dinner party and why?

All of my family, past, present and future. I just want to be able to sit down with my great-great-grandparents... that would be the ideal fantasy for me.

What place would you like to travel to and why?

Paris. My dad had the opportunity to go when he was in the military. He has a statue of the Eifel tower and ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to go to the same spot my dad once visited.

What do you envision your life being like in 10 years?

I picture myself still happily married and graduated from college with my degrees and just enjoying life. I probably won't be debt free, unfortunately, but I hope to be enjoying my kids and hopefully some of their kids.

- Compiled by CMI Correspondent D'Nieka Hartsfield