Dina Chacón-Reitzel has worked with the New Mexico Beef Council since 1989 and has served as the Executive Director of the council since 1991. Dina was raised on a cattle ranch in northern New Mexico, close to the Colorado border. Her family has roots in the state going back over four hundred years. Dina earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in Business and an MBA in Marketing and Management from New Mexico State University.
In her capacity as Executive Director of the New Mexico Beef Council, she is responsible for the creation and implementation of beef research, promotion and consumer information programs. In addition, she is responsible for collection and compliance of the Beef Checkoff.
Dina has held seats on several national beef industry committees and is currently serving on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Beef Safety Research Committee.
In 2018, Dina was appointed to serve on the Board of Regents at New Mexico State University. She currently serves as Chairwoman of the Board.
New Mexico State University College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Science named Dina to serve as one of three delegates to USDA’s Council for Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching (CARET). In her role as a CARET delegate, she is a “citizen advocate”, advocating for federal funds in Washington, DC for the college. She has served on the CARET Executive Committee and became Chairwoman of CARET in January 2016.
In May, 2015, Dina was awarded the New Mexico Outstanding Leadership Award, the highest honor given by NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The award is given to an individual who has made a significant leadership contribution to agriculture in New Mexico and/or service to agriculture. Candidates for this distinguished award will exemplify the philosophy of leveraging knowledge, talents, partnerships and resources to better serve agriculture.
Dina was honored in August, 2011 by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture as the recipient of the 2011 Industry Partner Award for her support of the department and New Mexico agriculture. She also received the Friend of Extension Award, from the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service in 2012.
Dina was selected to participate in Leadership New Mexico and successfully completed the program in June of 2007. She has been very active in various organizations at the state level, serving on the New Mexico 4-H Foundation, and past board member of the Saint Pius High School Foundation and the UNM Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Dina was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Agriculture and Home Economics College at New Mexico State University in 1996. In addition, she was recognized by the Governor of New Mexico as a “Hero of the Cerro Grande Fire” and also by the Children’s Hospital of New Mexico for her long-time work on behalf of New Mexico’s sick children.
Dina is married to Jim Reitzel, and has two wonderful children, Elizabeth and Matthew. Elizabeth graduated from the University of New Mexico Law School with a Natural Resource specialty, and Matthew graduated with an Agriculture Economics degree from New Mexico State University.
