Jamie Sibson named director of NM Orientation Center for the blind

The New Mexico Commission for the blind announced the selection of Jamie Sibson as the new director of its Orientation Center in Alamogordo.

The Center is part of a vocational rehabilitation program managed by the Commission. It is a residential teaching facility which creates opportunities for the blind or visually impaired to become successfully employed.

"The opportunity to return to Ne Mexico is one I count not resist," Sibson said in a statement. "I look forward to this new journey for me and my family."

Sibson is a alum of the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She is a native of Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico who attended the University of New Mexico where she received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

She was formerly employed at the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center in Austin, Texas as its deputy director.

"Ms. Sibson's extensive experience administering rehabilitation programs will be invaluable at the Orientation Center as we help our students to acquire the skills they need to become employed. The Orientation Center has a reputation as one of the finest blindness training centers in the country, and I am confident Ms. Sibson will improve our program event further," said Greg Trap, the New Mexico Commission for the Blind's executive director.

Commission Chair Urja Lansing said Sibson's selection would mean the Center benefits from her years of training in alternative techniques of blindness orientation.

Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JussGREAT.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Jamie Sibson named director of NM Orientation Center for the blind