In 1980, Roseann Willink joined UNM as a visiting instructor of Navajo. She continued to teach classes as part of the Navajo Language Program until her retirement in Spring 2009.

From 1980 to 1988, Robert W. Young was an Emeritus Professor at UNM who continued to work as an Adjunct Professor of Navajo Linguistics. This appointment was technically through the Linguistics Department, although the department officially continued to be an interdisciplinary one.