By Rick Nathanson / Journal Staff Writer   To help combat a critical shortage among teachers and mental and behavioral health workers, the state Higher Education Department has awarded 0.5 million in endowments, spread among 13 colleges and universities in New Mexico. The endowments include million for educator preparation, .5 million in the area of social work, and million in support of nursing, HED Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez said this week. New Mexico HED Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez (Courtesy NM Higher Education Department) The interest generated from investing those principal funds can be used "to recruit and retain quality professors...