Author Archives: Linda Brown

When Victor Romero lost his job at the Chino Mine due to cutbacks at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, an opportunity arose to finally pursue a longtime dream of getting a higher education. Romero was eligible for free tuition as part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor. He decided to take his career plans in an entirely new direction, and he enrolled at WNMU to study Elementary Education. “When I lost my job in 2021, things were not easy,” explained Romero. “But I wanted to be an inspiration for my kids to show them when there are hurdles, you can overcome them. … When things are tough, that is the time to rise.” His decision to study Elementary Education was inspired by his own childhood experiences as a bilingual (Spanish/English) student. Originally from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Romero moved to El Paso as a child, where he attended elementary school. But Romero struggled as a child because his third-grade class...

Recent WNMU graduate (BS ’24) and current graduate student in Education Tia Holyan was inspired to become a special education teacher by observing the experiences of a friend when she was growing up. “One of my good friends that I grew up with since kindergarten never really had a special education teacher that was really hands-on and patient,” she said. “I felt like he missed out on a lot of the instruction that should have been provided. Back then, they didn’t have all the resources that we do now.” Those observations prompted Holyan, who is Diné, to take a position with the Bureau of Indian Education. “I have been working with the Bureau of Indian Education for going on eight years,” she said, “so I have been working with students in the residential setting—students who are emotionally disturbed. I did that for three or four years and after that I transitioned into administration.” Now that she has her bachelor’s degree from WNMU, Holyan is in her...

The WNMU Foundation and the Western Institute of Lifelong Learning (WILL) held a signing event on October 28, 2024 to mark the establishment of the new WILL Scholarship for Lifelong Learners. WILL is a nonprofit associated with the university that fosters intentional, inclusive community and provides opportunities for lifelong learning and volunteerism by offering approximately 160 classes each year, led by volunteers. The new scholarship was inspired by a donation to WILL in honor of one of its members. “The seed money was donated in remembrance of a prominent member of WILL that passed away, Sonnie Sussillo,” said Len Lambert who serves as WILL Advisory Board Treasurer. “Sonnie Sussillo was our curriculum chair and was on the advisory board,” explained Patty Reed, one of the founders of WILL and its current board president. “When she passed away, two of her dear friends donated seed money.” In addition to the seed money, said Lambert, WILL was able to raise...

Marilyn Tafoya was not sure what she wanted to study when she first transferred to WNMU from San Juan College; she just felt the university was a good choice for her. “I wanted to pick a school with many online options, and of course, affordability was important. WNMU stood out to me as being a good option,” she said. Tafoya, who is Jicarilla Apache, Kiowa and Cheyenne and lives in northern New Mexico, at first thought she might focus on the natural sciences. “I really like the field of science, but I am a former high school drop-out,” she explained, “so it was a bit challenging for me to have to learn all of that—especially in chemistry, as that felt like a whole new alien language.” When she started taking psychology classes, she knew she had found the right fit. “I would like to try to become a mental health counselor,” she said. “Coming from the reservation community, I see a lot of unhealthy family dynamics, personal life dynamics and just a lot of...

Students in Assistant Professor of Biology Eric Casler’s BIOL 2642L Plant Form, Function and Diversity Lab have an opportunity to conduct original research this semester. The assignment, said Casler, is to come up with an original experiment on seed germination. “In teams of two, they have designed their own experiment,” he said. “They challenge the seeds in different ways, and then they are going to write a scientific paper.” The level of responsibility required by the assignment is unusual for entry-level biology courses, indicated Casler. “We begin preparing for the experiment five weeks before it starts by reading and analyzing a scientific paper, after which the students submit proposals for their own experiments, meet with me individually, then revise their proposals,” he said. “We offer extra credit if the students choose to present their research at the student symposium that is held on campus at the end of each semester.” Students have developed a...

Western New Mexico University encourages all registered voters to cast their ballots. If you have not yet voted and need a ride to a Grant County polling location, Student Life is offering free rides at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Meet in front of the Student Memorial Center. An Election Night Watch Party will be held in Miller Library from 5:00 to 9:00...

The road that brought Edward Apodaca to higher education has been a winding one, but it has taken him to the cusp of graduating from Western New Mexico University. Apodaca plans to graduate in December with an interdisciplinary degree in Law Enforcement and Chemical Dependency. Apodaca, who is of Jicarilla Apache, Diné, and European descent, grew up in various communities in northern New Mexico, eventually settling in Las Vegas, NM. “We lived on the outskirts towards the mountains,” he said, “so I was able to hike all the way through the Pecos Wilderness. I had a really good tie with the earth.” Despite this connection to the land, Apodaca decided to uproot himself and join the Marine Corps, where he served along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. He would later understand that his time in the service gave him post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but he did not know this when he was younger. “Back then,” he explained, “PTSD was not even considered as a...

National Native American Heritage Month is observed each November to recognize the rich history and culture of Native Americans, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiians and to reflect on their many achievements. Western New Mexico University values the contributions of Native American individuals and celebrates the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities. WNMU remains committed to fostering an inclusive environment that honors the voices and experiences of Indigenous...

A new large-scale sculpture will greet visitors arriving to the campus of Western New Mexico University. The new sculpture, Collaboration, is the culmination of four years of design and fabrication by Professor Emeritus Michael Metcalf, who taught in the Department of Expressive Arts for three decades. Constructed of steel and stone, the sculpture consists of three arced spires, between which is suspended a five-thousand-pound boulder of local Burro Mountain granite, courtesy of the United States Forest Service. Metcalf, who retired from WNMU this year, received a sabbatical leave in 2021 to begin work on the sculpture. The sabbatical was his only compensation for the work. He also worked closely with WNMU President Joseph Shepard and the university’s Art Acquisition Committee to ensure that he had the necessary approval before launching the project. Metcalf said that the sleek look of the stainless steel is consistent with his other sculptures. “I like a minimalist...

In New Mexico, there are only enough licensed child care spots for about 50% of infants and toddlers whose parents work, according to the NM Early Childhood Education and Care Department, suggesting an urgent need to increase capacity in early childhood care and education. Western New Mexico University aspires to do its part to reduce the need by constructing a new Child Development Center using funding from this year’s General Obligation Bond 3. The need for this expansion becomes clear when one considers that in the first few years of life, over 1 million new neural connections develop every second, a pace never repeated again, according to UNICEF. Quality early childhood care and education while these neural connections are forming can impact the entire trajectory of a child’s life. One of the crucial effects of quality care and education in early childhood is that it improves children’s foundational skills and school readiness, according to Cynthia Martinez, Dean of...