Author Archives: Abe Villarreal

High school students and community college students looking to enroll at Western New Mexico University in the upcoming fall semester are invited to attend Mustang Showcase on Saturday, March 21. The event will give prospective students a preview of life on campus and connect them with their programs of interest. Scholarships will be awarded to attendees who qualify. “We are rolling out a new set of scholarships for incoming students,” said Matthew Lara, Director of Admissions. “High school students that have performed well academically or that have shown leadership in their communities may qualify for these awards.” The new tuition guarantee program will also be highlighted. The program will be initiated for the incoming freshman class promising them a static tuition rate for four years if they maintain a 2.0 G.P.A. and enroll continuously for four years. “The best way to decide what university to attend is to visit the campus,” added Lara. “Students will see...

The premier of TRUTH, a movie shot in and around Silver City, will premier at Light Hall Theater on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7. The movie’s director Michael J. Cramer, along with producers and cast members, will attend the premier and be available for a Q&A session following the screening. The movie includes scenes filmed at Fort Bayard Medical Center and on the Western New Mexico University main campus, including classroom scenes inside Harlan Hall. WNMU students and community members appear as extras in the film. TRUTH follows a diverse group of college students who stumble into a top-secret facility hidden in plain sight somewhere deep in the mountains of the Gila wilderness. Unbeknownst to them, the hospital was ground zero for a large-scale test of truth serum based on an inert virus ten years earlier; a test that went disastrously wrong, forcing the closure of the facility. The students fight against time to prevent the deadly virus from affecting...

The recent controversies on policing in New Mexico and racial profiling throughout the country will be the topics of discussion at a forum titled Guilty Until Proven Innocent on Tuesday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Miller Library. The panel will include members of the community representing different facets of the law enforcement perspective. Panelists include Isaac Brundage, WNMU Vice President of Student Affairs; Francesca Estevez, District Attorney of the sixth judicial district; Dr. Andrew Warren, professor of criminal justice; and Waldo Winborn, WNMU campus police officer. Estevez’ experience includes a 17-year career as a prosecutor. She served as a deputy district attorney before being elected to District Attorney in 2012. Prior to being a WNMU patrolman, Winborn retired as a sergeant with the New Mexico State Police. His experience includes a 24-year law enforcement career. The event includes refreshments and light food following the panel...

Social workers are all about helping others and in 2012 an institute was created to help extend the reach and impact of the social work community in Grant County. The Institute for Rural Social Work (IRSR) was created by Dr. Bob Rickle, professor of Social Work at Western New Mexico University. Since its inception, the institute has partnered with several organizations to provide training and to gather information on local communities. Last summer, IRSR was a major sponsor of the 39th annual National Institute for Social Work and Human Services, which took place in July at the Silver City campus. “IRSR is dedicated to providing research, evaluation and technical assistance to rural social service agencies to build and sustain community capacity,” said Rickle. “An important aspect of the IRSR mission is to give back to the communities serviced by the organization in the form of student scholarships.” Scholarships were awarded in Lordsburg and Deming earlier this...

A degree in Human Services has recently received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to be offered as an associate degree through the Department of Social Work at Western New Mexico University beginning in the upcoming summer session. The decision to develop the new degree program was prompted by a shortage of frontline human services workers in state agencies and non-profit agencies. “This program will strengthen agencies providing human services in WNMU’s areas. We look forward to this pipeline to a larger pool of professionals in this field, and a better educated workforce,” said Dr. Beth Walker, Department of Social Work Chair. The Health Resources and Services Administration, a division of the US Health and Human Services Departments, has called for colleges and universities to partner with communities to train, recruit and retain human service professionals, especially in rural areas. Training for the human service field includes learning interpersonal...

Tax season has arrived and with it comes Tax Help New Mexico. Western New Mexico has offered the program in partnership with the state for over 30 years as a free service to low income filers. Students work as volunteers at the WNMU site, one of the states’ 48 locations. All students are accounting or business majors that can also use their experience as a three-credit course. Student volunteers are required to pass an exam testing their knowledge of tax preparation prior to working for Tax Help. The free service is available for people with annual family incomes of $53,000 or less, with an exception for people who earn more than that due to Social Security income. To have a tax return prepared, individuals must have an original Social Security card, a picture ID, W-2s from all employers and a bank account with routing number for direct deposit. Housed in the MEChA Building on the WNMU campus, tax preparation is offered Monday through Friday. The service will be...

Western New Mexico University will host a Founders Day celebration in honor of the university’s 122nd birthday on Wednesday, February 11 from 1pm to 2pm. Visitors are welcome to enjoy birthday cake and live music at the University Museum. The musical talents of WNMU international students will entertain guests. “We always take a moment in February to reflect on the history of our university and the special place it has in the hearts and minds of alums, students and community members,” said Abe Villarreal, Director of Communications. WNMU was established by legislative action on February 11, 1893. In its 122-year history, the university has had four names and has grown from a teacher’s college to a comprehensive institution offering over 70 fields of study. “We want community members and former students to visit us at Fleming Hall to enjoy birthday cake and tour the University Museum’s permanent display of WNMU history,” added Villarreal. The WNMU Museum...

The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents met for their annual first meeting of the new calendar year in Santa Fe on Thursday, January 29. The January meeting occurs each year in the capital city to coincide with the activities of the state legislature and to allow board members to hear updates on higher education initiatives by cabinet makers and other statewide leaders. Regent members listened to presentations by Dr. Dan Lopez, President of the Council of University Presidents (CUP); Dr. David Lepre, Executive Director of CUP; Dr. Barbara Damron, NM Higher Education Department Secretary Designee; David Abbey, Legislative Finance Committee Director; and Clayton Abbey, New Mexico Independent Community Colleges Executive Director. In regular business, the Board approved the university’s financial audit report for the 2013-2014 year. The audit was considered unqualified, meaning that the independent auditor found the university’s financial statements sound and free...

The 2015 Southwest New Mexico Leadership Class had its initial meeting in January on WNMU’s Silver City campus. Those selected for the program come from the financial section, health care, education, county, city, town, and regional government units, the Forest Service, and non-profit organizations in Luna and Grant County. Those participating in the program this year are Mone’t Borla, Olivia Britton, Erica Carlos, Letty Castillo, Jessica Enriquez, Jessica Etcheverry, Cerisse Grijalva, Jack Herndon, Jeff Hobbs, Linda Hoy, Jolene Huffman, Glory Johnson, Jual Ortiz, Razanna Thomas, Peggy White and Michael Zaragoza. In addition to learning or renewing leadership skills and practices, the participants will develop a community project by which to apply their learning. The group will meet in February and March in Deming at the Andres Z. Silva Conference Center before returning to the WNMU campus for the April meeting and a graduation ceremony. The Southwest New Mexico...