Author Archives: Abe Villarreal

Western New Mexico University is commemorating Black History Month with several events celebrating the history and culture of Black America during the month of February. The events include a black history film series in Light Hall Theater. The movies are free to WNMU students, $2 for adults and $1 for non-WNMU students. Concession items will be available for purchase. A forum titled “Guilty Until Proven Innocent” will take place on Tuesday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Miller Library. The guest panel will include university faculty, students and community members discussing the issue of racial profiling and the impact it has on crime in communities. Throughout the month, campus visitors will be able to participate in interactive educational displays in various campus buildings that will cover historical time periods in the United States including slavery and segregation. Community Events: Thursday, February 5, 7pm, Light Hall Theater Film Series: Dear White People...

Silver City, NM – Ever heard the term citizen scientist? Professor Emeritus Sharman Apt Russell wrote a book on the subject, and it has landed on the list of Best Nature Books of 2014. Diary Of A Citizen Scientist: Chasing Tiger Beetles and Other New Ways of Engaging the World was released in 2014. It is a 224-page journey by Russell describing her exploration in a yearlong study of a little-known species, the Western red-bellied tiger beetle. Russell has taught in the Humanities Department at Western New Mexico University since 1981, teaching developmental writing and graduate courses in Nature Writing, Writing for Magazines, and Writing for Social Changes. Diary of a Citizen Scientist is her twelfth published book. “I have long been interested in citizen science,” explains Russell about the term referring to non-professionals who become acknowledged experts in a science field or study. “Citizen science represents real revolution and renaissance on how we do science,...

A debut album is special to any musician, and its especially true to Danny Reyes who describes the release of his album Influences as a dream come true. “I worked on this album for three years and it has been a dream to release an album since I was in high school,” explained Reyes, a music professor at Western New Mexico University. Since his arrival to WNMU in 2013, the university community has experienced a renewed energy in the expressive arts program. A new pep band, mariachi concerts and partnerships with area schools are all professional achievements. The music and work it took to make an album a reality is a personal achievement for Reyes who includes three if his former school mates as musicians in several tracks. “This is my debut album, so it means a lot to me,” said Reyes. “It means that all the work I put into my studies, my playing, composing and arranging was well worth it.” The eight track album is described as contemporary jazz with a little...

Western New Mexico University will once again hold a celebration commemorating the Martin Luther King Jr legacy on Monday, January 19. This year’s event will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Mustang Dining Hall, located in the second floor of the Student Memorial Center. The theme for this year’s event is education. More than 200 students from elementary, middle, and high schools in Grant County submitted essays for the event entitled “The Dream: What It Means To Me.” The students will be recognized with several entries earning prizes including scholarship funds. The event will include the honoring of Mr. Fred Baca, a lifelong educator, and WNMU School of Education Hall of Fame member. Mr. Baca is being recognized for his 37 years of service in public education and his outstanding contributions to the local community. A special presentation by WNMU international students will be made with a multi-lingual interpretation of the I Have A Dream speech. The event is free...

Western New Mexico University School of Nursing faculty members and area community nurse leaders recently established a nursing honor society for southwest New Mexico. This charter honor society will eventually become a recognized chapter of the National Sigma Theta Tau International Society, which was established in 1922 to honor the commitment to knowledge, learning and service in professional nursing. The Southwest New Mexico Honor Society of Nursing inducted 17 charter members in December. Inductees representing former students and community nurse leaders who exemplified academic achievement and leadership were inducted, each receiving a certificate, a gold honor’s cord and flowers. WNMU President Joe Shepherd and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Jack Crocker were both on hand to help induct and give remarks to the gathering. For more information, contact the School of Nursing at 575-538-6960 or contact Dr. Sherry Bassi at...

Beginning next fall, students enrolling at Western New Mexico University will benefit from a newly passed, tuition guarantee program, allowing families the ability to budget for their son’s or daughter’s college education. Students enrolled in 15 credit hours per semester, while maintaining a 2.0 grade point average qualify for the locked-in tuition rate. The initiative was passed unanimously by the WNMU Board of Regents at its meeting on Friday, December 12. WNMU is the first university in New Mexico to initiate the program. “The program is designed so that families can predict tuition costs throughout their students’ college career,” said WNMU President Joseph Shepard. “We want to encourage students to move towards graduation and the tuition guarantee is rewarding students for positive progress.” In addition to locking-in tuition rates for students, the Board also approved an increase in tuition of $7.32 per credit hour for in-state, undergraduate students....

For many alumni and friends of Western New Mexico University, the end of the year is a traditional time for giving. Gifts to the University Foundation provide invaluable support for educational programs and scholarships and can also yield timely tax savings. The University Foundation has scheduled special holiday hours before year’s end for giving opportunities. During the University’s winter holiday break from December 20 through January 4, the University Foundation will be open on select dates to receive year-end contributions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday, December 22 Tuesday, December 23 Wednesday, December 24 Friday, December 26 Monday, December 29 Tuesday, December 30 Wednesday, December 31 Donations are also accepted online at any time by clicking on: www.wnmu.edu/donate. For more information, contact the University Foundation at 575.538.6310. Offices are located in the lower level of Hunter...

Western New Mexico University is set to confer degrees on some 260 students at the fall commencement ceremony on Friday, December 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Theater. New Mexico Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez will deliver the keynote address. The ceremony can be viewed live online: wnmu.edu/events/fall-commencement-ceremony. Silver City, NM Certificate – Eric Benavides, Zachary Carter, Tyler Donaldson, Omar Felix, Bryant Jamison, Kenneth Lambert, Joseph Murillo, Courtney Nicole Ochoa, Michael Romero, Abigail Anna Sievers Associate Degree – Maria A. Carrillo, Lindsay Griffin, James Helgert, Omar Lopez B., Ashley L. Montoya, Jessica Marie Ortiz, Amanda C. Raver, Michael Allen Romero, Deena Smith, Thomas Sookiasian, Hufan Yang Baccalaureate Degree – Mehron Arasteh, Aaron Ty Beckworth, Amanda Bryan, Crystal L. Chavez, Esther Chico-Gutierrez, Damien Davies, Danielle Brianne Aguirre, Jeffrey Delgado, Joseph J. Doyle Jr., Gregorio Galindo, Jasper Myriah...