Author Archives: Abe Villarreal

Western New Mexico University announced today that Dr. Brenda K. Findley will serve as the next Vice President for Business Affairs. Findley joins WNMU after serving more than seven years as Associate Vice President for Financial Services and Administration at the University of North Georgia. In that capacity, she oversaw several areas including the offices of comptroller, human resources, payroll, procurement, and environmental health and safety. “I am so glad to be joining the WNMU team,” said Findley. “Everyone I have met is a dedicated professional and I know we are going to do great work together.” Prior to her current position, Findley served as Director of Human Services at Clayton State University, in Morrow, Georgia. Other work experiences include financial leadership roles at the University of Houston and College of William & Mary. “Her experiences with finance in higher education make her an excellent candidate to guide our university in the path...

Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez will be the keynote speaker for the fall commencement ceremony on Friday, December 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Theatre on the Western New Mexico University campus. Some 265 degrees will be conferred during the ceremony including certificates, associate, baccalaureate and master degrees. John Sanchez has served as Lieutenant Governor since January 2011 and was reelected to a second term on November 2, 2014. Lieutenant Governor Sanchez was born and raised in Albuquerque. Prior to being elected to statewide office, he served as councilman for the Village of Los Ranchos and as a member of the state House of Representatives. In 2005, he was recognized as one of the Top 40 Influential Hispanics in the country. With his wife Debra, Lieutenant Governor built and opened Right Way Roofing, a 30-year old successful small business that has twice been honored as Small Business of the Year. Lieutenant Governor Sanchez is an active member...

December is a traditional time of service to community and students at Western New Mexico University are covering every corner of Grant County, partnering with local organizations. During the fall semester, students in several organizations including student government and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) have reached out to non-profit organizations to help raise funds and awareness for underrepresented populations. Efforts such as canned food drives, animal adoption day and monthly visits to nursing homes have been realized through partnerships by student groups and non-profits. “WNMU students have been very helpful in the soup kitchen and also through our other efforts,” said Randy Salars, Director of the Silver City Gospel Mission. “The Mustang football team helped us fill up semi-trucks full of clothes for kids in Mexico and the athletic department has brought in large amount of donations.” Student-athletes held a canned food drive at the Mustang...

The often-quiet main campus of Western New Mexico University is buzzing with energy with the arrival of 150 Mexican students who are living and learning on campus for four weeks. The students are members of the first class of Proyecta 100,000, a Mexican government funded scholarship program supporting 7,500 Mexican students and professors in American-based English language programs. “This is a historic effort and partnership between the American and Mexican governments,” said Dr. Alexandra Neves, Director of International Studies. “Their arrival on campus is beneficial not only to them but to WNMU as we continue to expand our international studies efforts.” Most of the students and professors are from the Mexican state of Sinaloa representing 12 Mexican universities. They are tasked with studying English, at different levels of learning, 45 hours weekly, through December 19. For its part, WNMU is full hands on deck, organizing cultural events in partnership with...

Historical photos and memorabilia items capturing the legacy of Chicano music artists from the Grant County area were recently donated to the Silver City Museum in an agreement signed by the museum and Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard. Photos of bands and singers who performed in Grant County from the post World War II era to 2013 are now part of the museum’s permanent collection. According to Jackie Becker, Curator of Collections and Photo Archivist, the donation is the cornerstone of the collection of photos and stories depicting the history of the diverse local culture. Earlier this year, the Silver City Museum displayed a portion of the collection in an exhibit titled Parece Que Fue Ayer, honoring local musicians through history. The photos were originally on display at the Francis McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art in 2013. “The decision to donate the photos was made so that the community could have better access to this important time period in...

Western New Mexico University has entered an agreement with Coca-Cola Company that includes a $10,000 sign on bonus, benefiting the Department of Athletics among other areas. The contract with Coca-Cola includes the addition of new vending machines, recently installed across campus. WNMU will receive commissions from all sales. The sign-on bonus is just one of several benefits from the new partnership showing Coca-Cola’s dedication to the success of students in different areas including campus life and academics. After the first year of the contract, Coca-Cola will establish two $1,000 scholarships through the University Foundation. In October, Coca-Cola provided shirts to attendees of the Homecoming football game and is planning similar promotional support for future campus events. WNMU vending machines are stocked by Coca-Cola products bottled in Deming, New...

The University Museum is one of three campus buildings that will benefit from the $6 million in funding of General Obligation Bond C is approved by voters on November 4. About $3.8 million will be used to install climate control (humidity/ventilation/air conditioning/heating) and fire suppression systems and for upgrades to the existing security system. Climatic control and fire suppressions are critical to improving environmental conditions to enhance visitor learning and researcher experiences and collections preservation, ensuring visitor and staff safety, and reducing potential loss of or damage to irreplaceable objects and a historic structure that are part of our collective history. “The visitor experience will be dramatically improved with these important upgrades,” said Dr. Cynthia Ann Bettison, University Museum Director. “We are excited that it will be air conditioned and properly heated for the first time in the building’s nearly 100 year...