Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolution Caleb Loughran, Ph.D., published extensive findings that decode the complex survival and social behaviors of rattlesnakes in Central and Eastern Washington State. His research was primarily conducted in the rugged shrub-steppe landscapes of the Columbia Basin in the Pacific Northwest; the research provides a… Continue reading SSSlithering Toward Survival: WNMU Professor’s Research Unlocks the SSSecrets of Rattlesnake Resilience
Category: Faculty Research
WNMU Program Redefines “Exercise as Medicine” and STEM Education Training
At Western New Mexico University (WNMU), the study of human movement is more than just a science—it is a community mission. Kinesiology faculty members Garrett Peltonen, Ph.D., and Takahiro Sato, Ph.D., detail how the university’s program breaks down the walls between the classroom and the real world, proving that “exercise is medicine” for all ages.… Continue reading WNMU Program Redefines “Exercise as Medicine” and STEM Education Training
WNMU Concludes Successful Two-Day Research and Innovation Symposium
Western New Mexico University (WNMU) conducted its annual spring symposium in late April; the two-day event showcased academic excellence, creative scholarship and the diverse research initiatives of the university’s faculty and students. The event provided a comprehensive platform for the university community to engage with emerging insights on topics from local historical preservation to advancements… Continue reading WNMU Concludes Successful Two-Day Research and Innovation Symposium
History of Indigenous Enslavement Uncovered in WNMU Professor’s Research
A study by Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Professor of History, Andy Hernandez, Ph.D., challenges prevailing narratives about the end of slavery in the United States. In the chapter he contributed to ” Unpacking Silver City: Revealing the Rich Tapestry of a Historic Town,” Hernandez’s central argument is that Indigenous slavery and closely related practices… Continue reading History of Indigenous Enslavement Uncovered in WNMU Professor’s Research
Research by WNMU Professor Explores Silver City’s “Merchants of Modernity”
In a recent deep dive into the archives of Southwest history, Professor of History at Western New Mexico University (WNMU), Scott Fritz, Ph.D., unveiled new insights into how Silver City escaped the “ghost town” fate of its 19th-century neighbors in a chapter for the book, “Unpacking Silver City: Revealing the Rich Tapestry of a Historic… Continue reading Research by WNMU Professor Explores Silver City’s “Merchants of Modernity”
WNMU Artist-in-Residence Claire Fall Blanchette Explores Biological Pulse of the Gila at Gallery Exhibition
Claire Fall Blanchette is an interdisciplinary artist exploring biology, geology, and human impact. As artist-in-residence at Western New Mexico University (WNMU), she focuses on the high desert and the Gila Watershed’s ecological narratives. Ground Truthing, a provocative exhibition by Blanchette, opened at The Francis McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art at WNMU on March 19. The… Continue reading WNMU Artist-in-Residence Claire Fall Blanchette Explores Biological Pulse of the Gila at Gallery Exhibition
WNMU Secures Grant to Advance Ecological Research in Rural New Mexico
In mid-January, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) was awarded a $32,493 grant from the Freeport-McMoRan Community and Social Investment Fund. The funding will launch a transformative project titled “Enhancing Ecological and Analytical Chemistry Research Opportunities for Students in Rural New Mexico,” designed to more strongly integrate classroom theory and high-level scientific practice. This initiative addresses… Continue reading WNMU Secures Grant to Advance Ecological Research in Rural New Mexico
Biology Professor Unveils Landmark Study on Urban Flora of Silver City
At a university dedicated primarily to teaching, pursuing high-level research requires a rare degree of dedication. Highlighting this commitment to academic excellence, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Professor of Biology in the Department of Natural Sciences, Bill Norris, Ph.D., recently presented findings from a massive, multi-year study exploring the flora and fauna of Silver City.… Continue reading Biology Professor Unveils Landmark Study on Urban Flora of Silver City
From Silver City to Leeds: WNMU Professor Goes Medieval on Global Stage
In July 2025, Chris Taylor, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English at Western New Mexico University (WNMU), dove deep into medieval history and a myth he’s studied for over a decade as he represented WNMU at the International Medieval Congress at the University of Leeds—the world’s largest gathering of medievalists. Speaking on a panel dedicated to… Continue reading From Silver City to Leeds: WNMU Professor Goes Medieval on Global Stage
WNMU Associate Professor Andreea Nica, Ph.D., Publishes Original Research Paper
Associate Professor of Sociology at Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Andreea Nica, who holds a Ph.D. in sociology, recently published a paradigm-shifting original research paper in the September 2025 issue of Frontier Sociology that challenges traditional, passive conceptions of family estrangement. The paper, titled “From family estrangement to empowered exits: new emotional developments,” introduces an innovative process-oriented framework centered on… Continue reading WNMU Associate Professor Andreea Nica, Ph.D., Publishes Original Research Paper