Press Releases

Alumna Meeting Pandemic’s Demand for Anesthesiologists

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WNMU alumna and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Camille Hawkins recently became an anesthesiology resident physician in Ohio. “I love taking care of patients of all ages in an acute setting, providing critical care, doing procedures, and working in the operating room atmosphere,” she said. Now meeting the increased demand for anesthesia providers worldwide, Hawkins also works with for COVID-19 patients. “As anesthesiologists, we’re extensively trained in providing critical care and ventilator management inside and outside of the operating room and there was an increased need of our services outside of the operating room this past year,” she said. Hawkins said her path to medicine was unique. She started college wanting to teach physical education then changed her major to biology for secondary education at a state university in northern Arizona. “My mom passed away suddenly at the end of sophomore year and had me reevaluate my life goals. Shortly after, I transferred...
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Graduate Student Creates Classroom Culture of Awareness and Respect

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“I am an Intensive Global Support Level 1 Special Education teacher at an inner-city middle school where 99% of students come from low-income and poverty-level homes. I consider my students to be a very unique, diverse, and vibrant group. Our classroom culture has taken on a true awareness and respect for all individuals, despite any differences,” WNMU graduate student Hannah Cothran said. Working toward a master’s in special education plus an endorsement in TESOL (gifted), she is one recipient of PFLAG Silver City’s Nancy Kailing Memorial Scholarship, which through the WNMU Foundation is given to students who have demonstrated work toward securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. “As an ally of the LGBTQ movement and individuals involved, it is my sincere hope to continuously uphold the values of awareness, respect, and equality in all my current and future years of teaching,” Hannah said. In Albuquerque, the first-year teacher works...
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WNMU Acquiring PCR Testing Capabilities

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Western New Mexico University purchased 1,500 Curative Labs, Inc. COVID-19 PCR tests to offer its faculty, staff, students and Mustang athletes for collection under trained supervision on the WNMU campus. On the leading edge of keeping its community safe, WNMU now has more testing options and will be able catch the COVID-19 virus more quickly, thereby minimizing the spread of the virus. In addition to making PCR tests and on-site antigen testing available, the university’s health partnerships with Hidalgo Medical Services, Gila Regional Medical Center, and Walgreens ensures a variety of options to help the university maintain the health of the entire WNMU community. “One of the key objectives for our university is to identify an infected person as quickly as possible so we can isolate the virus and prevent spread in the community,” said Dr. Joseph Shepard, President of WNMU. “With the backlog in testing locally and having to wait five days to receive test results, the...
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Comrade Advancing Fellow Veterans’ Lives Through Education

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Laura Kubik is the university’s veteran education benefits liaison. She served 11 years in the Army, doing a year-long tour in Korea and two tours in Iraq. She had been in the process of enlisting in the military on September 11, 2001, and was sent away in case the facility was also a target. When she returned on September 12, she knew the environment was different, that she’d be serving through war. “I looked around the room and said, ‘These are my comrades,’” Laura remembers. “I felt even more empowered to want to go.” While both of her grandfathers were in the Navy and she’s from “essentially a military family,” Laura did not enlist right out of high school. “I joined when I was 30 to get myself further ahead, get my education for free and get my son his braces when he needed them. I was willing to sacrifice,” she said. As a signal support system specialist, Laura installed communications technology — radios, computers, phone wiring, and blue...
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MSW Student Aims To Create Healthy School Environments

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“As part of the LGBTQ community, I know how confusing it can be to create a self-identity and how painful it is to be questioned and judged. As a future school social worker, my experiences and knowledge will help me create healthy school environments,” wrote Lisa Origlio, who received PFLAG Silver City’s Nancy Kailing Memorial Scholarship through the WNMU Foundation as a result of the essay this quote was excerpted from. From Brighton, Colorado, Lisa has always worked with children so tried her hand at teaching. “It never really stuck for me,” she said. Now seeking a master’s in social work, Lisa said that because she usually connected with kids who struggled emotionally, she explored careers in which should could help them. “I took a long time deciding on social work, and WNMU had everything I was looking for,” she said. “I’ve learned that social work is similar to teaching because a lot of it has to do with problem solving and using interventions. We...
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WNMU School of Nursing Partnering with Walgreens on Free Flu Shot Clinic Saturday

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Western New Mexico University students, faculty and staff as well as members of the public will have the opportunity to receive their annual flu shot on campus this Saturday, as the WNMU School of Nursing is partnering with Walgreens to help ensure the continued health of the Mustang community. “While we’ve worked to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in our campus community, it’s important that we also take steps to mitigate the spread of the flu virus. Although flu shots are in short supply, we’ve been able to acquire a limited number and hope those who live and work on campus in particular take advantage of this free clinic,” said WNMU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Isaac Brundage. On Saturday, November 7, shots will be administered from the WNMU School of Nursing building near the intersection of College Avenue and E Street. Students may walk in to receive their immunizations between 10 a.m. and noon. Faculty, staff and members of the public may walk...
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WNMU COVID-19 Updates

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WNMU Information Regarding the Virus That Causes COVID-19 Western New Mexico University works to ensure the health and safety of its community and is monitoring the global public health concern related to the new coronavirus. This page contains updates regarding the WNMU plan to mitigate the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, protect the Mustang community, and ensure those pursuing degrees may continue working toward their goals safely.     To reach the New Mexico Department of Health, call 1-855-600-3453. Monday, November 30, 2020 From the President: On Campus Oral PCR Testing for Employees Working on Campus Begins at 8 a.m., Tuesday, December 1 Dear faculty and staff, I hope each of you had an excellent Thanksgiving. My reflections for that festive day centered on how fortunate I am to have family, friends and colleagues like you that make my life better and enjoyable. I am truly thankful for all that I have been given and the work...
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Studying Nostalgic Consumption Through SRPD Summer Scholars Program

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Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies student Jillian Alexander is studying nostalgic consumption with the support of the WNMU Student Research and Professional Development Summer Scholars program. “A hundred years ago when nostalgia was first mentioned in literature, it was considered a disease you could die of: a sentimental longing. With this research, I was seeing if nostalgic consumption is a terror management response,” she says. Jillian had noticed a shift in the music people streamed while at home during the pandemic. “New bands weren’t getting listened to as much. They wanted music that made them feel comfortable and safe,” she says. She wanted to see whether people get the same feeling from eating banana bread, for example, as from listening to songs from their youth. “I built a psychometric scale for nostalgic consumption. I’ve uncovered a lot of interesting stuff, but I’m still analyzing the data,” Jillian says. If her psychometric scale...
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WNMU and Silco Theater Partner on Drive-In Cinema [POSTPONED]

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Western New Mexico University Cultural Affairs and the historic Silco Theater are partnering to offer drive-in movies for the local community. On five different weekends throughout the fall, films will be projected onto a 24- by 36-foot screen on the southern wall of the WNMU Fine Arts Center Theatre for viewers in the parking lot. Kicking off the series is American Graffiti on Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17. Future dates for the Friday and Saturday movies at WNMU are October 23 and 24; October 30 and 31; November 6 and 7; and November 13 and 14. “Through partnerships like this one with the Silco, Western New Mexico University is working to find innovative ways to bring the community together during these unprecedented times,” said WNMU Special Assistant to the President Faye McCalmont. “We are so happy to be bringing movies to campus. Continuing to offer rich experiences and appealing entertainment options is one way the university can help build a strong...
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WNMU Acquiring On-Campus Rapid Testing Capabilities

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Western New Mexico University will soon have rapid testing capabilities on campus. To better mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and maintain a healthy campus and community, WNMU leadership has been researching testing units over the past few months. This month, the university expects to have the ability to conduct SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing on campus and receive results within 15 minutes. Nonemergent testing will continue to be made available through WNMU medical partner, Hidalgo Medical Services. “Rapid testing, combined with thorough contact tracing and quarantining, is one of the best ways to effectively minimize the spread of COVID-19 in a community. Our goal is to help students return to class and sports sooner,” said WNMU president Dr. Joseph Shepard. As the NCAA will soon require more frequent and regular testing of student athletes, Director of WNMU Mustang Athletics Scott Noble is coordinating the efforts to acquire nasal swab testing units and complete...
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