Press Releases

Abe Villarreal Provides Sense of Belonging for WNMU Hispanic Students

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Abe Villarreal, Western New Mexico University Assistant Dean of Student Support, is an alumnus and a current student. “I study educational leadership and love the program,” he says. “WNMU is where I grew up as a young adult, and it’s been my bread and butter for the last 11 years. I love that students have the chance to discover themselves here.” Being part of a Hispanic Serving Institution is important to Abe. “Of course, I’m Hispanic. I grew up in a border community. My roots are in Mexico. I really value that the designation puts a special focus on a community that has historically not had the opportunities for academic success. We should take that seriously and create programming to serve that community,” he says. Abe recently developed a Latino GroupMe for other Hispanic people at WNMU. “It’s creating community with a specific group of students on campus, where they can talk to each other share concerns that they might not share with others on campus....
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Dr. Miguel Vicéns Contributes To Hispanic Serving Institution Designation

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Western New Mexico University School of Business Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Finance Dr. Miguel Vicéns works to make WNMU’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution meaningful. “One of the reasons we reach out to these communities is we usually do not see college as their path,” he says. “It’s a blessing to be able to be part of that.” Dr. Vicéns takes students to Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities conference each fall. “They not only go out of town with all expenses paid; they are introduced to different organizations that specially deal with Hispanic students and interact with multinational companies one-on-one,” he says. Some of the participants Dr. Vicéns has taken to the conference have been foreign, others DACA recipients, and the remainder U.S. citizens. “I’ve had the chance to work with a variety of students in this HACU representative position. I just realized how diverse they are,” he says. Under Dr....
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WNMU Student Body President Darlene Chavez Represents Hispanic Culture

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Secondary education student Darlene Chavez is a senior at Western New Mexico University. She serves as President of the Associated Students of WNMU and works as an education assistant at Aldo Leopold Charter School. “From Deming, I chose WNMU for the music program, Mariachi Plata. After a while it became convenient that it was close to home. I didn’t have to move out,” she says. Being part of a Hispanic Serving Institution is a privilege, Darlene says. “The university’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution brings an understanding of who we are, the beauty of the culture, and the importance of getting to know us so we become a big family.” Exposing others to Hispanic culture is part of what Darlene enjoys about mariachi. “The majority of the world thinks of mariachi as a guy in a sombrero. It’s more than that. When you put on the mariachi traje, it’s worn with pride. You’re representing the culture of Mexico,” she says. “It’s nice to be...
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WNMU Cultural Affairs Announces Fall Season Lineup

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The Western New Mexico University Cultural Affairs fall 2019 season is packed with events from live entertainment to exhibit openings and lectures. WNMU Cultural Affairs will be continuing the President’s Chamber Music Series and the Edwina & Charles Milner Women in the Arts Lecture Series, and it will offer an evening of caroling and activities called Christmas Under the Stars for the first time. “We continue to cast a wider and wider net to seek out unique cultural offerings to present to the university community and the community at large. We are excited about the breadth of this season with acts hailing from the Louisiana Bayou to the Hebie Province in China and all points all along the way,” WNMU Special Assistant to the President for Cultural Affairs Faye McCalmont said. Admission prices range from free to $20. A 2019-20 season pass allows entry to all ticketed shows for $170 — a $30 savings. The WNMU Cultural Affairs fall 2019 season schedule: —...
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WNMU Adult Education Services To Offer Digital Literacy Courses, Sponsor High School Equivalency Exams

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Western New Mexico University Adult Education Services received $25,000 in the form of a PNMR Foundation Power Up Grant supporting Economic Vitality. The funding allows WNMU Adult Education Services to offer digital literacy classes and cover the cost of high school equivalency exams for more than three dozen WNMU students. PNM received over $2.5 million in requests from 80 organizations and awarded $500,000 to 17 nonprofits, according to PNMR Foundation Executive Director Laurie Roach. Open to adults and seniors, the new digital literacy courses will run for five weeks each in both Silver City and Deming. “We need to get everybody where they’re comfortable learning using technology and working in the digital age. With this grant, we are able to offer computer skills courses relating to education, employment and, more generally, life,” Adult Educational Services Program Manager Debbie Maldonado said. The courses will be based on Google’s literacy curriculum and...
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WNMU Mourns Loss of Mustang Student Athlete

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Western New Mexico University students, faculty and staff are grieving the loss of a Mustang student athlete. Freshman Eddie Cruz died in a drowning incident at Bill Evans Lake on Monday. “We are devastated by the loss of this student. Eddie was a phenomenal kid with a bright future,” WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard said. Cruz was 18 years old and studied kinesiology at WNMU. The freshman was a wide receiver on the Mustang football team and wore number 82. “Eddie will always be a part of our Mustang family. We are thinking of and praying for his loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” said WNMU Director of Athletics Scott Noble. From El Paso, Texas, Cruz graduated from Eastwood High School this past spring. WNMU is providing counseling for students affected by Cruz’...
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WNMU Advances Renewable Energy Goals

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Western New Mexico University President Dr. Joseph Shepard, along with PNM Resources CEO Patricia Vincent-Collawn, revealed plans to transition WNMU to more sustainable energy sources during a news conference on Thursday, August 15. WNMU aims to source more than half of the university’s power though solar-generated energy, which will be made possible through the proposed PNM Community Solar Direct project upon its review and approval from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. “Through Community Solar Direct, WNMU will be better able to achieve its sustainability goals in a cost-effective manner that is consistent with our transition to clean energy resources,” President Shepard said. A voluntary renewable energy program that allows eligible PNM customers to match a portion of their consumption with energy produced from solar facilities dedicated solely to the project, Community Solar Direct will provide 50 megawatts of electric into the state’s power grid....
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Reservations Available for WNMU Museum Black-on-White Gala

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The Western New Mexico University Museum 45th Anniversary Black-on-White Gala will be Saturday, July 13, at 6 p.m. “With the gala, we at the WNMU Museum celebrate 45 years of advancing the understanding of the diverse cultural and artistic heritages of southwest New Mexico. The gala also marks the completion of Fleming Hall’s stunning transformation into an open, light, secure, and climate-controlled environment that highlights the historic fabric of the building while enhancing the visitor experience,” WNMU Museum Director Dr. Cynthia Bettison said. As a way of recognizing the Mimbres people and the pottery collection she was instrumental in acquiring for the WNMU Museum, Dr. Bettison invites attendees to don Silver City-style Black Tie attire or dress up in Black-on-White attire. “That means almost anything goes — from jeans and a bolo tie or boots and a cocktail dress to tuxedos or evening gowns in black-on-white variations,” she said. Stations serving upscale...
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WNMU To Offer Face-to-Face General Education Courses in Truth or Consequences

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Western New Mexico University will offer general education classes in Truth or Consequences beginning Fall 2019. Classes will be held at the WNMU Adult Learning Center on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to accommodate working students. The courses being presented are Introduction to Philosophy and Introduction to Creative Writing. Both are open for enrollment now and will be taught by Professor John Gist, WNMU Humanities Department Chair and Interdisciplinary Studies Director. “Whether you are a high school student seeking college credit, a senior citizen who believes in lifelong learning, or an adult who is looking for college credit to advance in your career, these courses will help Sierra County build community through educated discourse among a variety of citizens,” Gist said. Dual-enrolled students are invited to attend. The classes are listed in the state’s new General Ed Core Course Transfer Curriculum so will transfer to any public college or university in...
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New School of Education Hall of Fame Inductees

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Four alumni were recently inducted into the Western New Mexico University School of Education Hall of Fame 2019 for their outstanding career achievements. The inductees Max G. Padilla, Emma V. Saucedo, Barney P. Brienza and Olivia L. Ogas. “To be considered for selection into the WNMU School of Education Hall of Fame, WNMU alumni must have demonstrated a primary interest in classroom teaching and devoted the major portion of their careers to classroom teaching at the primary, secondary or higher education levels. He or she must have inspired in students a willingness to learn, as reflected in their ability to impart knowledge, instill confidence, and demonstrate respect for learning and students,” WNMU School of Education Associate Dean Dr. Debra Dirksen said. Padilla received his Bachelor of Arts from WNMU in 1969. He is recognized for 38 years of dedicated teaching, mentoring and leadership. Padilla was also an assistant principal, school principal and coach.   He led...
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