Press Releases

Governor Susana Martinez held a press conference on Wednesday at Western New Mexico University to applaud the Silver City-based institution on leading efforts in achieving higher education goals. Governor Martinez was joined by Cabinet Secretary for Higher Education Barbara Damron who congratulated WNMU on achieving fast progress in meeting reform goals set by the Governor. “WNMU has been one of the leaders in getting programs to 120 hours,” said Damron. In 2015, Governor Martinez called upon university degree programs to shift from 128 to 120 credits. Among New Mexico universities, WNMU achieved updating nearly all degree programs to the 120-credit requirement. “Last year we challenged our colleges and universities to set their degree paths to 120 credit hours, and only 32% of degree programs in New Mexico where at 120 credits,” said Martinez. “This number has nearly doubled across the state and that is tremendous progress.” The goal of changing degree...

A select group of experts in various professions including social work was selected to participate in the recent ICF Consensus Conference, in Stockholm, Sweden. Western New Mexico University professor Patricia West-Okiri was one of the participants who shared her expertise on autism and the core features of the disorder. Organized by the Karolinksa Institute Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), the objective of the conference was to develop the first version of the ICF Core Sets for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The ICF is the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. “I participated in the conference as a professional who works in the area of autism,” said West-Okiri who teaches social work majors at WNMU. “The core features include what we would think of as the symptoms we have heard, like different social skills and behaviors, but also some that are common but not part of what doctors might look at, like sensory problems and...

The nationally accredited Early Childhood Programs at Western New Mexico University continues its successful track record of securing grants with a new award by the Thornburg Foundation for $75,000. The grant is funding the second phase of a program helping prepare classroom teachers through reflective supervision. Current teachers will be given stipends to participate in professional development trainings and apply techniques using reflective practices while mentoring students. “This new grant award is helping us train future early childhood educators,” said Shannon Rivera,” Early Childhood Programs Executive Director. “Reflective consultation will be available to our teachers on a regular basis.” Supervising teachers of the Child Development Center, the learning lab for the Early Childhood Programs, are required to mentor and train pre-service teachers participating in practicum courses within the lab site. These teachers do not have systematic training or...

The University Foundation office is inviting community members and Western New Mexico University supporters to go down the rabbit hole on Sunday, September 25 with the return of Hats In The Garden. The annual event will take place at the Alumni Garden beginning at 4:00 p.m. with entry to the event at $25 per person. Attendees are asked to wear adventurous hats, the theme this year being inspired by Alice In Wonderland. Light fare will be served and the best hat will win the People’s Choice Award. A fashion show will be presented by local apparel store Vintage Fantasies. A silent auction will also take place. For more information and to RSVP for the event, contact the University Foundation at...

The forgotten sounds of the Mongolian culture will come to life through a unique presentation of throat singing by AnDa Union on Wednesday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m. in Light Hall Theater. AnDa Union is a ten-member group that combines instruments with vocals to deliver sounds considered old and forgotten. The group describes itself as music gatherers, digging deep into Mongol traditions to unearth lost music. A mission of the group is to inspire young Mongols to connect to their past cultures. Many young Mongols do not speak their native language. The group has released two albums, the most recent titled Homeland which was recorded with 14-time Grammy award-winning producer and sound engineer Richard King. Together for 12 years, Anda Union regularly headlines world music events. AnDA Union’s performance will be a special preview of their upcoming participation in the Globalquerque festival on September 23. For more information on Globalquerque, visit...

The drama and unrest that came with the Black Patch Tobacco War of the early 20th century provides the setting for a new novel published by Western New Mexico University history professor Bruce Wilson. A signing will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21 at Tres Rosat restaurant on 304 N. Bullard Street where the title will be available for purchase. Death in the Black Patch is historical fiction and tells the story of a Kentucky-based family in 1906. In a time when tobacco farming was essential for the care and protection of the working family, troubles began when one man created a monopoly forcing others to establish a growers’ association. Wes Wilson is the main character and his interactions with other family members and towns people are loosely based on the author’s real-life relatives who grew up and worked in the small town of Lynnville. “My siblings and I used to love listening to my father tell us stories,” said Wilson. “There was one story that...

Western New Mexico University will be celebrating Homecoming with several days of events culminating with the Mustang Football game on Saturday, October 1. Area organizations including businesses, non-profits, political candidates and schools are invited to register for an entry in the Homecoming Parade, taking place Saturday, October 1 at 10:00 a.m. Lineup for the event begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Grant County courthouse, making its way through historic downtown and ending at the Juan Chacon Building parking lot on campus. Organizations can register by contacting 575-538-6336 or news@wnmu.edu. A tailgate will precede the football game from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Free of charge, groups including restaurants and food vendors can register to sell food and drink items during the three hour event. The Mustang football team will be taking on Midwestern State University at 1:30 p.m. in Ben Altamirano Field. During the game’s halftime activities, alumni from the Athletic Hall...

  A nine-foot red chile pepper sculptor with a big smile is happily greeting visitors at the Miller Library on the Western New Mexico University campus. ‘Ramel’ is the name of the steel and bronze sculpture that is made out of material from ten car hoods found across New Mexico. On loan from Linda Joanou, a metal artist residing in Silver City, Ramel is described by Joanou as quintessentially New Mexican. “I was inspired by living in New Mexico,” said Joanou. “It’s bright, colorful and spicy.” Joanou regularly uses recycled materials in artwork. The steel and bronze were cast on the university campus. The vehicle parts were collected from junkyards throughout the state. Ramel is for sale and accessible to the public during regular Miller Library hours. For more information on the artist, visit...

Western New Mexico University is establishing a new cultural event tradition called The President’s Chamber Music Series with an inaugural event on Tuesday, September 20 in Light Hall at 7:00 p.m with an artist Meet and Greet immediately following the performance. The first event will feature acclaimed violist Willy Sucre and Friends, his string quartet. Sucre is a member of the New Mexico Philharmonic and is the driving force behind the Willy Sucre and Friends concert series. Born in La Paz, Bolivia, Sucre studied at the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica in La Paz; Colby College Chamber Music Institute in Waterville, Maine; Mannes School of Music in New York; and the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. Sucre has been the conductor and music director of the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra, and assistant conductor and principal violist of the Canada Symphony Orchestra in Montreal. His experience also includes extensive chamber music concerts, lectures, school...

Faculty members of the Expressive Arts Department will be showcasing artwork at the McCray Gallery in a new exhibit that will open on Thursday, September 15. The Faculty Art Talk begins at 6:30 p.m. with an Opening Reception at 7:30 p.m. At least seven professors including two emeritus faculty will be showcasing artwork. Current WNMU faculty to display work includes John Abbott, Stacey Heim, Michael Metcalf, Jim Pendergast and Jessica Wilson. The mediums include sculpture, ceramics, painting, printmaking and photography. Emeritus faculty Claude Smith and Cecil Howard will have work on display. The McCray Gallery is located behind the Fine Arts Center...