Press Releases

Western New Mexico University continues to participate in professor and student exchanges with Latin American partners, most recently with a two-week faculty visit by a Mexican professor. Manuel Perez Villegas, from the Universidad Tecnologica de Tecamachalco in Mexico, recently concluded a two-week stay at the WNMU main campus in Silver City through the Proyecta 100,000 program for an intensive summer session in the Department of Community and Workforce Development on campus. Professor Villegas’ studies focused on Applied Technology programs including the study of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s) as well as examining approaches to sustainability with wind, solar and water energies. “My degree is in industrial maintenance and what I have done here has allowed me to improve my own education as well as my ability to offer courses to industry and faculty in my general area,” said Professor Villegas. During the month of July, WNMU will be receiving two groups of...

The Grant County Alumni Chapter is hosting a summer BBQ on Wednesday, July 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the WNMU Alumni Gardens. The event is open to area alumni and a special call to graduates of the 1970’s has been made by the Office of Alumni Affairs who plans to recognize graduates from this era at Homecoming 2016 in October. Also invited are members of the School of Education Hall of Fame who will also be recognized during Homecoming festivities. The WNMU Alumni Gardens is located off of 10th Street behind Hunter Hall. To RSVP for the event contact 575-538-6675 or...

The Institute for Rural Social Work Research awarded a $3,000 scholarship to Western New Mexico University student Okwuchi Lilian Ezeala. The inaugural Dr. Creasie Finney Hairston Scholarship was awarded to Ezeala for her outstanding work as a social work student. Ezeala was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. She earned a bachelor degree in social work with honors at River State University of Science and Technology in 2009. Dr. Finney Hairston is Dean and Professor at Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois. She is the Director of Jane Addams Center for Social Policy and Research. Dr. Robert Rickle, Founder and Director of the Institute for Rural Social Work Research is a previous graduate student of Dr. Finney Hairston. “As an MSW research student of Dr. Finney Hairston at the University of Tennessee Knoxville; I was set upon two paths that I have continued to follow to this day, that of conducting social work research and thinking about and...

The Office of Alumni Affairs is seeking nominations for the annual Outstanding Alumni Ambassador and Distinguished Alumni awards which will be presented during Homecoming weekend in October. Selection for the Outstanding Alumni Ambassador Award is limited to alumni of WNMU who have demonstrated significant contributions to WNMU and have donated of their time and talents to WNMU or other groups or organizations. The award is intended to recognize volunteer and unpaid efforts of a significant nature. The award is not intended to recognize officials or those who receive compensation for their efforts. The Distinguished Alumni Award is limited to alumni of WNMU who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen profession or who have demonstrated excellence in their contribution to society. The 2015 award recipients include Alfred Ogas as the Outstanding Alumni Ambassador and Dr. Lorraine Morales and State Senator Howie Morales as the Distinguished Alumni Ambassadors. To submit...

Western New Mexico University continues its rapid pace of internationalization, reaching out to university partners in Mexico and forming agreements of understanding with two institutions during the month of June. WNMU officials visited the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL) earlier in the month to create a letter of intent between the two universities. The letter of intent details the intention of collaboration and the possibilities of faculty and student exchanges. “UANL is a perfect school to collaborate with because of WNMU’s goal to expand learning opportunities across the border,” said Dr. Miguel Narvaez, WNMU professor of kinesiology. “Our specific collaboration with the UANL sports organization will open possibilities for exchanges from both our institutions.” The agreement details several goals including curriculum mobility, dual degree programs and sports collaborations to include hosting coaching clinics. UANL is a public university with...

New Mexico State Representative Dianne Hamilton will have a new campus pavilion named after her during a July 1 fundraising event at The Gardens on campus. The naming ceremony will precede the Music At The Gardens event, a university fundraiser featuring live music by acclaimed musician Robert Michaels. Rep. Hamilton will be present along with the family members and friends who will be acknowledging the State Representative’s lifelong service to community and higher education. “Representative Hamilton’s lifelong commitment to public service is truly remarkable,” said Dr. Joseph Shepard, WNMU President. “Her unselfish devotion for bettering her community extended far beyond her years in the legislature and touched lives for the better.” Rep. Hamilton has served in the New Mexico Legislature since 1999. Her district represents Grant, Hidalgo and Sierra counties. Prior to her time in elected office, Rep. Hamilton served as a member and as President of the WNMU...

Area high school students aged 16 and older will have free access to Campus Recreation facilities on the Western New Mexico University campus through July 31. The free summer program is effective immediately and includes access to the new campus fitness center, swimming pool, Intramural Gym and racquetball courts. “We’re excited to welcome students from our neighboring schools to our campus,” said Jessica Morales, Director of Student Life. “This will give youth and college-aged students an additional fun and healthy way to spend their summer time.” The free summer access is open to any student attending a high school or university. Students must present a student I.D. card and a driver’s license or government card that proves age. Summer hours for the fitness center and swimming pool are Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information, contact...

Western New Mexico University is hosting a second Live On The Lawn summer concert event on Friday, June 24 featuring Dustbowl Revival as the main act. Fresh off the See America Tour, Dustbowl Revival is an eight-member band, also referred to as an American roots orchestra, playing a mixture of traditional American music with a genre-hopping, time-bending dance party sound. Dustbowl Revival recently released a fourth album, With A Lampshade On, showcasing the band’s strength as a live act. The band formed in Venice Beach in late 2007. Opening act for Live On The Lawn is Sawmill Canyon, a regional bluegrass band made up of five members. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. in Old James Stadium with Sawmill Canyon kicking-off the event at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $1 per person. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food and drink will be available for purchase. For more information, visit...

Western New Mexico University recently awarded a four-year scholarship to Faith Pellegrino, third grader at G.W. Stout Elementary School in Silver City. The scholarship was given to Pellegrino for placing first place overall in the school’s science fair. Her project “Lead in Our Water” was selected among over 100 entries by a panel of judges that included community members, WNMU faculty and administration, and G.W. Stout Elementary teachers. “We are so grateful for this generous support from the University and hope that it is the beginning of something that could be offered to our students each year,” said David Lougee, G.W. Stout Elementary Principal. “The kids have worked hard on their projects and this adds to their motivation to do well and participate in...

A three-day symposium focusing in the Gila Wilderness, its water and resources, will take place beginning Wednesday, June 8 on the Western New Mexico University campus. The symposium, titled Into the Heart of the Gila: Wilderness and Water in the West, will feature three days of lectures and panel sessions by recognized authors and academics touching on subjects such as nature, conservation and history. Organized by the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE), the public is invited to attend open sessions one each day of the event. The paper presentations are closed to conference-registered attendees. Area residents can also register for field trips taking place on Saturday, June 11 to local destinations including the Gila Cliff Dwellings. For a complete list of speakers, topics and campus lecture locations, visit http://asle.wnmu.edu or contact...