Press Releases

A new partnership between Western New Mexico University and San Juan College allows for seamless transfers, centers support for students within their home community, and remedies critical shortages of workers in select disciplines, most notably education. “We are saving students tuition dollars and time by outlining what they need to take at San Juan College to transfer into our programs,” said Dr. Patti West-Okiri, who is WNMU Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. This so-called 2+2 program empowers students to complete two years at the community college then matriculate for their final two years at WNMU. “The goal is to make it so that students don’t repeat content or don’t take more classes than necessary to attain a bachelor’s degree,” Dr. West-Okiri said. The first round of programs for SJC students looking toward enrolling at WNMU include natural sciences, business, psychology, social sciences and education, an area in crisis that both...

The Western New Mexico University Department of Cultural Affairs has been approved for a $15,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support ¡Fiesta Latina! The WNMU Cultural Affairs signature event is a celebration of our region’s Latin American heritage, customs and traditions often includes traditional children’s activities, a tequila tasting, a charro show, and a juried artisan mercado featuring the traditional folk-art of 30 artisans from across Mexico and the U.S. ¡Fiesta Latina! is among 24 projects in New Mexico and 1,248 across America totaling $28,840,000 that were selected to receive this first round of fiscal year 2022 funding in the Grants for Arts Projects category. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts projects like this one from Western New Mexico University that help support the community’s creative economy,” said NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers. “WNMU Cultural Affairs in Silver City New Mexico is among the arts organizations...

“When I first heard of the 'Hope' project, for some reason I thought of a poem that I wrote a couple years ago,” said WNMU fine art and graphic design student Felix S. Gutierrez. “I took heavy inspiration from the poem, integrating its ideas in my ceramic piece ‘Many Pathways.’” The poem was also his muse for in the digital art piece “New Beginning,” which depicts a journey to find a brighter day through spirituality. "But I invite the viewer to interpret what type of journey that the people are going through,” Felix said. “The art piece displays how people have the capacity to help one another, no matter how risky it may be to find the right path. ’New Beginning’ reflects the spirituality experienced through people coming together and helping one another for a greater cause.” The original poem by Felix S. Gutierrez: There is a path placed at our feet we do not know what lies ahead but we bear the scars from what we had led. As we look forward, we see...

Western New Mexico University launched an artwork on loan program for people who want to lend artwork to the university for display on campus. The first piece taking a turn on campus is an intricate model World War II ship by Silver City artist Jonathan Dodson. It is available to view in the office of his wife Bobbi, who is WNMU Director of Professional Development. “The display will be a popular addition to the artwork people can see around campus,” said Faye McCalmont, who is retiring this semester from her position as Special Assistant to the President for Cultural Affairs at WNMU. The USS KIDD (DD-661) is a Fletcher-class destroyer, the 661st destroyer built by the U.S. Navy. “In the traditional system of naming destroyers after Naval heroes, she was named after Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr. who was killed aboard his flagship, USS ARIZONA (BB-39) during the surprise attack by the Japanese on the American fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor on December 7,...

In an assessment of student outcomes in more than two dozen subjects from accounting and finance to business ethics and marketing, WNMU School of Business graduates demonstrate that this open enrollment, Hispanic-Serving Institution serving a largely first-generation population gives students the highest quality business education. Before graduation, business students at institutions accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business must take a major exit exam, measuring senior students’ knowledge at the end of their programs. WNMU students’ exit exam results are compared to student outcomes from like institutions also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. But the results are also compared to institutions accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which includes most states’ flagship campuses and also institutions like...

The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents gave emeritus designation to retiring WNMU Museum Director Dr. Cynthia Ann Bettison and caught up with faculty, staff and student leadership representatives in person during their meeting, which was conducted in a hybrid manner Thursday. While a small portion of the meeting was spent reviewing and approving financial documents, including a fiscal year 2022 mid-year budget adjustment request and the first quarter financial certification, much of the regents’ time was consumed by listening to informational reports from representatives across campus, including second-term Faculty Senate President Dr. Susan J. McFeaters, who said through her mask that this was the first time she had addressed regents face-to-face ever. Two of the five regents attended in person, while Drs. Lyndon Haviland and Daniel H. Lopez along with Student Regent/Secretary/Treasurer Brenda Hernandez joined virtually from their homes. After his report, during...

Western New Mexico University will honor its fall 2021 graduates with a hybrid commencement ceremony on Friday, December 10, at 2 p.m. WNMU is again giving graduates and guests the option of participating virtually or in person at the WNMU Fine Arts Center Theatre. Of the nearly 350 diplomas that WNMU will award to 316 students completing their programs this fall, 95 are master’s, 128 are bachelor’s and 42 are associate degrees, along with 56 graduate certificates, 20 fast-track certificates, and five certificates. Just over 110 of the fall degree recipients are opting to participate in the graduation ritual in person, while almost 80 are choosing to participate from afar. The WNMU fall 2021 commencement ceremony will now take place in campus’ largest indoor venue, the Fine Arts Center Theatre, where graduates and attendees alike will be required to wear masks in accordance with state and university health protocols. While the in-person portion of the ceremony was...

Western New Mexico University President Dr. Joseph Shepard created a new division of Compliance and Communications, announcing that Julie Morales would head it as a vice president. Promoted from Chief of Staff after nearly three decades of services at WNMU, Morales will oversee the division, which will contain the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Marketing and Communications and will manage the university ombuds, legal matters, governmental liquor licenses, and Inspection of Public Records Act requests. Additional areas under this new division at WNMU will be Accessibility Support Services, Mimbres Press and the New Mexico Basic Economic Development...

The local community is invited to the campus of Western New Mexico University for the annual holiday tradition known as Jingle & Mingle on Friday, December 3, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Themed Candy Cane Lane this year, Jingle & Mingle hosts an evening of children’s crafts and games, live music, sparkling winter decorations, warm beverages and sweet treats hosted by WNMU Cultural Affairs. Jingle & Mingle Down Candy Cane Lane will be held in Regents Square, which will become a winter wonderland with a dozen Christmas trees and other Yuletide displays. “Celebrating the season in a safe, festive outdoor environment gives the people of Southwest New Mexico a chance to get into the holiday spirit and enjoy each other’s company,” said WNMU Cultural Affairs Program Coordinator Alexandra Tager. “There will be plenty of photo ops for families, so come gather the family around our 15-foot Christmas Tree, or one of the many giant inflatables, for that special holiday...

Presenting at IV Congreso Internacional de Ciencias Administrativas this week were Dr. Miguel A. Vicéns, who is Associate Dean of the Western New Mexico University School of Business and an associate professor of finance, and Dr. Gordon Flanders, who is the MBA Program Director and Assistant Professor of Marketing in the WNMU School of Business. Dr. Vicéns presented “The Challenges of Business Administration in the New Worldwide Landscape for Higher Education,” while Dr. Flanders addressed the question “How Does International Trade Affect Your Life?” The virtual conference held by and for the University of Sonora, which is a close partner with...