The beginning of a new academic year this August will bring renewed activity to the WNMU campus in Silver City, but it will also bring changes and growth to WNMU Deming and WNMU Gallup.
The WNMU Gallup Learning Center offers programs in elementary education, secondary education, special education and early childhood, as well as support for online students in any discipline. The Gallup location opened in 2023. At its opening, WNMU President Joseph Shepard said that the university’s decision to reestablish a presence in Gallup was prompted by the area’s educational needs. “Gallup has always had a high need for teachers, as our state has as well,” said Shepard, “Western New Mexico University started its roots as a teacher college and it was a natural fit for us to come to Gallup and continue that tradition.”
According to Cindy Martinez, Dean of the WNMU College of Education, the university has three faculty members that work full time in Gallup. “We have a Bilingual Education faculty member,” said Martinez, “who teaches bilingual education courses in Navajo and English. We have an elementary faculty and an early childhood and special education faculty member.”
The faculty in Gallup are not just there to teach courses, said Martinez. “These faculty members really support the students,” she emphasized. “Even if students are Zooming their classes, we have the faculty there to support the students on the ground.”
In addition to having faculty in Gallup, WNMU has also set up a technologically equipped center for students, especially those that may not have high speed internet access at home. “We have equipment so students can come in and have internet access. They can Zoom in on their classes there,” Martinez said.
WNMU Deming will see change this fall as well, as in addition to the Mimbres Learning Center on the east end of Deming, the university has also opened the John Arthur and Janette Smith Educational Center on the city’s west side. This new center houses the university’s health science programs. This fall, the Smith Center will be the site of courses in phlebotomy and Certified Nursing Assistant, BSN courses for both beginning and advanced nursing students, and nursing simulation experiences. There will also be nursing clinical rotations at various healthcare settings in Deming, said Associate Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Nursing and Kinesiology Kim Petrovic.
A number of School of Nursing faculty will be teaching both in Silver City and in Deming, and the school has also designated a course coordinator, Assistant Professor Brandi Hassman, who will have a regular presence in Deming.
At the WNMU Mimbres Learning Center, the university will continue to offer general education courses, as well as programs in welding and electrical technology, and dual enrollment courses will be offered at both the Mimbres Center and Deming High School.