News

Western New Mexico University’s (WNMU) President Joseph Shepard presented the 2014 President’s Award to the Silver City League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 8003.  The Council was honored for their longtime community service and dedication to education in Grant County and New Mexico. LULAC Council 8003 has been helping students achieve their potential by awarding educational scholarships to students wishing to continue their studies in higher education. With the vision of its original founders, Apolonio “Polo” and wife Donna Sierra, the council began hosting fundraisers to collect money for the annual student scholarships. The first award amount was $250 and quickly escalated to several $1,000 scholarships a year. “We’re proud to be able to recognize some of the most inspiring members of our community,” said Dr. Joseph Shepard, President of WNMU. “Without the relentless hard work this group has put forward year after year, many students...

The temporary closure of Cornali Field ended recently when park rules were posted at each entrance to the Virginia Street property, owned by Western New Mexico University. The posting of rules followed a community meeting led by WNMU President Joseph Shepard on July 1 where he heard from area residents who expressed interest in the continued use of Cornali Field as a dog park. The signs list 19 rules developed for the safety of the dogs and the dog owners when visiting Cornali Field. The temporary rules will be in place for a trial period of six months or until new rules are established. A committee of community members is being formed to help develop permanent rules and dog park hours. The advisory group is made up of area residents who signed up at the initial forum on July 1. WNMU is working with Silver City Animal Control and area enforcement personnel to develop effective enforcement measurements. Cornali Field Rules: A.Dog defecation is to be immediately removed by...

Western New Mexico University Museum and the Francis McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art will be the joint venues for Neo-Mimbreño 2014, a Silver City Clay Festival exhibition, on Saturday, August 2.  Neo-Mimbreño 2014 is a juried fine art exhibition of contemporary works influenced or inspired by designs of the ancient Mimbres potters of the Southwest. Artists entering the exhibition were encouraged to creatively reinterpret, personalize, or carry the Mimbreño vision into new formats and media. “Exhibiting Neo-Mimbreño 2014 at these two campus venues highlights the link between the past and the present; the prehistoric culture inspiring the artists featured in the University Museum’s permanent exhibition of Mimbres pottery and culture and the contemporary art created by the artists that personalizes the Mimbreño vision in new formats and media,” said Dr. Cynthia Ann Bettison, WNMU Museum Director. Silver City artists Diana Ingalls Leyba and Susan Berry are the...

The Western New Mexico University Foundation announced the annual list of scholarship recipients awarded by the Western Bank Bootheel Foundation. Theseven scholarship recipients represent students in the second year nursing program. Selection is based on academic progress, dedication to the nursing profession, projected financial need and requirements for scholarship application. The scholarship committee includes Bob Martin, Chairman of the Board for Western Bank; Joe Heidrick, WNMU Nursing Department Chair; LeAnn Robinson, Socorro Rico and Debra Brundage. The seven students selected met the criteria needed to be awarded. The nursing program at WNMU is a nationally accredited program. Degrees offered include the Associate Degree in Nursing and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The WNMU Foundation wishes to thank the efforts of the Bootheel Foundation; a nonprofit, charitable foundation established by Western Bank, its shareholders and employees who are dedicated to...

Western New Mexico University Vice President of Business Affairs Sherri Bays has accepted the position of Vice President of Business and Finance for West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Bays will end her 18-year tenure at WNMU on July 31. “It has been an honor to serve WNMU in several different capacities over the last 18 years. I will truly miss my WNMU family and cherish the friendships I have made not only at the University but within the community,” said Bays. “This is an excellent career opportunity for me and I will also be closer to family.” The announcement was made by WNMU President Joseph Shepard to the university community where he expressed his thanks and praise for Vice President Bays. “Over the last three years that I have had the privilege of working with Sherri, I have discerned that she is one of the best in the business,” said Shepard. “I will personally miss her insights, business acumen and high standards.” As Bays concludes...

Western New Mexico University’s (WNMU) President Joseph Shepard will present the 2014 President’s Award to the Silver City League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 8003 on Saturday, July 26 at WNMU. The council will be honored for their longtime community service to Grant County and New Mexico. “We couldn’t think of any other organization that deserves to be recognized for their hard work and dedication in the Grant County community more than the LULAC Council 8003,” said Dr. Joseph Shepard, President of WNMU. “The members’ passion for service and education has changed the lives of thousands in Silver City and in New Mexico.” Through more than three decades, the LULAC Council 8003 has offered scholarship awards to students in Grant County who wish to continue their studies in higher education. With the vision of its founders, Apolonio “Polo” and wife Donna Sierra, the council began hosting fundraisers to raise money for the annual student...

Western New Mexico University is hosting a public meeting to discuss the future use of Cornali Field, a park commonly used by dog owners in the community. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the Global Resource Center. Due to recent aggressive behavior by some dogs at the park, the meeting is an opportunity for community members and university officials to discuss how the park should be used in the future for the safety of all visitors and animals to the park. Located on Virginia Street, Cornali Field is on university property. It has had many uses in the past but is now commonly used by dog owners as a dog park. For more information, community members can contact the Public Information Office at...

Western New Mexico University administration officials visited the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez (UACJ) on Thursday to sign a Memorandum of Agreement between the two universities. The agreement details four points of cooperation including the initiation of joint research activities and publications; the exchange of invitations to scholars to participate in conferences, colloquia, symposia and sharing of experience; the exchange of information in fields of interest to both universities; and the exchange of faculty members and students for study and research. The visit follows a tour in March of WNMU by UACJ officials to initiate the conversation leading up to the agreement. Officials of both universities educated each other on the programs offered and found areas of interest for exchange initiatives in disciplines including nursing, education, kinesiology and the language...