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In an unanimous decision Thursday morning, the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents extended the university president’s contract by four years, citing Dr. Joseph Shepard’s seniority among other New Mexico university presidents and his leadership statewide as valuable. With Regent Chair Dr. Mary Hotvedt, Vice Chair Janice Baca Argabright and Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Lyndon Haviland present but member Dr. Daniel H. Lopez absent from the meeting, which was conducted virtually, the board praised Dr. Joseph Shepard’s efforts to improve the university’s relationship with the town and expand programs since he was hired as WNMU President in 2011. Dr. Haviland advised she and Dr. Lopez had been tasked with developing the new contract by reviewing background information; which included comprehensive compensation and salary data of all other current and potential presidents of other universities in New Mexico, including the president’s current compensation and his...

The highlight of Brenda Prieto’s summer was seeing a mouse get dissected and performing a dissection of her own. “This summer, I researched a tuberous sclerosis complex disease. It’s an autosomal disease that causes cysts in kidneys which can cause kidney failure. We looked at ways to stop it and pathways it could attack,” she said. Through the Undergraduate Pipeline Network paid summer research experience at UNM, Prieto—a WNMU senior double majoring in cell/molecular biology and chemistry—studied the kidneys of mice. “What I focused on was focused on extracellular vesicles derived from the cystic kidneys. We did electron microscopy to see the vessels and make sure they were purified correctly. At the end, we were able to see the effect on cell growth.” The experiment wasn’t her first. I addition to her coursework at WNMU, she has spent the past three summers conducting research. Now, she’s dreaming up a hands-in senior project in the...

Star Chavez completed a 10-week research program over the summer, and the junior psychology major is eyeing graduate school eventually. “I’d love to pursue research in cognitive neuroscience psychology and society and health psychology,” she said. But higher education wasn’t something Chavez always sought. “My grandfather, with a Ph.D. in mathematics, was the head of the math department here. My grandma was a math teacher in Bayard with multiple degrees. There was a brief moment in my life when I didn’t want to go to college, but I decided I wanted to reach the same level of education my grandpa did,” Chavez said. Opting to stay in her hometown for her bachelor’s degree, Chavez accepted mentorship from WNMU faculty members, who encouraged her to apply to summer research opportunities. She was accepted to and completed the UTEP BUILDing Scholars program, during which she lived in El Paso and studied how policies impact women’s abilities to access maternal...

Brandon Broussard, who is working toward a master’s in social work at Western New Mexico University, describes himself as an educator by trade. ““I taught for 15 plus years and struggled because I was teaching but I was so much more an advocate for our students,” he said. “At some point, I realized I wanted to help in a different way.” That way, it turns out is currently to formulate a new school-based mental health program model and to improve fatigue and trauma prevention strategies offered to teachers. Support through the WNMU Student Research and Professional Development fund allowed Broussard to devote his summer to defining and working toward having Teacher Trauma recognized by the mental health community. “Nothing exists on this topic, and I’d like teacher trauma to be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” he said. From Lafayette, Louisiana, Broussard researched “20 to 30 different universities” before starting...

The newest cohort of WNMU School of Nursing students underwent the purple coat ceremony Friday. This rite of passage, which traditionally uses white coats, emphasizes the importance of compassionate patient care at the very start of training and prior to their clinical experiences. “Our nursing students are Mustangs, who wear their purple scrubs with pride. This year, instead of the traditional white coat, we decided to coat our students with purple scrub jackets,” said WNMU School of Nursing Associate Professor Krista Wood. “This cohort is both passionate about the nursing profession and dedicated to meeting the demands of a very rigorous program.” The 20 Level I WNMU nursing students recited an oath of patient care and then were cloaked by WNMU professors Ariana Garcia, Erin Wood and Krista Wood, who welcomed the class of 2024 and recognized the students’ new status as healthcare professionals. “By accepting the purple coat, our nursing students demonstrate...

This fall, voters in southwest New Mexico will be asked to invest in the state’s public colleges, universities and specialty schools. General Obligation Bond C (referred to as GO Bond 3 and formerly known as GO Bond C) is asking voters to approve nearly $215.6 million or needed renovations, upgrades and improvements. Voting "yes" on GO Bond 3 will not increase property tax rates. Approval of Bond 3 will mean an allocation of $4 million for Western New Mexico University, which will fund the expansion of healthcare training programs. Also, passage of Bond 3 is estimated to create more jobs in construction and architecture while boosting local economies and gross receipts tax revenue. In Grant County, WNMU would use GO Bonds to renovate and upgrade its historic Graham Gym and make needed improvements to Old James Road, an important throughway in the heart of the campus. In Luna County, GO Bonds would help complete the new WNMU | Deming Learning Center, including construction...

Western New Mexico University McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art opened the 2022-23 season this week with “Beyond Metal” by metal artist Linda Joanou. Designed to showcase diverse artists working in a variety of media, the gallery’s 2022-23 season boasts exhibits by up-and-coming artists and features work by names such as Salvador Dalí. This fall’s first installment of the WNMU Cultural Affairs Edwina and Charles Milner Women in the Arts Lecture and Exhibit Series, this show brings metal sculptures of bronze, copper, and steel together with a hanging array of recycled bicycle tires to create a whimsical and inspiring installation. Joanou will lecture in Light Hall Auditorium at 6 p.m. A reception at the gallery will follow. “Beyond Metal” will hang until Thursday, October 6. Renowned artist-activist Shirley Klinghoffer’s “CRT Revisited” will open at WNMU McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art on Thursday, October 20. Inspired by the hospital armatures used as...

When she completes her exchange program at Western New Mexico University, Melissa Zenil will have marketing degrees from the WNMU School of Business and from her university in Hermosillo, Mexico. “I came to be interested in marketing because it was the creative side of business,” she said. “You apply arts and colors to business. If you added a little bit of marketing, it could be fun.” The differences between her hometown and Silver City are many. “The weather is cooler here. The place where I came from is bigger. For me, it’s a big change,” Melissa said. Her hobbies include growing plants, reading and listening to...