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More than 90 fall graduates of Western New Mexico University participated in a live virtual commencement ceremony on Friday afternoon. The virtual ceremony was streamed live at wnmu.edu and on the university’s Facebook page, where thousands watched and commented as their loved ones received their symbolic diplomas. Opening the ceremony, WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard said to participants, “I salute you for your dedication to your courses and your perseverance.” He went on to honor members participants who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and acknowledge the families who supported graduates along their educational journeys. “I’d like to recognize those who are the first in their families to receive a college degree. About 1 in 2 of our students are first generation college graduates,” Dr. Shepard said. President of the Associated Students of WNMU Brenda Hernandez, who also sang the national anthem at the start of the ceremony, addressed her fellow...

During a virtual public meeting on Thursday, the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents made inquiries into student engagement through transitions in course delivery, discussed current and future programs, and passed proposed changes to the student handbook, and approved a pair of financial documents. WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard reported that, following the Thanksgiving holiday, the university administered virus tests to faculty, staff and students who remain on campus. The testing resulted in just three positive tests. “We were able to isolate those three, and we fogged campus,” he said. Reminding board members of the spring semester plans, the university president said, “Our faculty, staff and students will have a week extra in winter break. The first two weeks will be online. In the meantime, we’re pursuing how we can get the vaccine. Having it readily available would go a long way to getting us back to business as normal.” Dr. Shepard said that...

Katherine Nelson, who teaches English at Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso, is a WNMU alumna who graduated with Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies English and Writing. She became interested in the Gila River while researching a paper on it for her environmental writing course, and she was inspired by the way the local community came together to protect it. “I was overwhelmed by how many young people got involved,” she said. As an eastern New Mexican, she was less aware of the river and its complicated history and disputed future than residents of the western side of the state. So she concluded that she needed to make a film that could provide information about the Gila River and the proposed diversion project. She proceeded to take screenwriting courses and jumped into the realm of film-making. And, in order to carry out the project, the obtained a summer research grant from the WNMU Student Research and Professional Development fund. Without any previous...

WNMU alumna and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Camille Hawkins recently became an anesthesiology resident physician in Ohio. “I love taking care of patients of all ages in an acute setting, providing critical care, doing procedures, and working in the operating room atmosphere,” she said. Now meeting the increased demand for anesthesia providers worldwide, Hawkins also works with for COVID-19 patients. “As anesthesiologists, we’re extensively trained in providing critical care and ventilator management inside and outside of the operating room and there was an increased need of our services outside of the operating room this past year,” she said. Hawkins said her path to medicine was unique. She started college wanting to teach physical education then changed her major to biology for secondary education at a state university in northern Arizona. “My mom passed away suddenly at the end of sophomore year and had me reevaluate my life goals. Shortly after, I transferred...

“I am an Intensive Global Support Level 1 Special Education teacher at an inner-city middle school where 99% of students come from low-income and poverty-level homes. I consider my students to be a very unique, diverse, and vibrant group. Our classroom culture has taken on a true awareness and respect for all individuals, despite any differences,” WNMU graduate student Hannah Cothran said. Working toward a master’s in special education plus an endorsement in TESOL (gifted), she is one recipient of PFLAG Silver City’s Nancy Kailing Memorial Scholarship, which through the WNMU Foundation is given to students who have demonstrated work toward securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. “As an ally of the LGBTQ movement and individuals involved, it is my sincere hope to continuously uphold the values of awareness, respect, and equality in all my current and future years of teaching,” Hannah said. In Albuquerque, the first-year teacher works...

Western New Mexico University purchased 1,500 Curative Labs, Inc. COVID-19 PCR tests to offer its faculty, staff, students and Mustang athletes for collection under trained supervision on the WNMU campus. On the leading edge of keeping its community safe, WNMU now has more testing options and will be able catch the COVID-19 virus more quickly, thereby minimizing the spread of the virus. In addition to making PCR tests and on-site antigen testing available, the university’s health partnerships with Hidalgo Medical Services, Gila Regional Medical Center, and Walgreens ensures a variety of options to help the university maintain the health of the entire WNMU community. “One of the key objectives for our university is to identify an infected person as quickly as possible so we can isolate the virus and prevent spread in the community,” said Dr. Joseph Shepard, President of WNMU. “With the backlog in testing locally and having to wait five days to receive test results, the...

Laura Kubik is the university’s veteran education benefits liaison. She served 11 years in the Army, doing a year-long tour in Korea and two tours in Iraq. She had been in the process of enlisting in the military on September 11, 2001, and was sent away in case the facility was also a target. When she returned on September 12, she knew the environment was different, that she’d be serving through war. “I looked around the room and said, ‘These are my comrades,’” Laura remembers. “I felt even more empowered to want to go.” While both of her grandfathers were in the Navy and she’s from “essentially a military family,” Laura did not enlist right out of high school. “I joined when I was 30 to get myself further ahead, get my education for free and get my son his braces when he needed them. I was willing to sacrifice,” she said. As a signal support system specialist, Laura installed communications technology — radios, computers, phone wiring, and blue...

“As part of the LGBTQ community, I know how confusing it can be to create a self-identity and how painful it is to be questioned and judged. As a future school social worker, my experiences and knowledge will help me create healthy school environments,” wrote Lisa Origlio, who received PFLAG Silver City’s Nancy Kailing Memorial Scholarship through the WNMU Foundation as a result of the essay this quote was excerpted from. From Brighton, Colorado, Lisa has always worked with children so tried her hand at teaching. “It never really stuck for me,” she said. Now seeking a master’s in social work, Lisa said that because she usually connected with kids who struggled emotionally, she explored careers in which should could help them. “I took a long time deciding on social work, and WNMU had everything I was looking for,” she said. “I’ve learned that social work is similar to teaching because a lot of it has to do with problem solving and using interventions. We...

Western New Mexico University students, faculty and staff as well as members of the public will have the opportunity to receive their annual flu shot on campus this Saturday, as the WNMU School of Nursing is partnering with Walgreens to help ensure the continued health of the Mustang community. “While we’ve worked to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in our campus community, it’s important that we also take steps to mitigate the spread of the flu virus. Although flu shots are in short supply, we’ve been able to acquire a limited number and hope those who live and work on campus in particular take advantage of this free clinic,” said WNMU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Isaac Brundage. On Saturday, November 7, shots will be administered from the WNMU School of Nursing building near the intersection of College Avenue and E Street. Students may walk in to receive their immunizations between 10 a.m. and noon. Faculty, staff and members of the public may walk...