News

WNMU Student Body President Darlene Chavez Represents Hispanic Culture

By

Secondary education student Darlene Chavez is a senior at Western New Mexico University. She serves as President of the Associated Students of WNMU and works as an education assistant at Aldo Leopold Charter School. “From Deming, I chose WNMU for the music program, Mariachi Plata. After a while it became convenient that it was close to home. I didn’t have to move out,” she says. Being part of a Hispanic Serving Institution is a privilege, Darlene says. “The university’s designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution brings an understanding of who we are, the beauty of the culture, and the importance of getting to know us so we become a big family.” Exposing others to Hispanic culture is part of what Darlene enjoys about mariachi. “The majority of the world thinks of mariachi as a guy in a sombrero. It’s more than that. When you put on the mariachi traje, it’s worn with pride. You’re representing the culture of Mexico,” she says. “It’s nice to be...
Read More

WNMU Cultural Affairs Announces Fall Season Lineup

By

The Western New Mexico University Cultural Affairs fall 2019 season is packed with events from live entertainment to exhibit openings and lectures. WNMU Cultural Affairs will be continuing the President’s Chamber Music Series and the Edwina & Charles Milner Women in the Arts Lecture Series, and it will offer an evening of caroling and activities called Christmas Under the Stars for the first time. “We continue to cast a wider and wider net to seek out unique cultural offerings to present to the university community and the community at large. We are excited about the breadth of this season with acts hailing from the Louisiana Bayou to the Hebie Province in China and all points all along the way,” WNMU Special Assistant to the President for Cultural Affairs Faye McCalmont said. Admission prices range from free to $20. A 2019-20 season pass allows entry to all ticketed shows for $170 — a $30 savings. The WNMU Cultural Affairs fall 2019 season schedule: —...
Read More

WNMU Adult Education Services To Offer Digital Literacy Courses, Sponsor High School Equivalency Exams

By

Western New Mexico University Adult Education Services received $25,000 in the form of a PNMR Foundation Power Up Grant supporting Economic Vitality. The funding allows WNMU Adult Education Services to offer digital literacy classes and cover the cost of high school equivalency exams for more than three dozen WNMU students. PNM received over $2.5 million in requests from 80 organizations and awarded $500,000 to 17 nonprofits, according to PNMR Foundation Executive Director Laurie Roach. Open to adults and seniors, the new digital literacy courses will run for five weeks each in both Silver City and Deming. “We need to get everybody where they’re comfortable learning using technology and working in the digital age. With this grant, we are able to offer computer skills courses relating to education, employment and, more generally, life,” Adult Educational Services Program Manager Debbie Maldonado said. The courses will be based on Google’s literacy curriculum and...
Read More

WNMU Mourns Loss of Mustang Student Athlete

By

Western New Mexico University students, faculty and staff are grieving the loss of a Mustang student athlete. Freshman Eddie Cruz died in a drowning incident at Bill Evans Lake on Monday. “We are devastated by the loss of this student. Eddie was a phenomenal kid with a bright future,” WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard said. Cruz was 18 years old and studied kinesiology at WNMU. The freshman was a wide receiver on the Mustang football team and wore number 82. “Eddie will always be a part of our Mustang family. We are thinking of and praying for his loved ones during this extremely difficult time,” said WNMU Director of Athletics Scott Noble. From El Paso, Texas, Cruz graduated from Eastwood High School this past spring. WNMU is providing counseling for students affected by Cruz’...
Read More

WNMU Advances Renewable Energy Goals

By

Western New Mexico University President Dr. Joseph Shepard, along with PNM Resources CEO Patricia Vincent-Collawn, revealed plans to transition WNMU to more sustainable energy sources during a news conference on Thursday, August 15. WNMU aims to source more than half of the university’s power though solar-generated energy, which will be made possible through the proposed PNM Community Solar Direct project upon its review and approval from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. “Through Community Solar Direct, WNMU will be better able to achieve its sustainability goals in a cost-effective manner that is consistent with our transition to clean energy resources,” President Shepard said. A voluntary renewable energy program that allows eligible PNM customers to match a portion of their consumption with energy produced from solar facilities dedicated solely to the project, Community Solar Direct will provide 50 megawatts of electric into the state’s power grid....
Read More

Reservations Available for WNMU Museum Black-on-White Gala

By

The Western New Mexico University Museum 45th Anniversary Black-on-White Gala will be Saturday, July 13, at 6 p.m. “With the gala, we at the WNMU Museum celebrate 45 years of advancing the understanding of the diverse cultural and artistic heritages of southwest New Mexico. The gala also marks the completion of Fleming Hall’s stunning transformation into an open, light, secure, and climate-controlled environment that highlights the historic fabric of the building while enhancing the visitor experience,” WNMU Museum Director Dr. Cynthia Bettison said. As a way of recognizing the Mimbres people and the pottery collection she was instrumental in acquiring for the WNMU Museum, Dr. Bettison invites attendees to don Silver City-style Black Tie attire or dress up in Black-on-White attire. “That means almost anything goes — from jeans and a bolo tie or boots and a cocktail dress to tuxedos or evening gowns in black-on-white variations,” she said. Stations serving upscale...
Read More

WNMU To Offer Face-to-Face General Education Courses in Truth or Consequences

By

Western New Mexico University will offer general education classes in Truth or Consequences beginning Fall 2019. Classes will be held at the WNMU Adult Learning Center on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to accommodate working students. The courses being presented are Introduction to Philosophy and Introduction to Creative Writing. Both are open for enrollment now and will be taught by Professor John Gist, WNMU Humanities Department Chair and Interdisciplinary Studies Director. “Whether you are a high school student seeking college credit, a senior citizen who believes in lifelong learning, or an adult who is looking for college credit to advance in your career, these courses will help Sierra County build community through educated discourse among a variety of citizens,” Gist said. Dual-enrolled students are invited to attend. The classes are listed in the state’s new General Ed Core Course Transfer Curriculum so will transfer to any public college or university in...
Read More

New School of Education Hall of Fame Inductees

By

Four alumni were recently inducted into the Western New Mexico University School of Education Hall of Fame 2019 for their outstanding career achievements. The inductees Max G. Padilla, Emma V. Saucedo, Barney P. Brienza and Olivia L. Ogas. “To be considered for selection into the WNMU School of Education Hall of Fame, WNMU alumni must have demonstrated a primary interest in classroom teaching and devoted the major portion of their careers to classroom teaching at the primary, secondary or higher education levels. He or she must have inspired in students a willingness to learn, as reflected in their ability to impart knowledge, instill confidence, and demonstrate respect for learning and students,” WNMU School of Education Associate Dean Dr. Debra Dirksen said. Padilla received his Bachelor of Arts from WNMU in 1969. He is recognized for 38 years of dedicated teaching, mentoring and leadership. Padilla was also an assistant principal, school principal and coach.   He led...
Read More

Spring 2019 Academic Symposium Highlights: Research & Reporting

By

  Student: Aundrea Romero Major: Environmental Sustainability & Biological Science Year: First year @ WNMU, third year in college   For this year’s student academic symposium, environmental sustainability and biological science major Aundrea Romero decided to run an analysis of the saltcedar plant population and growth within the Grand Canyon and how this invasive species has impacted native fauna and flora. “Hikers and other tourists that visit the Grand Canyon have been unknowingly spreading this intrusive plant throughout the Grand Canyon by stepping on the plant and spreading its buds down the Colorado River or further into the park,” she said. Introduced into North America from Germany in the early 19th century, the saltcedar was brought to the U.S. for ornamental home adornment and quickly began to spread throughout intermountain regions of the U.S., including areas of Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. In presenting her research...
Read More

Associate Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court Barbara J. Vigil Will Address Western New Mexico University’s Graduates

By

Western New Mexico University will graduate 315 of its students this spring. Of those, 236 graduates will walk across the Old James Stadium stage during the spring commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10, at 2 p.m. They will receive their diplomas then shake hands with WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard and New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Vigil, WNMU’s spring commencement speaker. Native New Mexican Justice Vigil was born and raised in Santa Fe and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from New Mexico State University, her law degree from the University of New Mexico and has been a licensed attorney for more than 28 years. During her 19 years on the bench, Justice Vigil has served on both the First Judicial District Court, comprised of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos Counties, and the New Mexico Supreme Court benches.  As a district court judge, Justice Vigil presided over the Children’s and Family Court, as well as the civil docket, presiding...
Read More