News

Western New Mexico University's Scholar-in-Residence, Dr. Felipe de Ortego y Gasca, received the 2018 Premio Estrella de Aztlán - Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies Texas Chapter. Western New Mexico University also recently honored Dr. Ortego by naming the newly established campus cultural center - formerly the MEChA Building - the Felipe de Ortego y Gasca Cultural Center. Dr. Ortego was the founding director of The University of Texas at El Paso's Chicano Studies program and is considered the founder of Chicano literary history. Since 2007, Dr. Ortego has been the Scholar-in-Residence at Western New Mexico University, where he focuses on cultural studies, critical theory and public policy. "Ortego was selected for his contributions toward the betterment of Chicanas/os in Texas while a Texas resident," the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies awards committee said. The journalist, author and professor...

Fab Lab Hub Founder Sarah Boisvert will present "The New Collar Workforce: An Insider's Guide to Making Impactful Change in Manufacturing and Training" on Monday, April 9, at 6 p.m. in Western New Mexico University's Parotti Recital Hall (next to McCray Gallery off 12th Street.) A leader in laser manufacturing and the author of "New Collar Job Training for Industry 4.0," Boisvert said, "Blue collar jobs are now digital." With more than 30 years of experience in the design development and commercialization of high technology products, she is the founder of the MIT-based Fab Lab Network non-profit, which helps start new makerspaces and conducts workforce and entrepreneurship training in digital fabrication. During the lecture, Boisvert will discuss the workforce development in manufacturing curriculum she has developed and made available nationwide. She will share how to create new opportunities in smart manufacturing and discover the future of work in the digital factory....

The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents unanimously approved the 2018-19 student fees and tuition amounts, which will not be increased, and voted to move ahead with the capital projects transmittal for underground utilities on campus and with the disposal of depreciated computers during their meeting on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at Western New Mexico University. In discussion about the 2018-19 student fees, student body President Tim Stillman said that while the distribution of student fees is changing slightly, the amount students pay will remain exactly the same. "Monies are being moved around between departments," he said, explaining each increase or decrease individually. Stillman said that student fees are distributed through a multi-step public hearing process and that the biggest increase is to Mustang athletics while the biggest decrease is to Student Life (Leisure). "These decisions were made based on student feedback and cross-checked with the university...

The Mustang student newspaper revived its Women of Western series this week, profiling a handful of outstanding females on campus. Read on for the highlights from each personal profile. Lauren Dazey, Graduate Student When Lauren Dazey arrived at WNMU to get her Master in Business Administration, she had a background working in heavy industrial jobs, particularly working on oil rigs. Lauren was inspired by her mother's career as a geologist so studied geology. As an undergraduate, Lauren worked at the University of Wyoming Museum of Geology. After earning a bachelor's in geology in 2013, she found a job working on off-shore oil rigs. Lauren faced some push-back when she entered that career; not only was she a woman working in a male-dominated occupation, but she was also a geologist entering an engineering field. Once, Lauren wasn't allowed to join her co-workers on a rig due to some outdated superstitions. "There are some myths that a woman on an oil rig is considered bad...

Grant County community members with disabilities will be participating in Hoops 4 Hope, an afternoon of indoor games on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, at 6 p.m. in Western New Mexico University's Intramural Gym (1000 W. College Ave.). The sixth annual event is open to any member of the community with a learning or physical disability. Attendees will receive a free t-shirt and a pizza dinner. The goal of the annual event is to accomplish four hopes: a hope to bring students together to learn about people with disabilities, a hope to build common ground among different people through athletics, a hope to have students feel comfortable with people of different backgrounds, and a hope to learn more about how we interact with each other as humans. Reserve a spot by emailing Abe.Villarreal@wnmu.edu with the participant's name and shirt size. For more info about Western New Mexico University's Hoops 4 Hope event, call...

Western New Mexico University associate professor Dr. Alexandra Neves and three Western New Mexico University students presented "Teachers' Transformation and Intercultural Competence: Who Benefits?" at the National Association of Bilingual Education conference in Albuquerque this past weekend. The student presenters included Elizabeth Ann Long, Alfredo Reyes and Michele Scott, who are all online students. "The presentation originated from a class called Current Issues in Language Minority Education that these students took last summer. In that class, we covered the many issues in educating linguistically minority children in public schools and invited teachers to reflect on their roles as educators to create spaces where all children succeed. A big part of that is giving teachers the opportunity to explicitly challenge beliefs and attitudes that perpetuate unfair educational practices. This is key for future and current educators. We all met in Albuquerque for the conference...

On Saturday, March 10, 2018, the public is invited to participate in the One Million Bones - Silver City art project, which is in the process of being installed - through collaboration and participation - at its permanent site above Bear Mountain Lodge (60 Bear Mountain Ranch Rd.). From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Community Day, people will gather in mass to carry more of the handcrafted ceramic bones to the meadow where they'll lay for eternity. "Until each bone is placed, everyone is encouraged to visit the lodge, load up a bag, and make the peaceful trek to the bones' permanent resting spot. It's a hands-on way to remember victims of genocide and mass atrocities and also mindfully reject the recurrence of such evils," said Faye McCalmont, Special Assistant to the President for Cultural Affairs. People travel from out of state to participate, and some locals hike to the site with packs full of ceramic bones on a regular basis. "Recently, a horse pack train spent three days carrying...

The Western New Mexico University's Child Development Center and Growing Tree was recently awarded five stars. After a vigorous accreditation program review for renewal, the university's early childhood programs were classified in the National Association for the Education of Young Children's uppermost tier. The five-year renewal process assesses 10 standard areas: relationships, curriculum, teaching practices, assessment of child progress, health, teachers, families, community relationships and physical environment. Seven out of 10 areas received perfect scores, with the remaining areas receiving nothing lower than 86 percent. "This accreditation allows us to apply for grant funds to keep the cost of high-quality care and education to families, particularly Western New Mexico University students, at a low rate," said Elaine Howard, Lab Site Program Administrator. The National Association for the Education of Young Children sets the standards for all Early Learning Programs...

The University Foundation is hosting its sixth annual Scholarship Gala on March 3, 2018, honoring Western New Mexico University's 125th Anniversary with an "1893" Victorian-themed event. Guests are encouraged to embrace the Victorian period of dress or wear black-tie apparel for an evening of fine dining, dancing and entertainment. It's not too late to make a reservation. The Scholarship Gala begins at 6 p.m. in historic Graham Gym on campus. The evening will include a Victorian-inspired six-course meal, silent auction, complimentary bar and dancing to the live music of the Diamond Empire Band. "Each year, this event brings our community and Western New Mexico University leaders together for an evening of camaraderie and support of our deserving students, raising funds for private scholarships. This year we are celebrating 125 years of serving our students and recognizing the work the University Foundation is accomplishing by building a culture of philanthropy" said Jodi...

In honor of National Women's History Month, The Center for Gender Equity and Social Justice at Western New Mexico University is hosting events to empower, celebrate and honor women March 5-8, 2018. The third annual F Week! showcases leaders, speakers, musicians and artists from diverse backgrounds, and this year's headliners include Target's Corporate Social Responsibility Program Officer and performance artist La Chica Boom. "For F Week!, we always try to highlight aspects of womanhood: Care, Leadership, Beautifully Diverse and Trailblazing," said Dr. Lydia Huerta, co-director of The Center for Gender Equity and Social Justice. F Week! begins at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 5, in Light Hall when speaker Dr. Denise Mitten, Professor of Sustainability Education and head of the Adventure Education Master of Arts Program at Prescott College, takes the stage. Sponsored by WNMU Outdoor Program and The Center, Dr. Mitten's talk, "How Women Outdoors Contribute to Care and Sustainable...