Yearly Archives: 2017

1. Ruben Aragón Named to Two Library Leadership Positions

   Las Vegas, N.M. –  New Mexico Highlands University Donnelly Library director Ruben Aragón leads the 22-state consortium Amigos Library Services as the new chairman for its board of directors. The consortium is a nonprofit that represents 800 libraries and works to help them obtain affordable information technology to facilitate collaboration and resource sharing among its…

2. Pharmacy Student Grateful For Highlands University President’s Mentoring

   Las Vegas, N.M. – Highlands University graduate and second-year doctor of pharmacy student Marcus García said his most important mentor is Highlands President Sam Minner. “Dr. Minner has provided me with valuable insight on my career goals and helps keep me motivated,” García said. “He has given me added inspiration to always work hard and…

3. Highlands Offers Only Dedicated K-12 Computer Science Maker Space in State

   Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University offers the only dedicated computer science maker space in the state where K-12 youth get hands-on experience creating their own projects from robots to exploring virtual reality, thanks to an investment from Los Alamos National Laboratory. “Our new computer science classrooms for youth at Highlands are what’s…

4. Biology Graduate Finds Career Success in Homeland of Vietnam

   Las Vegas, N.M. – A Highlands University biology graduate returned to his homeland of Vietnam to work as a technical development project manager for a leading seafood company that is increasing food supplies for his country and internationally. Son Tran, B.S. biology 2015, joined Viet-UC Seafood in January 2016. “My company is conducting trials on…

5. Students Volunteer in Africa to Teach Revolutionary Ultrasound Device to Medical Students

   Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University students are volunteering in Namibia, Africa, this summer teaching medical students and others how to use a revolutionary hand-held portable diagnostic ultrasound device that has the power to save lives. Molly Enenbach, a 2016 Highlands biology graduate who begins medical school in August, and James Foster, a…

6. Cowboys to Play on New Turf Thanks to Donors

   LAS VEGAS, NM – New Mexico Highlands’ will have a new football field thanks to a couple with a long history of giving to Las Vegas and the university. Leveo Sanchez and his wife Patricia donated $500,000 to replace the football field along with another $100,000 to renovate the Stu Clark athletics building. “From my…

7. HU Professor’s Sculpture to be Featured in International Festival

   Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University fine arts professor David Lobdell’s fire sculpture will be featured at the international Festival of High Temperatures June 23 – 25 in the heart of the medieval city of Wroclow, Poland. Lobdell is among the internationally acclaimed artists the Academy of Art and Design in Wroclow invited…

8. High School Equivalence Test Offered at Highlands Beginning June 21 – 22

     Las Vegas, N.M. , June 6 2017– Highlands University begins offering New Mexico HISET, a high school equivalency exam, June 21 – 22 at the university’s main campus in Las Vegas. The Highlands Office of Academic Support will offer the test, which is also scheduled at Highlands for July 5 – 6 and August…

9. Media Arts Facility Named McCaffrey Historic Trolley Building

   Las Vegas, N.M. – The new state-of-the-art Media Arts and Technology Department facility at New Mexico Highlands University has been named the McCaffrey Historic Trolley Building in honor of a generous alumni couple. The university’s Board of Regents unanimously approved the building name at a public meeting May 31, with Leveo Sánchez, board chairman, making…

10. Clarence Romero New Chief of Police

    Las Vegas, N.M. – Clarence Romero is the new police chief at New Mexico Highlands University, bringing more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, including 20 years in management, to the university. Romero is already a familiar face at Highlands. He joined the Police Department in 2012 as a patrol officer and served as…

11. New Initiative Aims to Spark Lifelong Learning Culture

    Las Vegas, New Mexico – A new initiative at New Mexico Highlands University aims to spark a culture of lifelong learning. Highlands President Sam Minner launched HU: Learning Happens Here this spring. “One of the great advantages of working at a university is being around smart people who are interested in their own intellectual development,”…

12. Planning Ahead Can Help Reduce College Debt

    LAS VEGAS, NM – Despite earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, Joseph Dominguez left college without something many people feel is part of a university experience: debt. “It’s freedom,” said Dominguez, a Highlands University alumnus. “Now that I’m in the work world, it’s beneficial to me since I’m not sending a part of my…

13. Gil Gallegos Named Professor of the Year

    Las Vegas, New Mexico – New Mexico Highlands University named computer science and engineering professor Gil Gallegos Professor of the Year for 2016 – 2017. Each spring an independent selection committee composed of students, faculty and staff reviews the nominations for Professor of the Year and selects a winner. A coalition of Highlands students nominated…

14. Monthly Accreditation Forum May 23 Focuses on Mission, Strategic Plan

      Las Vegas, N.M. – Highlands University’s monthly accreditation forum May 23 focused on accomplishments for the mission and strategic plan. “Over the past two years, we’ve focused on closing the loop of moving from the strategic plan to concrete accomplishments to improve the student experience at Highlands,” said Brandon Kempner, who directs the university’s…

15. AAUW Girls Can Program at Highlands May 19

    Las Vegas, N.M. – Fifth grade girls from Las Vegas, New Mexico gained hands-on career knowledge from Highlands University science faculty and community members at an AAUW Girls Can program May 19 at the university. The Las Vegas Chapter of the American Association of University Women joined forces with Highlands to present Girls Can, which…

16. Endangered Boreal Toads Donated to Zoos

    Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University is donating endangered boreal toads raised from eggs in a biology laboratory at the university to zoos in the U.S. for conservation efforts and education. Boreal toads are extinct in New Mexico. The Detroit Zoo National Amphibian Center, Denver Zoo, and Staten Island Zoo are accepting the…

17. Javier Gonzales Mayor of Santa Fe Delivers Commencement Address

    Las Vegas, N.M. – Resist division and hatred, Santa Fe New Mexico Mayor Javier Gonzales told graduates at the Highlands University main campus commencement May 13. A record number of 1,051 students graduated from Highlands and its centers, with 633 earning their diplomas in Las Vegas. Of these total graduates, 66 percent earned bachelor’s degrees and 34 percent…

18. Retired Biology Professor to Serve in Peace Corps

    Las Vegas, N.M. – A retired Highlands University biology professor will devote her experience teaching science to high school students in Ghana through Peace Corps service. Mary Shaw, who taught at Highlands from 1993 – 2016, begins her Peace Corps training May 27. “I have always been drawn to international service and the chance to…

19. Alumna Mary Jean Habermann López Wins Top Bilingual Education Award

    Las Vegas, N.M. – The New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education recognized Highlands University alumna Mary Jean Habermann López with its highest honor for her lifelong impact on bilingual education. Habermann López received the Ben Luján Lifetime Achievement Award at the NMABE annual conference April 29. Lujan, who died in 2012, was the longtime New…

20. Students Raise Their Country’s Flag at Ceremony

    Highlands University students Narendra Boppana, left, Shabari Bejagam, Swaroop Raja Marni, Lavanya Chigurupati, Jhansirani Munukuri, and Poonampreet Kaur salute the flag of their home country, India, at the International Flag Raising Ceremony May 4 at the university’s Centennial Tower. The university’s International Education Center sponsors the flag ceremony each year. Students from 35 countries attend…