Jan. 31, 2025
Dear NMHU Community,
Highlands Day at the Legislature–what a busy day. We had tables in the wings of the rotunda, the administration and our legislative fellows were introduced on the floor of the senate along with a NMHU Day at the Legislature memorial, we talked with our representatives and other government officials, and there was even a performance in the rotunda by our music students. Thanks to everyone who attended to tell our government officials about our important mission as a university–it takes the efforts and commitment of all our faculty, staff, and students to get the word out about how great Highlands is. We took a whole bunch of pictures:
Regent Frank Sanchez, me, Regent Cody Rivera, Shanna Halalilo, Roxanne Gonzales and Senator Pete Campos busy at work talking to his constituents.
The NMHU Legislative Fellows being recognized on the Senate floor.
Professor Andre Garcia-Nuthman warming up the HU singers for their performance in the rotunda.
Our NMHU tables throughout the wings off the main rotunda in the Roundhouse.
Some Recent Highlights
Our strategic planning committee, led by Dr. Ian Williamson, continues to meet often. I asked Ian to give us an update:
The President charged the University-Wide Strategic Planning Committee with creating the 2030 New Mexico Highlands University Strategic Plan beginning in the middle of the 2025 Fall semester. The committee consists of several faculty (from the three Schools and the College), staff, community members, and a student member, all invested in a positive future for the university. The team recently also added Barbara Wharton, the new Director of the Office of Institutional Research and Data Management, as an ex-officio member to provide timely advice on ensuring that our goals and objectives are appropriately measurable.
They began their work by researching and discussing strategic plans from numerous other related institutions in New Mexico and the larger region. The committee conducted a survey of its own membership to identify six large categories within which to draft targeted strategic goals, objectives, and key performance indicators (KPIs). These broad areas of focus are: Great Education/Academic Excellence, Holistic Student Success, Community Partnership, Strategic Enrollment/Comprehensive Provider, Diversity, and Building a Robust Organization. They are now in the drafting phase, having formed working groups within the committee to complete the draft sometime in February. At that time, they will be reaching out to university groups and committees as well as the larger community for feedback and refinement of the plan for final approval through shared governance bodies.
Dr. Robert Bell gave a lecture on printmaking techniques and a show over in Kennedy that Professor Todd Chirstensen and Gina Von Hartmann curated from our extensive collection of prints.
Along those same artistic lines, the recent art show “Home House Houses Home” by artist Matt Eaton in Donnelly Library was featured in New Mexico magazine with a nice article.
https://www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/five-things-to-do-this-weekend-january-17-19/
Thanks to everyone who helped organize that show, including Gina Von Hartmann.
NMHU Athletics and the Foundation have launched their “Drive for Five” campaign. From the press release:
New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) Athletics is proud to announce the launch of the “Drive for Five” campaign, an initiative to grow the long-standing H Club, NMHU’s athletics booster club, to 500 members by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2025.
The H Club has always been at the heart of NMHU Athletics, providing vital support for Cowboys and Cowgirls teams. The “Drive for Five” campaign represents a renewed focus on success and an energized effort to elevate the H Club to new heights, ensuring NMHU’s student-athletes and coaches have the resources they need to thrive in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).
See https://nmhuathletics.com/news/2025/1/22/general-nmhu-athletics-launches-drive-for-five-campaign.aspx for more details.
Upcoming Events
Highlands Love & War Chocolate Fiesta, February 6, 5:00-7:30, Joseph E. & Nancy Montoya Student Center – The Foundation/Alumni Office is once again hosting the premier event of the winter season. Several local restauranteurs and caterers will be pulling out all the stops and presenting their best chocolate desserts to win your votes. Guests will sample all the scrumptious desserts, enjoy live music, cocktails, savory snacks, and a silent/live auction of Valentine’s Day gifts. Fabulous vacation packages, collectible artwork, and designer bags will be up for auction. All funds raised go to support Highlands Student Success. Click here to reserve your spot, first come, first served: https://nmhu.hometownticketing.com/embed/event/460?access_code=b93230b8486480c4a2fc71269711fe997b51869b This event sells out!
Men and Women’s basketball are at home next Saturday, February 8th, for the Breast Cancer Awareness game vs. Fort Lewis, the women play at 12:00 PM and the men play at 2:00 PM.
Congratulations
Ruben Aragon retires this week after 40 years at Highlands. Ruben, congratulations and thank you so much for your leadership and service. A snapshot from his retirement party over at the SUB:
Congratulations to Professor P.J. Sedillo, whose peer-reviewed article was recognized by the International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (IJAHSS) as one of the best papers in IJAHSS in 2025. The paper is based on his research pertaining to risk/resiliency for suicide and suicidal ideation, http://ijahss.net/.
Congratulations to Dr. Kim Blea, who recently served as Faculty for NASPA’s Institute for New AVP for Student Affairs in Columbus, Ohio. She led sessions focused on Identity Conscious Supervision and Personal and Professional Wellbeing, https://www.naspa.org/events/2025-naspa-institute-for-new-avps.
If you have an item or event you’d like to be featured here, please forward that to your respective Vice President.
Respectfully,
Dr. Neil Woolf
President
New Mexico Highlands University