NMHU Campus News

Damian L. Martinez: Distinguished Alumnus

Damian Martinez is a newly appointed United States Magistrate Judge for the District of New Mexico. And although he says there isn’t a direct career path to becoming a federal judge, Martinez’s journey to becoming one began at NMHU. Martinez began his college career at UNM, but when his dad was deployed to the Gulf…

Victoria Stark-Romero: Distinguished Young Alumna

Victoria Stark-Romero is a three-time graduate of NMHU and currently works as the Nursing Program Coordinator for NMHU’s new online master’s degree in nursing. Her role is busy and hands-on, from student advising, to coordinating program details and clinicals, to overseeing orientation. “What don’t I do at my job?” Stark-Romero said, laughing. Although it…

Travis McKenzie: Forever Cowboy Student Award

Travis McKenzie, a middle school teacher in Bernalillo County, is a strong proponent of culturally relevant education. As a lifelong student himself, McKenzie’s route to NMHU was a winding one filled with the pursuit of hands-on learning. “I went into the college of education but got burnout with Western civilization classes,” McKenzie said. “I was…

Sylvester “Syl” Perez: Highlands Spirit Award

Long after he graduated from NMHU, Sylvester “Syl” Perez took over the helm of the NMHU Athletic Alumni H Club team. He was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus and is a member of the H Club Hall of Fame. Perez received his doctorate in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University. He was an educator for…

President Sam Minner: Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal

Highlands University president, Sam Minner, doesn’t currently have any tattoos but this year he’s going to get his first. The tattoo will be a small, purple square with the white Highlands “H” inside of it. As he finishes his 9th and final year as the president of NMHU, Minner wants a permanent commemoration of the…

NMHU’s Technology Connected Communities Project Provided Computers for Students

86 students received new laptops thanks to a federal grant The new laptops were provided through a federal grant from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA), a division of the US Department of Commerce. The NMHU School of Education received the grant in September 2022, which led to the creation of the Technology Connected…

NMHU Society for Human Resource Management Student Chapter Receives Merit Award

Las Vegas, NM—The New Mexico Highlands University Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapter received a 2022-2023 Merit Award Wednesday for providing superior growth and development opportunities to its student members. The SHRM Student Chapter Merit Award program encourages the development of more effective student chapters and distinguishes outstanding activities and projects. Chapters are…

NMHU Alumna Named Santa Fe School District Teacher of the Year

SANTA FE, NM–New Mexico Highlands alumna, Tara Hughes, was honored earlier this year with the Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award and she was named the 2023 Santa Fe District Teacher of the Year. Hughes has been teaching in New Mexico for ten years and graduated from NMHU in 2014 with a master’s degree in…

Highlands University to Host 10th Annual Painters Exhibition

The popular show brings together student artists and established artists from Northern New Mexico August 24, 2023 The 10th Annual Painters Exhibition will open on Sept. 10, 2023, at Kennedy Hall on the NMHU campus, and will run through Oct. 31. This year’s invitational show will feature 41 artists and 123 paintings. An opening reception…

HU Student Social Engagement Club Supports Campus and Community

The newly named NMHU club hopes to recruit new members who want to give back August 8, 2023 When the pandemic hit, many clubs at NMHU disappeared, including the former Undergraduate Social Work Student Association. During the spring semester of 2023, clubs began to reappear. The former Social Work-affiliated club is now named the HU…

New Mexico Highlands University Early Childhood Class Produces Children’s Books

The professionally bound student books are on display at NMHU’s School of Education August 2, 2023 Lorraine Martinez has worked in early childhood education for nearly 50 years and taught at New Mexico Highlands University’s School of Education for nearly 30 years. Her Young Children with Diverse Abilities class requires students to produce a final project…

NMHU Natural Resources Management Department Receives $705,000 in Research Grants

The funding enables students to conduct relevant, hands-on research locally and internationally July 25, 2023 Over the last three years, the Natural Resources Management Department has received three grants totaling $705,000—one from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and two from the National Science Foundation. The water resources science studies were supported…

NMHU Receives Reaffirmation of Accreditation from Higher Learning Commission

Dr. Minner lauds work by staff, faculty, administrators, and regents as key for the effort June 30, 2023 New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) received a Reaffirmation of Accreditation letter from the Higher Learning Commision (HLC) Board of Trustees on Monday, June 26, 2023. This letter reaffirmed the HLC’s accreditation of the institution through the 2027-28…

New Photo Stand Provides Professional Headshots to Highlands Community

The photo stand adds to a range of tools to help students with career readiness August 7, 2023 The latest addition to the Center for Professional Development and Career Readiness is a photo stand that all students, faculty, and staff at NMHU can use, free of charge, to take professional headshots. According to Reynaldo Maestas,…

New Mexico Highlands University Names New Dean of the Facundo Valdez School of Social Work

Dr. César G Abarca has New Mexico roots, comes to NMHU from Cal Poly Humboldt June 8, 2023 New Mexico Highlands University has named César G Abarca PhD, MSW, its Dean of the Facundo Valdez School of Social Work. Dr. Abarca comes to New Mexico Highlands University from Cal Poly Humboldt where he served on…

NMHU Social Work Professor Dr. Dolores Ortega Honored with Statewide Education Award

The award recognizes Ortega’s work in addressing food insecurity and preserving Northern New Mexican heritage May 31, 2023 Dr. Dolores Ortega, professor of Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University, was honored last month with an Excellence in Student Achievement Award by the New Mexico School Boards (NMSBA) Association. Ortega was recognized for her work…

Highlands University to Host an Education/Reintegration Summit

The event focuses on re-entry through higher education and workforce development April 19, 2023 The Facundo Valdez School of Social Work, in collaboration with the South-Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (SSWATTC), will be hosting an Educational/Reintegration Summit on Sunday, April 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. and on Monday, April 24, from 7:30 a.m. to…

NMHU Kicks Off Geek Week on April 16

The annual event offers a broad range of activities and events open to the community April 12, 2023 New Mexico Highlands University is celebrating Geek Week from Sunday, April 16 to Friday, April 21. The slate of events for Geek Week is sponsored by the NMHU English department. All events are open to the…

Diné Poet Dr. Luci Tapahonso to Give Reading at Highlands University

Tapahonso’s poems celebrate Diné culture and heritage April 10, 2023 Dr. Luci Tapahonso, the former Diné Poet Laureate, will be giving a public reading at 12 p.m. on April 11, on the third floor of Donelly Library and on Zoom: https://nmhu.zoom.us/j/98374003502. “This is an exciting opportunity for our students and community to engage with an…

Stephanie Gonzales Named New Mexico Highlands University’s Next Vice President for Finance and Administration

Gonzales promoted from NMHU’s Finance and Budget/Comptroller Office April 5, 2023 Stephanie Gonzales, CPA, has agreed to accept the New Mexico Highlands University Vice President of Finance and Administration position effective July 1, 2023. Gonzales is succeeding Max Baca, who has served as NMHU’s Vice President for Finance, Administration, and Government Relations for NMHU since…