Students help preserve important wetlands

Las Vegas, NM – A wetland habitat near Watrous, New Mexico, is healthier thanks in part to Highlands student volunteers. Along with members of the Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance, the Albuquerque Wildlife Federation and Ft. Union Ranch, the students helped restore a section of Wolf Creek approximately 20 miles northeast of Las Vegas. “Our most…

Grant Helps HU’s Social Work Program Expand Access

Las Vegas, NM – Hispanic and low-income students will have increased access to social work fields thanks to a pilot project funded by a five-year grant at New Mexico Highlands University. The $3-million Developing Hispanic Serving Institution grant from the U.S. Department of Education will help the university’s Facundo Valdez School of Social Work undertake…

Highlands Joins Citywide Volunteer Effort

Las Vegas, NM – Las Vegas’ educational institutions joined forces with the city’s government to promote volunteer opportunities for the community’s students. Representatives from the City of Las Vegas, New Mexico Highlands, Luna Community College, the United World College and the two city school districts signed an agreement during a small ceremony Sept. 11 to…

HU Kicks Off Fourth Year of Power of Service Program

September 10, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University will kick off its fourth year of Power of Service Sept. 24, a program that works to train employees to provide exceptional customer service to students. This year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Power of Service trainings will be delivered via the Zoom…

School of Education Joins Honorary Society for Teachers

September 9, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands University School of Education joined the Kappa Delta Pi honorary society for teachers. Since 1911, Kappa Delta Pi has worked to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. “Teachers are foundational to a democratic and just society,” said Mary…

New Grant Funds Best Practices in Teacher Training

September 9, 2020 Students from New Mexico Highlands University embark on paid 10-month residencies in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Pojoaque Valley, and Santa Fe public school districts. Los Alamos, N.M. —Los Alamos National Laboratory and New Mexico Highlands University join forces with four public school districts to increase the number of highly skilled teachers in the state,…

Reynaldo Maestas New Director for Center for Professional Development and Career Readiness

September 8, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – Reynaldo Maestas is the new director for the Center for Professional Development and Career Readiness at New Mexico Highlands University and will lead an expansion of the office, thanks to additional funding from the New Mexico State Legislature. The legislative award is for $165,000 and comes from Research and…

Highlands Joins City Volunteer Effort

Las Vegas NM – Las Vegas’ educational institutions and government will officially join forces to promote volunteerism from the community’s students. Representatives from the City of Las Vegas, New Mexico Highlands, Luna Community College, the United World College and the two city school districts will sign an agreement to formally create Vecinos Juntos de Las…

Spintz Harrison New Native American Liaison

September 3, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – Spintz Harrison is the new Native American liaison at New Mexico Highlands University. Harrison, whose heritage is Shoshone and Navajo, comes to Highlands from Kansas State University, where he taught in the Department of American Ethnic Studies from 2017 to 2020. “I am Native American and understand…

Highlands Virtual Homecoming Oct. 19 – 24

September 2, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – Mark your calendars for an exciting week of virtual Highlands Homecoming 2020 events the university is planning for Oct. 19 through Oct. 24. The theme for homecoming this year is “Cowboy Connection” and all the virtual events are free. “My biggest goal for virtual Highlands Homecoming 2020 is…

Alumnus Isaac Roybal Creates Mobile App for Higher Education

August 28, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University business alumnus Isaac Roybal launched a new mobile app for higher education that connects students with their professors via short video exchanges, expanding face-to-face interaction during the coronavirus pandemic when many courses are delivered online. Some universities piloting Roybal’s new smart phone technology tool,…

Seventh New Mexico Painters Exhibition Will Be Virtual

August 26, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M – This year marks the seventh New Mexico Painters Exhibition at Highlands University, which will be virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual exhibition will be launched online Oct. 18 at http://galleries.nmhu.edu/currently-at-the-kennedy-gallery/ “The most important thing about the virtual exhibition is that in this difficult time, we’re still…

Political Science Professor Elaine Rodriquez Appointed to Las Vegas City Council

August 24, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University political science professor Elaine Rodriquez was appointed to the Las Vegas City Council for Ward 3 at a public hearing Aug. 19. After a unanimous vote by the city council, Rodriquez was sworn into the position, which she begins officially in September. Las Vegas…

Free Online Fall Classes at Highlands for Community

August 18, 2020 Las Vegas, NM – Community members who are not currently enrolled at Highlands University can take one free online course for the fall semester. The free course may be chosen as one of four undergraduate offerings: Indigenous People of North America, Art of the Americas, Aerobic Dance, or Introduction to Native American/Hispano…

Rodgers Hall Renovation Receives Architectural Award

August 17, 2020 Las Vegas, New Mexico – The historic Rodgers Hall renovation at New Mexico Highlands University received a top architectural award. The project architects, Baker Architecture + Design, won a Distinguished Architecture Merit Award from the American Association of Architects of New Mexico in August 2020. The firm is based in Albuquerque. The…

Science Equipment Grant Give Students More Hands-On Learning

August 13, 2020 Las Vegas, New Mexico – Science students at New Mexico Highlands University will increase hands-on learning with new state-of-the art science instrumentation and technology tools, thanks to a grant from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation. The three-year grant totals $272,945 and began in July 2020. It was awarded to the Highlands University Foundation….

Spanish Professor Publishes in Anthology on the New Mexico Homeland

August 11, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University Spanish professor Norma A. Valenzuela published a chapter in an anthology, Querencia: Reflections on the New Mexico Homeland. The University of New Mexico Press published the book in May 2020. “The Querencia anthology represents the diverse issues Hispano and Indigenous communities within the state…

New Mexico Painters Exhibition Will Be Virtual

August 6, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M – This year marks the seventh New Mexico Painters Exhibition at Highlands University, which will be virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning is well underway to launch the virtual exhibition Oct. 18. The website link for the exhibition will be announced closer to the launch. “The most important…

HU Social Work Professor to Serve on Governor’s Racial Justice Council

August 5, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Highlands University social work professor Ben Bencomo to serve on her new Racial Justice Council. In a July 31 statement, Lujan Grisham said the advisory group is tasked with counseling the administration and monitoring state institutions, holding them accountable for taking…

HU Receives Grant Aimed at Preparing Students for Water Resources Careers

August 4, 2020 Las Vegas, New Mexico – New Mexico Highlands University received a $275,000 grant aimed at preparing underrepresented minority students for water resources science and management careers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Highlands the four-year grant with an Aug. 1 start date. “This grant is exciting because it will allow us to…

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