Lewis Borck Has Special Issue Devoted to His Archaeology Research

November 23, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University anthropology professor Lewis Borck had a special issue of Critical Archaeology Forum in 2020 devoted to his archaeology research that explores how Indigenous history is often erased when creating world heritage sites. The Critical Archaeology Forum special issue is a response to Borck’s Journal…

Center for Professional Development and Career Readiness Expands Services

November 18, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – The Center for Professional Development and Career Readiness at Highlands is expanding its services to students and alumni of the university to better prepare them to succeed in the job market. “We are expanding our services to instill more comprehensive skills for students to be successful on many…

Social Work Programs Reaccredited for Eight Years

November 17, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – The Council on Social Work Education reaccredited the New Mexico Highlands University Facundo Valdez School of Social work for eight years through 2028. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredits social work programs nationally. According to the CSWE, this reaccreditation signifies that Highlands University’s social work programs…

New Entrepreneurship Program Focuses on Industrial Hemp

November 13, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands University Board of Regents approved a new program in Emerging Business Markets Entrepreneurship. The program’s initial concentration will offer students a certificate in industrial hemp entrepreneurship. Before launching, the program must still go through any required state and accreditor approvals with final approval from…

More November Talks Scheduled for Indigenous People’s Month

November 10, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University presents four more virtual talks for Indigenous People’s Month in November, with presentations on Nov. 12, 17, 18, and 19. The Zoom link for all the talks in the series titled, “Indigenous Voices – Counter Narratives” is https://nmhu.zoom.us/j/5054262053 Nov. 12 from 12 – 1…

Three Alarid Brothers Build Successful Technology Careers

November 9, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – Three brothers who are New Mexico Highlands University alumni grew up with a passion for computer science and technology, developing video games together as children. All three have built successful professional careers based upon this early computer interest and their Highlands education. Eric Alarid, 45, Jason Alarid, 43, and…

Grant Portfolio Increases Sharply at Highlands

November 4, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University’s grant portfolio rose sharply this year, growing from approximately $27 million in total value in 2019 to approximately $41.5 million in 2020, the largest yearly increase in the last five years. “We’ve seen a big shift in grants awarded to Highlands this year, a…

Highlands to Install Electric Charging Station and Add Electric Vehicle to its Fleet

Las Vegas, NM – New Mexico Highlands is continuing to adopt more green energy technologies with its planned installation of an electric vehicle charging station and purchase of an all-electric vehicle for the university’s fleet. The charging station will be installed in the parking lot next to Highlands’ Sala de Madrid Building on University Avenue…

Indigenous Art and Activism Virtual Conversation November 4

November 3, 2020 Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University presents a virtual conversation Nov. 4 at 12 p.m. titled, “Art and Activism: An Indigenous Voice,” with Dallin Maybee of the Northern Arapaho and Seneca nations. Maybee, an artist who is an attorney and assistant director of development for the Native American Rights Fund,…

Becca Sharp Forever Cowboy Student Award for Homecoming

Las Vegas, N.M. – Becca Sharp is an exceptional leader and student in the Media Arts and Technology Department who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in summer 2020 with an emphasis in multimedia and interactivity. A trio of media arts and technology professors joined forces to nominate Sharp for the Forever Cowboy…

Student Lobbying Secures Funds for New Gym Equipment

Las Vegas, NM – New Mexico Highlands students have new exercise equipment in the campus’ Archuleta Fitness Center thanks to legislative funding secured by participants in the university’s Legislative Fellows Program. The Legislative Fellows Program, launched during the 2019 New Mexico legislative session, gives Highlands students first-hand, practical experience on how the legislative process works…

Sara Mathews Spirit Award for Homecoming

Sara Mathews, founder of the successful Borracho’s Craft Booze and Brews LLC business in Las Vegas, received the Spirit Award for her dedication to the Las Vegas community and Highlands. Mathews grew up north of Las Vegas on a ranch riding horses and participating in 4-H and FFA. She said traveling as an adult made…

Shawna and Isaac Sandoval Distinguished Young Alumni for Homecoming

Las Vegas, N.M. – Isaac and Shawna Sandoval, successful restaurant entrepreneurs in Las Vegas, share the distinguished young alumni award. The married couple earned their Bachelor of Fine arts degrees from Highlands in 2010 and their Master of Fine Arts degrees from Ft. Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, in 2013. “We decided there was…

LouElla Marr-Montoya Distinguished Alumna for Homecoming

Las Vegas, N.M. – LouElla Marr-Montoya distinguished herself as a higher education administrator, educator and counselor, as well as community leader and public servant, for more than 35 years. She served on the Highlands University Board of Regents from 2015 – 2019, serving two years as the vice-chair. Marr-Montoya has been honored numerous times, including…

HU Program to Improve Social Work Access for Native Communities

Las Vegas, NM – The new director for Highlands University’s Native American Social Work Studies Institute will help improve access to trained professionals in Native communities. Melissa Riley, who was hired as the director of the institute July 20, began her career as a lay social worker and brings broad experience in education, social services,…

Athletes Join Forces With Area Students To Beautify Riverwalk

Las Vegas, NM – Approximately 100 Highlands athletes joined forces Oct. 3 with students from Las Vegas’ other educational institutions to clean the Gallinas River Park and paint its historic bridge. The project was part of Las Vegas’ new community-based volunteer organization, Vecinos Juntos. Vecinos Juntos, meaning, “neighbors together,” is a partnership between the City…

Professor’s New Book Poetically Explores Movement

Las Vegas, NM – A memorable journey is never limited to the physical act of leaving one place and arriving at another. It is often a hard-to-describe recipe of our experience, sense of place in the present, reflection, and our hopes and ambitions. It’s a path worn by those who have stepped before us, where…

HU Student Unearths Post-Civil War Injustice

Las Vegas, NM – A new window into the lives of post-Civil War African Americans in Texas has been opened thanks in part to the work of a Highlands student. Reign Clark, a graduate student in Highlands’ Southwest Studies program, is the project lead for an excavation project of Texas prison cemetery, which was forgotten…

HU Professor’s Book Explores Vigilante Mob Violence Against Women

Las Vegas, NM – The likelihood of vigilante mob violence against women increases when economic inequality rises and governments discontinue enforcing gender norms, according to a recently published book by a Highlands University sociologist. Rebecca Álvarez, an assistant professor in Highlands’ Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, studied cases across the globe where women…

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…

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