Nov. 1, 2024
Dear NMHU Community,
October went quickly, didn’t it? It’s been a busy fall, with plenty of campus activity and visits. People ask me if I’m enjoying my time in New Mexico. While we have our challenges at Highlands, as does every institute of higher education, it’s a great privilege to be president.
We are embarking on important work here to be intentional about our institutional culture, how we operate with improved systems, policies, and practices, and how we interact and work together. As opportunities arise, I invite you to participate with me in working together as we continue to fulfill our mission. One opportunity that I’m proud to be participating in is the 2024 Diversity Summit: Investing in Inclusive Practices and Programs in New Mexico Hispanic Serving Institutions (details below). This is an important event, and I’d like to share a part of my welcome statement for the summit.
When we talk about diversity, we’re talking about the rich range of backgrounds, identities, and perspectives each one of us brings to the table. This includes race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, physical abilities, and so much more. Each aspect adds to the complexity of who we are as individuals, and collectively, it brings depth and dimension to our college experience. Diversity is what makes us innovative and dynamic. It fosters creativity and drives us to think in new ways, to challenge assumptions, and to grow beyond our own boundaries.
Diversity alone is not enough. That’s where inclusion and equity come in. Inclusion means that we create spaces where every voice is valued and heard. It’s about cultivating an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and safe to be their authentic selves. This sense of belonging is foundational to achieving a true community—one where no one is left out or marginalized.
Equity ensures that every person in our community has access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed. Equity doesn’t mean treating everyone exactly the same; it means recognizing that each person’s path to success may require different tools and support. By working to level the playing field, we honor the diversity in our community and create a foundation on which every individual can thrive.
By embracing diversity, practicing inclusion, and committing to equity, we create a community that doesn’t just tolerate differences but celebrates them as strengths. When we see one another fully, we enrich our understanding, deepen our empathy, and prepare ourselves to engage thoughtfully with the world around us.
Some Recent Highlights
I spent Thursday, October 24, at our Albuquerque center–many thanks to Roxanne Gonzales, Patrick Wilson, Joseph Moreno, Cesar Abarca, and the many faculty, staff, and students who graciously showed me around and helped me to better understand the important work we do in Albuquerque. We also had a great “Meet the President” event that evening at the Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. As I’ve learned over the past few months, Social Work is one of our signature programs. We play a vital role as statewide leaders in social work, and I look forward to finding ways to expand and strengthen this program.
I attended the NMHU vs. UNM women’s basketball exhibition game at the Pit–I’d never been there before. It was quite the environment for a game!
NMHU hosted the RMAC Cross Country Championships at the Gene Torres golf course this past weekend, with 15 schools competing. It was a beautiful fall day, and it was a lot of fun to see so much activity out at the course:
Provost Roxanne Gonzales presented several times at HACU in Aurora, CO, the Hispanic Association of College and Universities, with the picture below from the HACU Dean’s Forum Senior Leadership Panel:
Upcoming Events:
- Our next “Meet the President” event in Las Cruces this weekend is Sunday, November 3rd. See https://nmhufoundation.org/event/meet-the-president-in-lascruces_november-7 for more info and to RSVP. We then have our exhibition basketball game against NMSU on Monday evening, which I’ll attend.
- We have a full-day Foundation Board Meeting at the Santa Fe Higher Education Center on Friday, November 8.
- The President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (PCDEI), on behalf of New Mexico Highlands University, will host this year’s 2024 New Mexico State Diversity in Higher Education Summit on November 8 and 9. We will host participants from the University of New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico University, Luna Community College, Santa Fe Community College, and other institutions. The theme for the two-day summit is “Investing in Inclusive Practices and Programs in New Mexico Hispanic-Serving Institutions.” Both days will include multiple concurrent sessions plus two keynote events. You can register at this link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=3G8pS9fZxUuyKxXIOjRczxtVdx-yP5dLlzgea6pewmtUMkZLRzE1R0JPVlozMkY5Nk9QNTBBR0dXUy4u&route=shorturl.
- Football, volleyball, and soccer are wrapping up their seasons! The last chance for a soccer home game is Wednesday, November 6, 3:00 PM, vs Adams State, and football plays against Black Hill State on Saturday, November 16, 12:00 PM. Volleyball plays against Colorado Christian University on that same Saturday, November 16, at 6:00 PM.
Congratulations:
NMHU was recently selected to participate in the Equity in Mental Health on Campus Initiative with 12 other institutions nationwide. The 18-month signature project in partnership with The Steve Fund and HACU will assist NMHU by investing in the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color by enhancing policies, programs, and services to better support students of color through racial trauma-informed leadership, campus-specific needs assessment, action planning, and culturally informed professional development. Congratulations to Dr. Kim Blea and Felicia Martinez, LCSW, Director of CARES Counseling, who will lead this project on behalf of NMHU.
We published a news story on the NMHU website about Professor David Lobdell’s retirement. I didn’t get much of a chance to work with David, but Brandon tells me stories about Iron Tribe and how David would bring in sculptors from all over the world to put on shows. That fiery picture of a performance casting is pretty impressive. Thank you, David, for everything you’ve done for New Mexico Highlands and our students across your career. Here is a link to the story:
The NMHU volleyball team hosted a free clinic for kids aged 5-13 after their match against Western Colorado on October 19th. The Cowgirls spent time teaching a group of 30 future volleyball players the fundamentals of the game. There were smiles all around afterwards.
Congratulations to Library Director Ruben Aragón, outgoing president of the New Mexico Library Association (NMLA). The NMLA just wrapped up their annual conference down in Carlsbad, NM, titled “Dragons in the Dark: Demystifying Librarianship in the Age of AI and Censorship,” with Ruben and Associate Library Director April Kent helping to organize that conference:
Tevita Valeti, football, was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week for his 200 rushing yard, 4-touchdown performance in the win against Adams State. Congratulations!
Valeti, Quinones, & Doud Claim RMAC’s Week 8 Football Awards – Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
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