February 13, 2026
This has been an extraordinarily busy week at the Legislature and across campus. Members of our team have been at the Roundhouse daily, advocating to ensure our NMHU initiatives continue moving forward—many thanks to all who have put in long hours working with our government partners to make the future of NMHU even brighter.
On Friday, February 6, the Senate confirmed two regents at the governor’s recommendation: Elaine Luna, already well known to the campus community after serving since this past spring, and Grace Herrera as our new student regent. I look forward to working with both of them and getting to know Grace better. Here is a little background on Grace, followed by a snapshot of them on the floor of the Senate Chambers:
Grace Herrera is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies and is expected to graduate in May 2026. Originally from Maxwell, New Mexico, she has lived in Las Vegas most of her life and maintains strong ties to the community. After a 28-year career as a cosmetologist and small business owner, Herrera returned to higher education with a focus on service and advocacy. A first-generation college student, she brings a perspective informed by her experiences as a working adult, parent, and grandmother.
On Tuesday, February 10, we held NMHU Day at the Legislature. Many thanks to Provost Dann Brown, the Foundation, the Division of Student Affairs, the Department of Athletics, and the many departments that helped set up tables at the Roundhouse and advocate for NMHU:
Switching gears, NMHU has reached a final settlement with the New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED) concerning chemical storage issues at the Ivan Hilton Science building identified in fall 2024. To briefly summarize, for years faculty and staff did not follow operational procedures, and NMHU did not properly store, label, or dispose of hazardous materials. In partnership with Las Vegas HazMat and NMED, NMHU removed all hazardous materials from the Ivan Hilton Science Building in fall 2024, implemented new organizational systems to manage hazardous materials, created a chemical hygiene officer position, strengthened training, and updated policies.
As a result of the situation, NMED initially levied a $1.9 million fine. However, by demonstrating compliance with best practices and showing that the situation has been remedied, NMED reduced the fine to two installments of $195,000. The institution will also provide statewide training to other public entities (e.g., high schools and other educational institutions) related to the proper handling of hazardous chemicals and materials. The NMED agreement closes this unfortunate chapter in our history and begins a new chapter of safety, compliance, and proper oversight.
You may also have seen recent coverage of the estimated losses to NMHU resulting from the Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak Fire, which reached numerous news outlets across New Mexico this week, including KRQE and KOAT. From the story published on our website:
Nearly four years after the federally caused Hermits Peak–Calf Canyon Fire devastated northern New Mexico, a new independent economic analysis confirms that New Mexico Highlands University sustained between $209 million and $277 million in damages as a direct result of the disaster—losses the University continues to carry while awaiting full federal compensation.
The study, conducted by ECOnorthwest, documents extensive and ongoing impacts to Highlands, including physical damage to campus facilities and infrastructure, emergency response and recovery costs, operational disruptions, and long-term effects on students, employees, and the surrounding region.
Read more here: Independent Study Shows Nearly a Quarter-Billion Dollars in Damages to Highlands from Federally Caused Fire - New Mexico Highlands University.
Some Recent Highlights:
Deb Haaland, former United States Secretary of the Interior from 2021 to 2025 and current candidate for Governor of New Mexico, toured our campus on Thursday and met with me and senior administration to discuss student needs and the role of NMHU in New Mexico. It was a productive conversation, and we look forward to continued engagement. Here is Secretary Haaland with volleyball coach Meg Grose and some of our players:
The NMHU football team and Coach Kurt Taufa'asa were formally recognized at the Las Vegas City Council meeting on February 11, 2026. Councilman Benito Pacheco and Mayor David Romero welcomed the team and praised their successful season, with high hopes for the season to come. The spring game is coming up quickly–April 18 at Leveo Sanchez Stadium:
The NMHU Foundation hosted a very successful Jazz Salon in Kennedy Hall last Friday, featuring live music and excellent desserts. Remember to regularly check the Foundation website for upcoming events, https://nmhufoundation.org/.
The Ray Drew Gallery at the Thomas C. Donnelly Library hosted the opening reception for the 2026 Northern New Mexico Devotional Art Show. One of the more popular yearly art events we host on campus, this annual show highlights devotional art in wood painting and carving, tinwork, and textiles in traditional and contemporary styles. The show will be up until February 27, 2026:
NMHU hosted the Governor’s STEM Challenge at the SUB on Saturday, February 7, with hundreds of students coming from all over the state to present innovative solutions to pressing environmental problems. Read more about it on our website, https://www.nmhu.edu/new-mexico-students-address-natural-disasters-through-stem-innovation-at-statewide-competition/.
Provost Dann Brown held an open house at the Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)—Montoya Campus, the future site of our Albuquerque Center once our current lease ends after this spring semester. This exciting new space will allow for new opportunities for Social Work students and closer collaboration with CNM, one of our most important transfer partners:
Upcoming Events:
The legislative session ends on Thursday, February 19.
We have an upcoming Board of Regents meeting on Friday, February 20. The agenda has been distributed and is available on the NMHU Board of Regents webpage, https://www.nmhu.edu/board-of-regents/board-of-regents-announcements/.
A team from NMHU, led by Provost Dann Brown and AVPAA Benito Pacheco, will be heading to Taos to meet with administrators and students from UNM-Taos to begin exploring potential collaborations.
Women’s and men’s Basketball will celebrate Senior Day on February 21, presented by Quality Care. It will be an important match-up against Black Hills State as the drive for the RMAC playoffs continues. The games will start at 1:00 PM in the Wilson Complex.
Congratulations:
The Toy Lending and Resource Library is now open! Congratulations on the grand opening, which took place on Monday, February 9. Last year, Dr. Angela Redondo, NMHU Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Multicultural Education and Early Childhood Program Coordinator, initiated a partnership between the NMHU Early Childhood Multicultural Education Program and the UNM Early Childhood Services Center to establish the Las Vegas Toy Lending and Resource Library.
The UNM Early Childhood Services Center provides Toy Lending and Resource Libraries across New Mexico, giving families, educators, and caregivers access to toys, educational materials, and professional resources for young children. Located in the NMHU TEC building, the Las Vegas Toy Lending and Resource Library is open to the community on the second and fourth Mondays of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, with plans to add an additional day in the near future.
If you have any congratulations you’d like to share, please let your VP know, and they can forward the information for inclusion in the bi-weekly message.
Respectfully,
Dr. Neil Woolf
President
New Mexico Highlands University