March 27, 2026
Earlier in March, I travelled to Washington, D.C., where I met with Senator Ben Ray Luján. I am very pleased to announce that the Senator will be one of the commencement speakers for our Saturday, May 9th commencement here in Las Vegas, along with a student speaker. For those of you unfamiliar with the Senator, here is a brief bio, and then a photo of the two of us in his office. The Senator has been a great supporter of NMHU throughout his entire career, and, as an alumnus, it will be wonderful to have him speak to all of our graduating students:
Senator Ben Ray Luján has represented New Mexico in the United States Senate since 2021. He previously served as a U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s Third Congressional District and as House Assistant Speaker.
A native of Nambé, a small farming community near the Nambé and Pojoaque Pueblos, Senator Luján was raised with the values of hard work, perseverance, and service. Senator Luján earned his degree from New Mexico Highlands University.
In the Senate, Senator Luján is focused on lowering costs, expanding access to affordable health care, creating good-paying jobs, and strengthening New Mexico’s rural, Tribal, and local economies. Senator Luján serves on the Committees on Commerce, Finance, Agriculture, Indian Affairs, and the Budget.
Throughout his time in Congress, Senator Luján has fought to protect patients with pre-existing conditions, expand broadband access, support farmers and ranchers, and invest in clean energy and job creation. Senator Luján has also led efforts to deliver justice for New Mexicans, including strengthening the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act and supporting victims of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.
Senator Luján is the first Hispanic to represent New Mexico in the Senate in more than 40 years and a Head Start graduate, and remains committed to delivering results for working families and ensuring every New Mexican is heard and protected.
Hard to believe graduation is this close! I know the Commencement Planning Committee has been hard at work organizing this event, and many thanks to Clint Weckerly, Cheryl Trujillo, Alexis Duran, and the rest of the team working so hard to bring this together.
Another thank you to the team of Jennifer Lindline, Todd Lekan, Lauren Fath, Eric Rolstad, April Kent, and Brandon Kempner, who just returned from Chicago after attending the annual Higher Learning Commission conference. Since HLC is our regional accreditor, it is essential that NHMU keep up with the changing conversations regarding accreditation and assessment, and I’m sure the team will have many interesting things to share with the Expanded Cabinet and the Faculty Senate.
We have a national champion! Patreece Clarke placed first at the Division II indoor National Championships in the 60 m hurdles, posting one of the best times ever for a D2 athlete: https://nmhuathletics.com/news/2026/3/14/womens-track-field-cowgirls-shine-on-the-national-stage.aspx. As we move into the outdoor track and field season, Patreece has already followed that up by being named RMAC Track Athlete of the Week:
The spring football game is right around the corner, on Saturday, April 18, and we’re planning on organizing a Polynesian Pig Roast on that day to celebrate our Hawaiian and American Samoan students and staff. Stay tuned for more details and tickets, and here’s a photo of the team posing with some of our city council members:
Some Recent Highlights:
Kennedy Gallery and the Foundation are hosting a show titled “Paper: Of and On” until April 30, and held a great kick-off reception on March 20. Some very interesting art; be sure to drop by and check it out:
Upcoming Events:
A series of listening sessions will be offered to faculty, staff, and students to gain insight into goals and opportunities for our regional educational centers in Albuquerque, Farmington, Rio Rancho, and Santa Fe. All sessions will be held via Zoom, and the information gathered will be used as the university proceeds with planning for the future at each center. Dates and times for these Zoom sessions are:
- Monday, March 30, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
https://nmhu.zoom.us/j/9799534981 - Thursday, April 2, 10;00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
https://nmhu.zoom.us/j/9799534981
Additional sessions can be scheduled as needed to promote the participation of as many people as possible and to gather the widest possible input.
The International Student Club has a number of upcoming events, including a flag raising on Monday, March 30, at 10:00 a.m. in Centennial Park. Please come out and support our international students:
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT WEEK (March 30 – April 3, 2026)
International Student Week at New Mexico Highlands University celebrates the cultures, people, and collaborations of our international student community.
From March 30–April 3, 2026, students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to join a week of pride, learning, and fun, including a Flag Raising Ceremony at Centennial Park (Monday, March 30, at 10:00 a.m.), a Career & Professional Development session (Wednesday, April 1, in SUB Governance Room 320), and a Friendly Soccer Match between NMHU International Students and the United World College Soccer Team (Friday, April 3 at 4:00 p.m. at Sanchez Family Stadium).
The week highlights NMHU’s commitment to inclusion and global engagement; everyone is welcome.
TIMELESS TRADITION AND CULTURAL EVENT/SHOWCASE
Timeless Tradition is our signature cultural celebration hosted by the International Student Club, an evening dedicated to honoring the traditions, stories, and identities that make up our campus community and bringing together all the respective countries represented. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and will feature cultural performances, music, fashion, food, and interactive displays that showcase the richness of cultures represented at NMHU.
Timeless Tradition is designed to promote cross-cultural understanding, community belonging, and to recognize student and faculty contributions through awards and recognition. All students, faculty, staff, and community members are warmly invited to attend and celebrate together.
Congratulations:
Congratulations to the faculty of the School of Education on their recent scholarly accomplishments, including Dr. Debbie Deneen presenting at the NMHEAR conference on Thursday, March 5:
And as well to Interim Dean Rob Karaba, for publishing his edited book on Amartya Sen, John Dewey, and Education, which also includes a chapter by our very own Dr. Ali Arshad, a Professor in Business: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/sen-dewey-and-education-9781350540651/
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 biweekly message.
Respectfully,
Dr. Neil Woolf
President
New Mexico Highlands University