Dear NMHU Community,

Feels like spring–there’s all sorts of things going on at the NMHU campus, including allergies. It’s beautiful in northern New Mexico this time of year, even if no one warned me (or at least not enough!) about the wind. 

We had a special Board of Regents meeting on Wednesday March 19, where Regent Frank “Harpo” Sanchez was elected the new board chairman and Regent Robert Lucero was elected the vice-chairman. Regents Gary Tripp and Elaine Luna were introduced as our two new regents. After those elections, we took an extensive campus tour and walked everywhere at NMHU–looking at Sininger, the library, the SUB, the residence halls, the Natatorium, the music building, and through some of our athletic facilities. I know our new and current regents are looking forward to supporting NMHU in any way they can. Our next regular Board of Regents meeting is on Thursday, April 3rd, in Rodgers Hall and on Zoom. Join us if you can!

Some Recent Highlights:

• I traveled to Acoma Pueblo with AVP Benito Pacheco and Dr. Spence Harrison to meet with Governor Riley. We had a great conversation about possible collaborations, and we look forward to further conversation in the future. Areas we discussed were bringing academic programs to them, conducting an oral history project to record history and language, and inviting them to participate in university events, such as the Matanza celebration. 
• NMHU has recently partnered with South San Antonio Independent School District and Corpus Christi Independent School District to increase college accessibility for underserved students. This initiative offers automatic admission for qualifying students, financial aid, and dedicated support services to improve college access and completion rates. This partnership reflects NMHU’s commitment to empowering students through affordable, inclusive, and supportive higher education pathways. Thanks to Dr. Sylvester Perez for his assistance!
• We had a great event at TopGolf with the “MARCH MATCHNESS: NMHU Athletics Day of Giving Tournament at TopGolf” event. Got some good pictures of our new regent Gary Tripp at the event (far right), and Nicole Boulom and Juli Salman in the middle:

• The legislative session wrapped up this past Saturday. It’ll take a little bit of time to analyze what exactly this means for NMHU, but it was a busy and productive 60 days. We look forward to sharing with the campus further updates in April.
• The Northeastern New Mexico Regional Science and Engineering Fair happened last weekend, which is a great opportunity for local students to showcase their scientific knowledge. Many thanks to all the judges and volunteers who helped make that event happen, as well as Dr. Jenn Aldred, director of the fair and our ARMAS center here at NMHU. The Santa Fe New Mexican ran a nice article about the fair–it’s behind a paywall, but if you have access, check it out here: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/students-innovate-in-food-medicine-and-more-at-las-vegas-science-fair/article_bea44e60-0411-11f0-a39f-ef241adb5048.html 
• I got to witness my first Iron Pour this Saturday–quite the spectacle! Thanks to Dr. David Lobdell for helping to organize this, as well as everyone who participated.

• We hosted the Spring Career Fair in the Student Union Building on Wednesday. There were over 50 employers in attendance. Congratulations to the Center for Professional Development & Career Readiness, Director Michelle Bencomo, Assistant Director Lyla Maestas, and Administrative Assistant Stephanie Madrid on a successful event.

• We had an important community forum this week with the Casa de Cultura in G-35 with Miguel Angel. At this forum, we listened to the needs of the extended New Mexico community and discussed the vision of education at NMHU and throughout New Mexico. In preparation for this forum, I joined Mr. Angel on local radio promoting Highlands and this event:

Upcoming Events:

• After a snowstorm delay last fall, the 2025 Diversity Summit: Investing in Inclusive Practices and Programs in New Mexico Hispanic Serving Institutions, presented by the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, will take place on Friday March 28th and Saturday March 29th. I’ll be speaking at the event on Saturday morning in the SUB ballroom at 8:30 AM. I look forward to the important discussions and work that will happen this weekend. Thanks to everyone who helped organize that event, especially the planning committee of Dr. Eric Romero, Dr. Rebecca Maldonado-Moore, Dr. Jess Goldberg, Dr. Siri Khalsa, Adrian Sandoval, Dr. Tamara Kumbalek, and Gina Medina. 
• I’ll be heading to my first Higher Learning Commission (HLC) conference in Chicago next weekend. The HLC is our regional accreditor and regularly reviews our campus to make sure we align with their Criteria for Accreditation, which makes NMHU eligible to receive some types of federal funding. I’ll be attending the President’s orientation part of the conference, and then April Kent, Dr. Brandon Kempner, and Dr. Barbara Wharton will be joining me for the regular part of the conference. We’ll get updates from the HLC on any changes to their criteria and information on best practices on how to best prepare for visits.
• Softball and baseball games on campus this weekend–see https://nmhuathletics.com/ for game times and more info.
• Planning for commencement continues–many thanks to Dr. Henrietta Romero, the registrar’s office, and everyone serving on the commencement committee. There will be commencements in Rio Rancho, Las Vegas, and Farmington, as well as a celebration and induction event in Santa Fe. I truly look forward to seeing all our students have accomplished as they graduate. 
• NMHU will be hosting a range of Pride events and activities from March 31 to April 6, 2025:

Congratulations:

• P.J. Sedillo received the 2025 Council for Exceptional Children’s Talented and Gifted Diversity Award in Baltimore. This award was based on his scholarly research; presentations at local, state, and national conferences, and advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in gifted education.
• Congratulations to Carmelita Sanchez, Care Support Manager, for recently completing the National Organization for Victim Advocacy’s 30-hour Campus Advocacy Training. This advanced certification focused on building knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in higher education.
• Congratulations on the Ray Drew Gallery being featured in the Southwest Contemporary 5×5 newsletter, for the show “El Cerrito: a Village Life Portrait.” As the newsletter noted, “This photographic survey by Sharon Stewart is an examination of the community’s acequia culture, the respectful tending of its vital waters. In her statement, the artist writes of the region’s ‘ghosted presences’ and El Cerrito’s ‘cooperative perseverance.’” Many thanks to Gina Hartmann for organizing the show.
• Our student athletes have racked up a number of honors over the past months:
  W. Basketball
  • Made RMAC Playoffs for the first time since 2004
  • RMAC Freshman of the year: Kapiolani Anitielu
  • RMAC All-Conference: Juliana Aragon
  • RMAC 1st team Academic & All-District: Juliana Aragon
• M. Basketball
  • RMAC Honorable Mention: Blessin Kimble and Kenard Richardson
  • RMAC 1st team Academic & All-District: Nathan Hasberry
• Wrestling
  • Ivan Smith national qualifier
• Indoor TR
  • Rujeko Munetsi qualified for the 60m
  • Ashley Barret: All-American finished 6th in the 60m sprint
  • Patreece Clarke: All-American finished 6th in the 60m hurdles
    • This past weekend she also posted the fastest time in the country in the outdoor 100m hurdles

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

I’ve been attending the legislative session pretty regularly in association with a team of NMHU personnel. There have been committee hearings and individual meetings with our public servants to advance Highlands. The session will continue through March 22. I attended the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast, joined by incoming Regent-Select Gary Tripp, NMHU alum Sylvester Perez, and my wife Tisha. The breakfast signals a shared approach to solutions to better serve New Mexicans and serves as one of the launch points for the session.

Many members of our team work hard on our legislative agenda. Librarians Ruben Aragon and April Kent were down for Library Day at the Legislature, where our statewide library organizations, the New Mexico Council of Academic Libraries (NMCAL) and the New Mexico Library Association (NMLA), advocate for statewide library funding and important legislation.

On Thursday, Feb 13, I was honored to attend with Regent Sanchez, Dean Lekan, AVP Pacheco and Representative Gonzales the 30th Annual Hispano Round Table Banquet. The Hispano Round Table honors public servants who serve in the Legislature. I was grateful to speak on behalf of Highlands to the audience, joining Gov. Lujan Grisham, Speaker of the House Martinez, Senators Maestes and Nava, and Mayor of Albuquerque Keller in addressing attendees. 

 Here I am with Ralph Arellanes, Sr and his family who organize and host the event and with Representative Anita Gonzales. 

We are very excited to continue hosting meals at the president’s residence for student groups. Here’s a recent photo with students from PENSA and Chi Alpha.

Here we are at the Super Bowl watch party hosted by student and residence life. Great food offerings from Sodexo, and many of the Eagles fans had a great time.

And here we are attending a lecture on printmaking in the Kennedy Gallery from Dr. Bell. I now know about intaglio, lithographs, relief cuts, etching, etc. The NMHU Foundation has a wonderful collection of prints through the generosity of Dr. Bell and others. 

Dr. Jess Goldberg gave a well-attended book talk in the Donnelly library. While I wasn’t able to attend as I was down in Santa Fe at a legislative event, I heard good things. Dr. Goldberg passed on this info about the event, “On Thursday, Jan 30th, the Donnelly Library hosted a 90-minute discussion between myself and my English department colleagues Dr. Rebecca L. Schneider and Dr. Benjamin Villarreal about my new book, Abolition Time: Grammars of Law, Poetics of Justice, which was published by the University of Minnesota Press in December 2024. About 60-70 people attended if you add the in-person and Zoom audiences together, and there was a robust question and answer discussion with the attendees.”  Well done!

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