October 3, 2025
Fall is here, and campus has been especially beautiful over the past few weeks. Many of us are still catching up on all the energy and excitement from Homecoming—thank you to our sponsor, Quality Care, for supporting Highlands and making the celebration possible. Below are a few more photos from the wonderful events organized by Athletics, Student Life, and the Foundation.
As President, I am continually moved by the depth of commitment from our alumni and community. Their love for New Mexico Highlands University and our students runs deep, with legacies that often span generations. It is truly humbling and inspiring to be part of such a rich history.
And, of course, Las Vegas loves a parade–here’s a shot of our Homecoming Parade. Great to see our athletic teams and coaches out and supporting Homecoming:
On the athletics front, our H-Club Hall of Fame inductions took place just before Homecoming. It was a wonderful evening and especially meaningful to welcome so many of our former athletes back to campus. You can read about their accomplishments here, https://nmhuathletics.com/news/2025/9/13/general-2025-h-club-hall-of-fame-inductions-set-for-thursday-night.aspx. The H-Club, together with Athletic Director Scott Noble, did an outstanding job organizing the event.
On the Friday of Homecoming Week, we celebrated an important ribbon-cutting for the CARES Counseling Center, the General Store Food Pantry, and the Wellness Center. This project was made possible through the advocacy efforts of former Legislative Fellows, including Cody Rivera, Tiffany Jiron, Alexandra Martinez-Baca, and Nelson Uloma. A $1.25M capital outlay allocation was provided by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, former Representative Ambrose Castellano, Senator Liz Stefanics, and President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart.
The new spaces will open the week after fall break and will provide the following free services for students: confidential therapy by licensed clinicians at the CARES Counseling Center; food, toiletries, and basic needs support at the General Store; and preventative care and wellness education at the Wellness Center. Together, these resources create a strong safety net that meets essential needs, breaks down barriers, and helps students thrive—ultimately supporting academic success.
A video from the event can be found here: https://youtu.be/CTpUQjBg6GM
Some Recent Highlights:
We hosted the 3rd Annual HU XC Jam at Gene Torres Golf Course on Friday, September 26, where NMHU took first place in both the men’s and women’s events. You can read more about the results here: https://nmhuathletics.com/news/2025/9/26/mens-cross-country-cross-country-clamisn-top-spots-in-hu-xc-jam.aspx. We had a great crowd at the course, and it is always exciting to see Coach DeVries and our outstanding Cross Country program competing in Las Vegas.
NMHU is now a proud beneficiary of the Karen Trujillo Foundation, based in Las Cruces. Karen was a longtime educator, and the Foundation that honors her legacy provides scholarships for aspiring teachers. I was honored to participate in several of their annual events this past week and to reconnect with Highlands supporters in southern New Mexico.
Upcoming Events:
RMAC President’s Council
Next week, I’ll be in Colorado for the RMAC President’s Council in Grand Junction. We are in the process of selecting a new RMAC Commissioner, and I will be busy interviewing candidates as part of that search.
NMFWRI 20th Anniversary Open House
On Monday, October 6, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. in the SUB Atrium, the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute (NMFWRI) will host an open house to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Come learn how NMFWRI supports local communities by advancing forest and watershed health, building capacity, and promoting natural resource restoration across New Mexico and the Southwest.
Author Talk: Dr Gabriel Meléndez
On Wednesday, October 16, at noon in Donnelly Library, Dr. Gabriel Meléndez will give a talk on his latest book, Citizens by Treaty. A native of Mora, New Mexico, Dr. Meléndez is a Distinguished University Professor and former director of the Center for Regional Studies at the University of New Mexico. He has authored many books, including The Book of Archives and Other Stories from the Mora Valley, New Mexico (University of Oklahoma Press, 2017).
His newest publication, Citizens by Treaty (Modern Language Association of America, 2025), is an anthology of texts written by Spanish-speaking people of Mexican descent who became U.S. citizens by virtue of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848). These works—songs, poems, speeches, and newspaper articles—were collected, edited, and translated by Dr. Meléndez. The volume includes a section on New Mexico titled “New Mexico: Not New, Not Mexico.”
Matanza:
Planning for the Matanza is moving full steam ahead—many thanks to the Matanza Committee for their hard work. In 2023, we served more than 700 people, and this year we’re aiming to do it again. Get your free tickets now at https://www.nmhu.edu/ilfeld-auditorium/tickets/.
Respectfully,
Dr. Neil Woolf
President
New Mexico Highlands University