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The University of New Mexico

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CONTACT : Susan McKinsey, UNM, 505-277-1989
Melanie J. Majors, (505) 266-5637

For immediate release

March 5, 2007

Mesa Del Sol Funds UNM Film and Digital Media Professorship

The University of New Mexico Foundation is establishing the Mesa del Sol Endowed Professorship in Film and Digital Media. The professorship was started with a $750,000 endowment from Forest City Covington, NM, LLC, the master developer of Mesa del Sol.

The Mesa del Sol Professor will lead a multi-disciplinary program in Film and Digital Media at the University of New Mexico (UNM), which will draw students from fine arts, engineering, arts and sciences, and other disciplines, allowing them to work in collaborative, real-world work teams. “This professorship, gifted by Forest City Covington, is the foundation for the program we're building,” said Christopher Mead, dean, UNM College of Fine Arts. “Creating a nationally recognized program starts with recruiting a nationally recognized leader in the field, and the endowed professorship makes that possible.”

“With the development of Albuquerque Studios and the availability of other adjacent sites at Mesa del Sol, New Mexico has the potential to become the site of a major industry cluster,” said Michael Daly, chief operating officer of Forest City Covington. “We've worked with the UNM Foundation to establish this professorship because a significant factor of the success of this media cluster is going to be a prepared workforce, resulting in high paying jobs for New Mexicans.”

Mead has set four objectives for the UNM Film and Digital Media program including:

•  Integrating filmmaking and digital media by developing a systemically integrated interdisciplinary program;

•  Building a native New Mexico Hollywood that serves the unique cultural diversity of New Mexico;

•  Training the citizens of New Mexico by establishing undergraduate and graduate level courses; and,

•  Fostering research.

“The program we're proposing is about education and economic development, about working with business partners in the state to create an innovative program,” said Mead. “When funding like this, which will help launch the program, comes from the business community, it closes the circle.”

He said that the professional partners will include film studios, visiting artists, animation, special effects, and postproduction companies, and digital media firms.

The New Mexico Legislature is considering faculty endowment legislation that, if approved, would match Forest City's contribution to the endowment so that it can become a fully endowed chair at UNM. Lawmakers are also being asked to provide $4.7 million in startup funding for the film and digital media program. The first classes in the new program are scheduled to start in the fall.

The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu