It was momentous. Even for those who have witnessed other inaugurations, the week of symposia and the campus wide open house leading up to and the installation of Dr. David J. Schmidly as the University of New Mexico’s 20th president, was inspiring. The symposia brought the campus and broader community together, to connect – Schmidly’s inaugural theme – to participate in discourse and gain greater understanding of critical research that are hallmarks of a world-class university.
Using its own expertise and that of other national experts, UNM looked at 40 years of community activism and civil rights reform, natural history, its own wealth of museums and collections, education and technology, health policy and connecting athletics and academics.
On Saturday, the university opened its doors and welcomed 2,500 prospective and current students and their parents, as well as the community to meet UNM people, explore UNM places and peak at UNM programs. The doors opened to a student research expo, a student/faculty art show, student exchange opportunities, parent networking and even a chance for parents to hear from a nationally acclaimed expert on parents of college students.
It all led up to a sunny Sunday afternoon, where everyone gathered in Popejoy Hall to witness Schmidly’s installation. Images of the campus and its people were flashed on a screen. Later, a video described and demonstrated what UNM is all about. With students and their success as the primary mission, images of the places where they meet to learn, grow, explore and play, presented a snapshot of UNM in 2007.
Members of the UNM community – Thelma Domenici from the UNM Foundation; Ashley Fate, ASUNM; Joseph Garcia, GPSA; Ilse Gay, Retiree Association; Jackie Hood, Faculty Senate; Lillian Montoya-Rael, Alumni Association; and Vanessa Shields, Staff Council, all presented formal greetings to the new president.
UNM Regents President Jamie Koch installed President David Schmidly. In his inaugural address, Schmidly did not stray from the course and message he established shortly after his arrival.
“In facing up to the challenge of raising our graduation rate and improving student retention, we must resist the temptation to lower our standards. To do so would be to mock our vision of excellence. Let me make this clear. Lowering standards is something we cannot do, that we must not do, that we simply will not do,” he said.
“Rather than patronize our students by lowering their horizons, we must challenge those students to excellence. It was Michelangelo who said, ‘The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark,’” he added.
He said that UNM faculty, staff and students need to “redouble our efforts to provide the extra assistance to those who need it. Let us engage the work of better preparing the students of tomorrow. Let us be willing to take a new and different approach to higher education, one that dares to cross barriers into grades K-through-12 and to work in partnership with our colleagues in the community colleges.”
Schmidly noted that a partnership with CNM has already been established. “Our objective is to move students seamlessly, from CNM to UNM, and from an associates toward a university degree."
Following the ceremony and recessional, people gathered at University House for refreshments at stations from around the world and to congratulate UNM’s 20th president.