Each year more Americans become familiar with the Mexican tradition of Dias de Los Muertos – the Day of the Dead. Celebrated on Nov. 1, the day is based on the ancient belief that one day each year the dead are given divine permission to visit their relatives and friends. Dias de Los Muertos can help teach Americans to be more comfortable with the dying process, says Dr. Judith Kitzes, professor and section chief for Internal Medicine's Palliative Care division.
From trails of marigolds and food to altars built to honor the deceased, the Mexican view of death as a natural consequence of living has been hailed by many healthcare professionals as much healthier than the modern American view that all too often greets death and dying with fear and avoidance.
“Too often in our society, people are terrified of dying,” says Kitzes. Technology has increased lifespans yet made death seem to be more distant – almost as a personal failure to some people, she said. Yet to be able to discuss death as a family as a member is dying can provide meaning to patients as well as those who love them.
The teaching hospitals associated with the UNM HSC School of Medicine report an average of 750 inpatient deaths a year with major causes being such chronic condition as neoplasm, heart and pulmonary disease and diabetes.
Training physicians to work with those patients and to be involved in end-of-life decision making is the goal of a $200,000 grant the UNM Health Sciences has received from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation. The grant includes medical school training as well as outreach continuing education programs that physicians from throughout the state can access, and working with diverse populations to incorporate family into end-of-life decision making.
“We need to move away from the fear that has been engineered within this society during the last century and more toward seeing death as a part of life,” said Kitzes.
Contact: Cindy Foster, (505) 272-0260
“The World of Thomas Jefferson & Sally Hemings at Monticello: Archaeological Perspectives on a Slave Society,” is the topic of the 21st Journal of Anthropological Research Distinguished Lecture at UNM. Fraser Neiman, Ph.D., will give the talk Thursday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the UNM Anthropology Lecture Hall, rm. 163.
The lecture will explore archaeology and what it tells us about the world of masters and slaves, that Jefferson, in one of the great ironies of American history, helped to create and maintain.
Neiman is director of archaeology at Monticello and a lecturer in the departments of anthropology & architectural history at the University of Virginia. He received his Ph.D. from Yale in 1990 and is best known for his evolutionary ecological approach to archeology.
Neiman is a specialist in the archeology of the slave-based society of Tidewater Virginia and was instrumental in creating a digital archaeological archive of colonial slavery. Most notably, he has been involved in the recent research that led to the conclusion that Thomas Jefferson fathered all six children of Sally Hemings, one of his slaves.
Neiman will also present a specialized seminar on Friday, Nov. 4 at noon in Anthropology, rm. #178. The topic will be “Commodities as costly signals: The case of tobacco pipes in 17th century Jamestown, Va.”
Both events are free and open to the public and are wheelchair accessible.
Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816
The University of New Mexico's Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) has won the grand prize award for the 2004-2005 University Drinking and Driving Prevention Program. The award will be presented by AAA New Mexico on Wednesday, November 2, at 10:30 a.m. in front of Zimmerman Library on the UNM campus. The presentation is part of Red Ribbon Day, an alcohol-awareness event sponsored by UNM's Student Health Center.
The Grand Prize is given to the best college or university drinking and driving prevention program among several states with AAA affiliations. UNM competed against programs in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The goal of the competition is to recognize and promote model drinking and driving programs and alcohol abuse prevention programs and activities on college campuses.
UNM's COSAP won the 2005 Grand Prize for establishing Project TARGET (Targeting At-Risk Groups with Environmental and Theory-based strategies). Previously, UNM won the state award in 1998 for the "Alcohol Awareness and Education" program and again in 2001 for the "Designated Drivers Do It for Friends" program.
The College and University Drinking and Driving Prevention Awards Program was initiated in 1997 by the Automobile of Southern California and the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, a role now assumed by the Center for College Health and Safety.
Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816
Arden L. Bement Jr., director of the National Science Foundation will make opening remarks on Friday, Nov. 4 at the opening session of an NSF conference in Albuquerque. The purpose of the NSF Day, arranged by U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, is to identify the most promising research opportunities and to hone New Mexico’s competitive edge in securing additional NSF research investments in areas of study that will help spur the state’s economy.
UNM President Louis Caldera and UNM Vice President for Research and Economic Development Terry Yates will also speak at the opening session. Representatives from all three New Mexico research universities are expected to attend.
The conference comes at a time when research universities are facing greater competition for research dollars, especially in the physical sciences. Medical research is experiencing more generous funding, but there has been increasing pressure from the NSF and other federal granting agencies to encourage research on short-term projects aimed at applications for research rather than long-term research into basic scientific questions.
Discussions will include the NSF proposal and merit review process, special interest and cross-disciplinary programs and EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) regional collaborations. Afternoon sessions include information about research possibilities in biological sciences, computer and information science and engineering, education and human resources, engineering, geosciences, mathematical and physical sciences, and social behavioral and economic sciences.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
President Louis Caldera recently donated a pair of used eyeglasses to the Albuquerque Lion’s Club to kick off a UNM public service effort. The Staff Council, in conjunction with UNM Recycling, has set up permanent eyeglass collection boxes at the Student Health Center and other campus sites. Staff, students and faculty can readily donate eyeglasses that will be recycled and hand-delivered by the Lion’s Club to developing countries.
Student Health Center Director Beverly Kloeppel, Lion’s Club members Harry and Doris Kovaschetz, UNM Recycling Coordinator Dean Jojola, and Staff Council representatives David Grothe, Mimi Swanson, Shelley Rael, Kathy Meadows and Karin Retskin also helped kick off the venture at the Student Health Center drop site.
“Helen Keller in 1925 challenged the Lion’s Clubs to be the knights of the blind,” Kovaschtz said, noting that since 1996 the Lions have traveled throughout New Mexico to conduct adult eye health screenings.
Retskin said the Staff Council keeps an eye out for public service opportunities.
“This summer we added an eyeglass collection to our Celebrating Staff Week and more than 500 pairs of glasses were donated from all over campus. Many staff asked for permanent collection sites on campus and the idea was born,” Retskin said.
Retskin also noted that Halloween marks Sight Night, a national collection drive conducted annually by Give the Gift of Sight, a family of charitable vision care programs sponsored by the LensCrafters Foundation in conjunction with Lions Clubs International.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915
Ellen Cosgrove, the Health Sciences Center’s Senior Associate Dean of Education, has much to celebrate. The Alliance for Continuing Medical Education has selected Cosgrove to receive the 2006 President’s Award for her outstanding leadership and contribution to education and competence for future medical professionals. In addition this nationally esteemed award, Cosgrove has been selected as a Visiting Professor at the University of Tokyo (Todai), International Research Center for Medical Education, Graduate School of Medicine.
Photo: Ellen Cosgrove, HSC Sr. Associate Dean of Education
The American selection committee, led by Thomas Inui, head of the Regenstrief Institute at the University of Indiana, chose Cosgrove based on her prominent experience and dedication to curriculum design and improvement. After a rigorous national search, the Ministry of Education in Japan and University of Tokyo faculty made the final selection.
The oldest and most prestigious university in Japan, the University of Tokyo is taking strides to strengthen its medical program with a more hands-on approach while integrating the importance for public health. From November 2005 to May 2006, Cosgrove will lend her knowledge and expertise to help reform the university’s medical curriculum to more effectively train future medical leaders.
“This opportunity will in turn enhance the curriculum here at UNM,” Cosgrove asserts. “My efforts in Japan will be an extension of the project I have been working on at UNM to integrate public health into the School of Medicine. The key difference here at UNM is viewing public health not as an elective but as an integral component of the curriculum of all medical students. This will equip our graduates to address pressing health issues in New Mexico.”
John Russell, M.D., Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, will act as Senior Associate Dean of Education until Cosgrove returns next May.
The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center provides added value to health care through leadership in providing innovative, collaborative education; advancing frontiers of science through research critical to the future of health care; delivering health care services that are at the forefront of science; and facilitating partnerships with public and private biomedical and health enterprises. For more information on the UNM Health Sciences Center, visit http://hsc.unm.edu.
Contact: Luke Frank, (505) 272-3679
UNM President Louis Caldera and U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye from Hawaii were the speakers at the opening of the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Los Angeles, California this morning.
The non-profit, non-partisan educational institution provides tools for living democratically in a diverse American society. The National Center works to inspire youth to be active, informed participants in shaping democracy in America. It explores the stories of culturally and ethnically diverse individuals and communities that have contributed to democracy in America.
President Caldera spoke at the opening ceremonies as an example of someone who has spent his life in public service. He is the son of immigrant parents from Mexico, who was nominated to West Point. After graduation, he served in the Army, and then attended Harvard Law School where he received his J.D. He also earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
After practicing law for several years, Caldera was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served three terms. He was appointed Secretary of the Army by President Bill Clinton, leaving to become a vice chancellor in the California State University System. He was appointed President of the University of New Mexico in 2003.
The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy has a number of programs for high school age students that encourage them to work together to organize community service projects. There are also professional development programs for classroom teachers and community mentors. More information about the center can be found at www.ncdemocracy.org
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
American Indian high school seniors from across New Mexico and Northeast Arizona will learn more about higher education at the University of New Mexico's “American Indian Student Day” on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
On-site admission, information about scholarships, financial aid, tutoring and student life will be available.
UNM President Louis Caldera will introduce keynote speaker Semana Seukteoma, a regents' scholar of Laguna and Hopi heritage, at 11 a.m. in the Student Union ballroom.
For more information, call UNM American Indian Student Services, 277-6343.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915, lmellas@unm.edu
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a $1 million multi-year cooperative agreement to the Alliance for Transportation Research Institute (ATR) at the University of New Mexico. This will allow continuation of the Transportation Resource Exchange Center (T-REX), a one-stop shop designed to provide current information and issues on the transport of radioactive materials worldwide. Information is available to researchers, tribal, state and local governments, advocacy groups, news professionals and the public.
“The T-REX Center has been operating for more than nine years and is used by interested parties from all over the world. We have created a virtual library that will assist all levels of users in the study of the transportation of radioactive materials, from national policymakers to students," said Judith Espinosa, director of the ATR Institute.
The T-Rex Center features timely and relevant information on the transport of radioactive materials and wastes and can be found on the web at www.trex-center.org. The center archives and collates thousands of pages of documents on radioactive materials transport and has specialized features to make information and news searches more productive and faster.
The site contains more than 1,200 Web links and 150,000 pages of documents relating to all facets of radioactive materials transportation. A key feature is the “Headlines” link highlighting relevant news headlines and stories on radioactive materials transportation from across the nation and internationally.
For those needing more personal attention or direct assistance with researching topics and issues, T-REX houses an on-call library and reference service at 1-877- 287-TREX (8739). Users can call and speak with a researcher who will guide them to their particular topic, answer questions, or find a document or report. The email address is trex@unm.edu.
T-REX Center was launched as a cooperative arrangement with the ATR Institute/UNM and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.
Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816
The University of New Mexico School of Law will present the 12th Distinguished Achievement Awards Dinner today, Oct. 28 in the UNM Student Union Building Ballroom. This year's honorees are Richard Gerding, Tommy Jewell and Ruth Kovnat. The event will open with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
Gerding graduated from the UNM School of Law in 1964. His legal career has focused on litigation and hospital-related issues since he began private practice in 1965. He serves on the state Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and in 2003 received the State Bar of New Mexico's Professionalism Award.
Jewell graduated from the UNM School of Law in 1979. He has served as a trial judge for 21 years, first in the Bernaliilo County Metropolitan Court and then in the Second Judicial District's Children's Court until his retirement on Sept. 30. He currently serves on the State Justice Institute Board of Directors, to which he was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1995.
Kovnat became the first female law professor at Temple University School of Law and one of the first in the nation in 1971. Four years later, she joined the faculty at the UNM School of Law, where she concentrated her scholarship on environmental law, constitutional law and federal jurisdiction. She served as associate dean for academic affairs from 1991-1994 and became an emerita professor in 1999.
For tickets and information call Carmen Rawls at 277-8184. This event is sponsored by Keleher & McLeod, PA and Modrall Sperling Roehl Harris & Sisk, PA.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915, e-mail: lmellas@unm.edu
The University of New Mexico will invite African American high school juniors and seniors to campus to learn more about UNM and what it has to offer during “African American Student Day” on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The theme of this year's event is “Serving the Leaders of Tomorrow.” Up to 400 students are expected to attend.
Students will tour the campus, attend an informational fair and participate in a student discussion panel. They will also learn about financial aid, tutoring, the application process and general student life.
The event is hosted by Lobo Recruitment, African American Student Services and the Black Student Union. The occasion has been a tradition since the 1980s.
“African American Student Day gives us an opportunity to expose African American students statewide to post-secondary education and what is available right here in their backyard,” said Scott Carreathers, director of African American Student Services
For more information, call UNM African American Student Services, 277-5645.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915
Award recognizes his work in research, service and teaching
The American Folklore Society recently presented Enrique Lamadrid, University of New Mexico professor of Spanish and director of Chicano / Hispano / Mexicano Studies, with the Américo Paredes Prize, a national award given in recognition of his work as a cultural activist in research, community service and teaching.
Photo: Enrique Lamadrid
Lamadrid is known for organizing expeditions and engaging students in his field work projects, in the Sierra Tarahumara of Chihuahua, the pilgrims’ roads of Spain, and in the ports of the Caribbean, “wherever Nuevo Mexicanos and Latinos have their roots,” he said.
Over the years he has led several student expeditions south to Zacatecas, Durango and Chihuahua to research the cultural roots and routes of New Mexico. Grads and undergrads were involved in developing and testing the exhibit scripts, and a student photography in the Camino Real International Heritage Center permanent exhibit, slated for its grand opening in November, is also included.
Lamadrid’s community-based research on hybrid culture, festivals and traditional narrative poetry has attracted international recognition. Two of his books have won the Southwest Book Award from the Border Librarians Association and in 2004 his long-term project “Hermanitos Comanchitos: Indo-Hispano Rituals of Captivity and Redemption” won the University of Chicago Folklore Prize for ethnographic writing.
The American Folklore Society also commended him for a body of popular writing done for the general public, in museum and festival guides, newspapers and websites. Lamadrid’s nomination letter states, “few academics take the time to make their work so accessible to everyday people.”
Curatorial work has been another priority, since the museum is “a kind of enriched and super-charged classroom space, Lamadrid said, “Where learning continues even when the teacher is no longer present.” He is a guest curator for the Camino Real exhibit, and has been a curatorial consultant for national and international exhibitions including two with Smithsonian Institution, Corridos sin Fronteras, on the narrative ballad traditions of greater Mexico, and El Río, on traditional culture, environment and sustainability in the Río Grande watershed.
El Río is slated to come to UNM’s Maxwell Museum in 2007. In addition, Chicano / Hispano / Mexicano Studies is a partner with the Northern New Mexico Historical Society and their new community museum in Questa. The Professor, known as “el profe” by his students, typically builds courses around exhibits. The El Río course will include trips to Colorado and South Texas plus an expedition down Santa Elena canyon in Big Bend.
The Américo Paredes Prize is named for pioneer Tejano folklorist whose revisionist scholarship and mentorship are legendary. In the 1950s he challenged the Texas academic establishment and their heroic portrayal of the Texas Rangers by demonstrating that the true heroes were the Texas Mexicans who stood up for their rights against all odds. It was also Paredes, who in 1981 broadened the scope of Chicano Studies in a critical time at the University of Texas at Austin by re-christening it Mexican-American Studies.
“It is a particular honor for me to receive the Paredes Prize,” Lamadrid said. “Don Américo is one of my most important mentors. He had the courage and vision to do the right thing, in both his research and his leadership.”
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920
Yesterday’s Work+Life Manager/Supervisor Award ceremony at the SUB ballroom was standing room only for the second consecutive year. The annual event is co-sponsored by the Department of Human Resources and the Staff Council Work+Life Committee.
The awards committee received 75 nominations hailing the management practices of 30 of UNM's managers and supervisors. Babs Baker, department administrator in the College of Fine Arts Department of Art and Art History, was announced the victor. Associate Vice President for Human Resources Susan Carkeek presented Baker with the spoils – an engraved plaque and $1,000 award. Guests honored Baker with a standing ovation.
“I always believed that managers work for the employees they supervise,” Baker said, accepting the award that recognizes managers and supervisors who foster a work environment that assists faculty and staff in balancing personal and UNM responsibilities.
A 24-year employee of art and art history, Baker is noted for promoting flextime, employee exercise programs and career development. The award was created with Baker in mind, a nominator said.
Another nominator wrote: “She is an athlete, a gardener, an artist and a community servant who has been unrelenting in promoting better lifestyle choices for her staff.”
A coworker wrote, “Overall, Babs realizes that it’s in the department’s best interest to have a staff full of healthy, happy, and fulfilled employees.”
The 2005 work+life award nominees are: Adriana Aceves, Mathematics and Statistics; Ralph Alires, Physical Plant; Alexander Aller, Parking and Transportation; Jim Anderson, Banking, Taxation & Investments; Elizabeth Barton, Admissions; John Brandt, Cancer Research & Treatment Center; Julie Bustamante, College of Arts & Sciences; Denise Corcoran, Extended University; Veronica Mendez-Cruz, El Centro de la Raza; Ron Darling, Health Sciences Library; James W. Davis, Division of Government Research; Dr. William Gannon, Animal Care & Compliance; Danita Gomez, Evening and Weekend Programs; Andy Gutierrez,CIRT/AIS; Judith Liddell, Center for Development & Disability; Sandra Carter-Mayes, CIRT; Dr. Martha McGrew, Family and Community Medicine; Susan McKinsey, Communication and Marketing; Linda Miller, CIRT; Douglas Nelson, General Accounting; Lorraine Parker, Department of Neurology; Catherine Penick, Human Research Protections; Marie St. Claire, Anesthesiology; Mimi Swanson, Human Resources; Bret Tallent, SOM Office of Research; Annie Verchick, Telecommunications; Chelsa Walker, Physics & Astronomy; Kevin Wiley, Health Sciences Library and Dr. Robert Williams, RIOS Net.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915
The University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning recently hosted an event to honor students receiving scholarships and awards in architecture, planning and landscape architecture. The event culminated in honoring Van Gilbert as the year's distinguished alum.
The Frontier/Golden Pride scholarships went to Tanya Johnson, architecture; Nathania Tsosie, planning; and Sasha Needham, landscape architecture.
Brett Mulligan received four awards: the Allen Stamm Travel Fellowship, the Consensus Planning Award for Excellence in Design for a second year student, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) book award for the second year student with the highest academic standing, and a New Mexico Graduate Scholars award.
Nicholas Reisen received the Travis Freeman Travel Prize.
Crystal Doerry received a Presidential Scholarship, Robert Williams a Regents Graduate Fellowship, Savannah Gene received the American Indian Council of Architects and Engineers award, and Ian Black received the Performing Arts Scholarship.
Award recipients in Community and Regional Planning included Mikaela Renz and Maggie Adams, recipients of Charna E. Staten Community and Regional Planning Scholarships.
Others planning students receiving the New Mexico Graduate Scholars award included Meghan Bayer, Anne Oandasan, Vicente Quevedo, Nicole Sanchez and Frances Martin.
Tawny Allen received two awards as a student in landscape architecture. She received the Sites Southwest Award for Excellence in Sustainable Design and the Design Workshop Award for Excellence in Design for a third year student.
Peter Wong received two awards: the Elizabeth Reardon Award for Excellence in Construction Technology and the Resource Technology Inc. Award for Excellence in Design for a first year student. Lisa Burkstaller also received two awards: the Elizabeth Reardon Award in Planting Design and a New Mexico Graduate Scholars award.
Susannah Abbey received the ASLA Book Award for a first year student with the highest academic standing. She also received a New Mexico Graduate Scholars award.
Kristen Kornienko received the ASLA Book Award for the third year student with the highest academic standing.
Other landscape architecture students receiving the New Mexico Graduate Scholars award include Felicitas Banuelos, Ian Daitz and Daniel Mallach.
Six architecture students received awards in the Rinker Materials Student Design Competition. They are: Kristen Schulte, Jessica Medrano, Danny Hart, Bryce Townsend, Alex Alvarado and Lance Begaye.
The Antoine Predock Scholarship went to Ana Petkovic.
Awarded for work in the 300 level architecture studio was Sandra Johnson, while Susanne Goss was honored for the 400 level studio.
American Institute of Architects New Mexico honored Kim Yactor and Dam Wilmes. AIA Santa Fe honored Carolyn Mead and AIA Albuquerque honored Steve Dixon. Dixon also received a New Mexico Graduate Scholars award.
The Kevin Ryan Scholarship went to Miles Cook, while the Matthew Smilovits Memorial Scholarship went to Andrew Werth.
Fourteen other architecture students received New Mexico Graduate Scholars awards. They are: Shantarahill Thomas, William Powel, Noreen Richards, Heather Yencho, Caroline Itoi, Jeremy Alford, Veree Parker, James Olsen, Eliza Linde, James Fox, Jennifer Facio, Thea Bosey, Louvenia Magee and Eric Ghahate.
Recipients of the Jim and Rebecca Long Scholarships, awarded to students in the graduate certificate program in historic preservation and regionalism, included Cynthia Martin, Patricia Lee and Josef Diaz.
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920
Dr. Joseph Sánchez, Director of the Spanish Colonial Research Center at UNM, will speak about the partnership between the National Park Service and the University of New Mexico, a partnership designed to enhance the prominent collection of Spanish Colonial and Mexican Period documents that are located in the Center for Southwest Research (CSWR) in Zimmerman Library . . His lecture, “Spanish Colonial Documents at UNM: An Incomparable Legacy,” will be given on Nov. 2, 2005 at 2 p.m. in the Willard Reading Room of Zimmerman Library.
Prior to his career with the National Park Service, Dr. Sánchez was a professor of Colonial Latin American History at the University of Arizona, Tucson. In April 2005 he was inducted into la Orden de Isabel la Católica as Knight Commander by King don Juan Carlos of Spain, one of Spain's most prestigious awards given to a foreigner.
The Spanish Colonial Research Center has developed and maintains a database of documents obtained from the national archives in Spain, France, Mexico, Great Britain and Italy. This collection truly complements the heroic efforts in the 1930s and ‘40s made by UNM scholars France V. Scholes, Lansing Bloom, Elizabeth West, George P. Hammond and others to gather copies of documents in Spain and Mexico.
When those early researchers retired by the mid-20th century, the effort to collect these documents ended. In 1986 the Spanish Colonial Research Center picked up the challenge and has added nearly 100,000 pages of documents and 5,000 copies of maps, plans and sketches to the CSWR collection.
Dr. Sánchez is the superintendent of the Petroglyph National Monument and the founder and editor of the “Colonial Latin American Historical Review (CLAHR).” His published works include: “The Rio Abajo Frontier, 1540-1692,” “Spanish Bluecoats: The Catalonian Volunteers in Northwestern New Spain, 1767-1810,” “The Aztec Chronicles: The True History of Christopher Columbus by Quilaztli of Texcoco,” “Explorers, Traders, and Slavers: Forging the Old Spanish Train, 1678-1850, ” “Don Fernando Duran y Chaves's Legacy: A History of the Atrisco Land Grant, 1693-1968,” and “Exploradores, comerciantes y tratantes de esclavos: la forja de la Vieja Ruta Española, 1678-1859.”
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
Julio Dominguez, a fourth year architecture design student in the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and Planning, has been selected as a finalist in the international self-sufficient housing competition by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, in Spain.
Additionally, Assistant Professor Tim Castillo, entering under his firm Hybrid Environments, was also selected as a finalist.
The competition was open to all professionals, designers and students of architecture, urban design and landscape design. These proposals were selected by a jury that reviewed more than 470 entries. Winners will be selected by the end of November.
Contact: Carolyn Gonzlaes, (505) 277-5920
"Work+Life = Dollars and Sense," a discussion featuring University of New Mexico business experts Bob Grassberger and Michelle Arthur, is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 10, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Student Union building, Santa Ana rooms A&B. The UNM Staff Council will sponsor the free talk.
Grassberger, senior research scientist in the UNM Bureau of Business and Economic Research, will share how managing a small company led him to believe in work+life practices. Grassberger was chief operating officer for Vitel, Inc., an Albuquerque start-up that developed knowledge management solutions for the national laboratories. He provides a first-hand account of a work+life friendly employer yielding a more productive workforce. He will also discuss workplace trends and reasons work+life policies will be important to employers in the future.
Associate Professor Michelle Arthur, Anderson Schools of Management, was honored this year with the 2005 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research, sponsored by Purdue University and Boston College. She will discuss her research and the implications for small and large businesses.
“It is one of the first studies to show a relationship between work-family programs and firm value,” Arthur said. “Researchers have suggested that work-family programs allow firms to attract, retain and increase the efficiency of employees. My research goes a step further by showing that work-family programs affect the bottom-line. In doing so, this study may provide an added incentive for firms to adopt work-family programs.”
For information, call the UNM Staff Council, 277-1532.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915
Photographer Subhankar Banerjee will visit the University of New Mexico School of Law to discuss his artwork and its place in the artic refuge oil drilling controversy. His presentation "World Without Borders" is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 2 - 4 p.m. in room 2404
Banerjee quit his engineering job in 2001, cashed in his 401k and headed for the Alaskan artic where he spent nearly two years photographing under harsh conditions. The result of this sojourn is his book, “Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land.” Former President Jimmy Carter wrote the introduction.
Banerjee's work became the object of censorship when linked to the battle over drilling for oil in the artic. In September, Banerjee spoke at a rally in Washington D.C. The Lannan Foundation awarded Banerjee its first Cultural Freedom Fellowship for his work to increase public awareness about issues that threaten the health and well being of the planet.
Banerjee's presentation at UNM Law School is free and open to the public. For more information on his work, visit www.wwbphoto.com.
For information on the presentation, contact Sherri Burr, 277-5650.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5920
UNM’s Theatre X announces the sixth annual Words Afire Festival, running Nov. 2 – 20. The festival celebrates The New Wave of UNM Playwrights, a showcase of original works including full-length plays, plays for young audiences and one-act and ten-minute plays written by MFA and undergraduate writers in the Robert Hartung Endowed Dramatic Writing Program in the Department of Theatre and Dance. Plays are world premiere productions written, directed, acted and designed by emerging artists.
This November, the festival will present 13 world premiere productions, six staged readings of new plays in progress and a free feature event by Elana Greenfield at UNM’s Rodey Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.
Greenfield, an established playwright and Whiting award winner, is a guest artist with the Dramatic Writing Program at UNM this fall. She will speak after staged readings of her works “Nine Come” and “Possessed by a Demon,” featuring members of the Tricklock Company.
Other events at UNM include:
· “The Family Frost” by Terry Davis at Theatre X, Nov. 2 – 5 at 7:30 p.m.
· “Let it Get to You” by Kristen Simpson at Theatre X, Nov. 9 – 12 at 7:30 p.m. (Contains mature content and adult language.)
· “I Sea” by Lou Clark at Theatre X, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m., Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. (Recommended for ages 12 and up.)
· “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire…Then Ashley” by Don Garcia at Theatre X, Nov. 18 at 10 a.m., Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. (Recommended for middle school audiences.)
· “The Zombie Musical” by Marisa DeMarco & Pam Herrington at Theatre X, Nov. 18 – 19 at 10 p.m.
· Staged MFA readings by Maryl McNally, Matt Diel and Lou Clark
Other plays and readings by emerging artists will be performed at Sol Arts (712 Central Ave. SE), Gorilla Tango (519 Central Ave. NW) and the National Hispanic Cultural Center (1701 4th St. NW).
Ticket prices range from $3.98 to $7. School matinees and most staged reading performances are free. Tickets are available through the UNM ticket office at 925-5858, Tickets.com outlets or online at www.unmtickets.com. For general information call the Words Afire hotline at 277- 7331 or visit: www.unm.edu/~theatre/td/.
Contact: Jim Linnell, (505) 277-2416
The UNM College of Pharmacy will be holding a memorial service for Carman A. Bliss, former dean of the UNM COP, on Oct. 25, 2005 at the UNM Alumni Memorial Chapel at 7:30 p.m.
Dean Bliss was in Albuquerque celebrating the College of Pharmacy’s 60th anniversary where he was honored for his contributions to the successes of the college. He passed away on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the scene of a car accident.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Carman A. Bliss Endowment at the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy. To donate to the fund call 272-3241 or mail donations to Carman Bliss Memorial Endowment, College of Pharmacy, MSC09 5360, 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001.
Parking for the service is available in the UNM “C" or "T" lots. "C" lot is near Las Lomas and Redondo and parking will be available at 6:30pm. "T" lot is the small parking lot near the "C" lot. There will be additional parking at the old Bob Turner's Ford on Lomas and University. Shuttle services run every 10-15 minutes and run until 10pm.
Contact: Angela Heisel, (505) 272-3651
The UNM Student Union Building (SUB) is hosting the Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest for Halloween on Monday, Oct. 31, 2005. The contest is open to individual students, departments and student organizations. Pumpkins are free and can be picked up in the SUB Atrium starting at 10:30 a.m.
Photo: Participants from last year's pumpkin carving contest at the SUB.
The carved pumpkins must be returned to the SUB Atrium for judging by 1 p.m. Select UNM students and administrators will serve as judges for the event. Prizes will be awarded at 2 p.m. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to be present to win.
Last year more than 50 pumpkins were entered and carved. This goes to show that students and faculty really enjoy this great Halloween tradition. This annual event is a sure way to kick off the holiday season. Join in on all the fun by showing off your pumpkin carving skills or stop by to see who will be this year’s winners.
Pumpkins will be judged on creativity, originality and effort. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place pumpkins for individual students and UNM departments/student organizations.
For more information call Jacque Garcia at (505) 277-7885.
This fall renowned poet, artist and musician Joy Harjo returned to teach at her alma mater, the University of New Mexico. She's back as the first Joseph M. Russo Professor of Creative Writing and the first Native American to hold an endowed chair in the university's history.
“I am still getting adjusted and finding my way back into the program,” Harjo said. “So far I'm especially impressed with the overall quality of the writing of the students in both of my classes this fall. The program has the potential to be one of the best in the country.”
Harjo will give her first Albuquerque reading since her return to UNM on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building Acoma room as part of the creative writing program's Poets & Writers reading series.
The Department of English is excited to welcome Harjo back. “We are thrilled at the return of Joy Harjo to UNM, where she studied and taught in earlier years,” David Richard Jones, department chair, said.
In 1976, Harjo was one of the first to graduate from UNM with a bachelor's degree in creative writing. “The program was intimate, close,” she said. “I always felt great support. We had an ambitious reading series and we were always involved, making trips, doing readings, working together.” She later returned to UNM as a professor of English from 1991-1997.
Harjo's poetry, which has been widely published and has won numerous awards, often evokes the presence of myth in urban life. “I write from experience in a dynamic world that is either in balance or askew between now and then, here and there,” she said.
Her most recent book is “How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems,” for which she was named the 2003-2004 Writer of the Year – Poetry by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. The third edition of Harjo's popular “She Had Some Horses” is slated for release this January, along with a spoken word compact disc of selected poems.
As a teacher as well as a poet and artist, Harjo is a great asset to UNM. “My role as a teacher is to model, inspire and lead young artists and thinkers towards a life long process of hunger for knowledge and an ongoing practice of their art,” she said. “I expect only the best from students and always start from that position.”
Harjo said that the connection she forged with New Mexico continues to lure her back. “My voice is here. This is one of my homes,” Harjo said. “What continues to bring me back here is the music, the poetry, the native and arts communities. Part of my soul lives here.”
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920
Explore Albuquerque's aviation history on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Drive.
This sixth and final installment in the “All Roads Lead to Albuquerque: A Tricentennial Colloquium Series,” celebrates the statehood era of our city's 300-year history.
The morning's events include images, photographs, a book exhibit and some fascinating historical lectures on aviation. This final colloquium features a cultural presentation, marimba music performed by “Festival.”
This event is free and open to the public.
Scheduled speakers:
Thomas S. McConnall, M.D., “A Brief History of Ballooning in Albuquerque”
Harry M. Davidson, chairman, Cavalcade of Wings, “Aviation in Albuquerque's History: The Old Albuquerque Airport and its Amazing Hanger”
Dr. Don E. Alberts, former chief historian, Kirtland Air Force Base, “The History of the Airport and Commercial Aviation in Albuquerque”
Jim Gildea, 377th Air Base Wing historian, Kirtland Air Force Base, “Kirtland Air Force Base and the Development of Modern Albuquerque”
Harry M. Davidson and Dr. Don E. Alberts, “New Mexico's Role in the Modern World: From Hydrogen Balloons to Stealth Bombers”
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920
El Centro de la Raza and the UNM Recruitment Office is seeking staff and student volunteers for 2005 Hispano Student Day that is facilitated by El Centro de la Raza and the UNM Recruitment Office. The event brings Hispanic high school students from around the state to visit the University of New Mexico on Thursday, Oct. 27. A variety of workshops are offered for the students and their counselors.
If your department has staff or students that could also help during the week of the event to assemble packets or provide a campus tour on the day of the event, please sign them up.
Staff volunteers are needed Oct. 27 to serve as BUS greeters, registration table, lunch set-up, breakdown of event.
Volunteers will be invited to attend the HSD luncheon on the day of the event, which will be held in Johnson Gym.
All volunteers must attend one of the volunteer sessions as listed
below:
Monday, Oct. 24 - 12 to 1 p.m. - Dean of Students Conference Rm
Monday, Oct. 24 - 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. - Dean of Students Conference Rm
Tuesday, Oct. 25 6 p.m. - El Centro de La Raza/Mesa Vista Hall
Contact Jennifer Gomez-Chavez @ The College Enrichment
Program in Mesa Vista Hall Rm. 3011 (next door to the Scholarship Office)
For questions, please call Gomez-Chavez at: 277-7763 or via e-mail:
jengomez@unm.edu.
“The Architect’s Brother,” a traveling exhibit by Robert ParkeHarrision, is currently on display at the University Art Museum. An opening reception for the artist will be Friday, Oct 21, 5-7 p.m. This fascinating exhibit presents a peculiar portrayal of a madman (played by the artist) trying to patch up a damaged world with junk and discarded objects. The objects are placed in a surreal landscape that appears barren and altered by a large-scale disaster.
Photo: Robert ParkeHarrison, DaVinci's Wings (1998)
The elaborate process of creating images begins with construction of sets and props. Scenes are then photographed and textural surfaces are applied to the image, resulting in astonishing creations.
ParkeHarrison received a MFA in photography from UNM in 1994. Speaking to Mirage magazine at UNM that year, he said, “ Within these tableaus I often incorporate myself, not as a form of self portraiture, but rather as a representative of current society. My generic black pants and white shirt combine with crude objects thus achieving an ambiguous time in which technology is incorporated into nature. Often these discarded objects become part of the machines or rituals that work with the powers of nature and human hope.”
“The Architect’s Brother” was organized by the George Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y. and will be on display through Dec. 21.
Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816
UNM’s Army ROTC cadets overcame 18 other teams to take second place in the U.S. Army Cadet Command 12th Brigade’s annual Ranger Challenge held recently. The Ranger Challenge included Cadet participants were from New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. This is the first Ranger Challenge competition the UNM program has participated since opening its doors in 2003.
Photo: Members of the UNM Army ROTC program compete in the Ranger Challenge held recently at Camp Bullis, Texas. The team placed second out of 18 teams.
The UNM cadets are: team captain Christopher Ostberg, Brian Long, John Brasher, Aaron Pennington, Justin Garcia, Trevor Weeks, and Daryl Murton.
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Axtell, a military science instructor with UNM Army ROTC, called the intercollegiate Ranger Challenge event “very, very physically demanding and fast-paced.”
The seven New Mexico students competed in numerous events, including a fitness test and a comprehensive written exam with elements of tactical leadership, first aid, and day and night land navigation and weapons skill at Camp Bullis, Texas.
The challenge also included running obstacle courses, a 10-kilometer road march and other military skills perfected in the Army ROTC program.
Contact: Jennifer West, (505) 277-2263
The University of New Mexico Department of Political Science will host the 4 th annual New Mexico Law Day on Monday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Union Building, ballrooms A-B.
Representatives from more than 60 law schools across the United States will meet with UNM students and community members to discuss the legal profession, legal training, the job market and how UNM students and others—including Albuquerque residents considering law as a second career—can best apply to law school. Financial aid information will also be available.
Participating law schools include UNM, Harvard, Berkeley, Columbia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Syracuse.
The UNM event is part of a weeklong series of Law Days at universities throughout the Western states and is funded by the Western Association of Pre-Law Advisors.
For more information, contact Ellen Grigsby, 277-5233, egrigsby@unm.edu.
Betsy Noll, associate professor in the College of Education will receive a University Libraries Faculty Acknowledgement Award on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005 at 2 p.m. in the Willard Reading Room of Zimmerman Library. She will present a lecture titled, “Advocacy as Social Action in Academia.”
Photo: Betsy Noll, associate professor, College of Education
Noll has extensive research interests in literacy, culture and schooling, teacher education, academic writing, women and higher education, children’s and young adult literature.
Noll has appeared in a number of refereed and non-refereed publications and has authored a number of book chapters in professional and research publications. She teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses at UNM.
The University Libraries Faculty Acknowledgement Awards honor faculty members for their scholarly contributions to research.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
Dr. Barbara Cohen, research assistant professor in the Institute of Meteoritics, has been chosen by NASA for participation in the next two years of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission. Cohen’s research focuses on geology of extraterrestrial samples, including lunar rocks and meteorites. She will help guide the Mars Exploration Rovers to find and analyze rocks formed in impact craters on the Martian surface.
"Spirit and Opportunity have exceeded all expectations for their longevity and discoveries on Mars, and both rovers are in good position to continue providing even more great science," said Dr. Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters. "Because of this, we want to add to the rover team that collectively chooses how to use the rover's science instruments each day."
Cohen was one of eight investigators selected to join the team. The investigators will work with the MER Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif., and will be full MER science-team members, joining previously selected scientists as part of the Athena science team.
“Specifically, I’ll be using the rovers to search for impact rocks based mostly on their chemistry and physical characteristics,” said Cohen. “We know that impact rocks have some unusual chemical ratios that can form during impacts from asteroids and I will be looking for these ratios in the Martian rocks. We can also tell something about the rock’s formation based on its shape – impact rocks might be angular pieces blown out by a crater rather than rounded pebbles like you might find in a stream.”
The mission, consisting of two rovers, named Spirit and Opportunity, landed on opposite sides of Mars in early 2004. Mission planners expected these two powerful Mars rovers to last about three months and travel approximately eight times the length of a football field (730 meters, or 2,400 feet). But both rovers are still exploring the surface
of Mars and have traveled much farther than anticipated. Therefore, NASA is bringing more scientists aboard to help with continued operations and data analysis.
The added researchers are from Maryland, New Mexico, Texas, Wisconsin, Arizona, California, and Washington, D.C., join 49 selected by NASA in 2000 and in 2002 to provide and use the Athena suite of science instruments on the rovers. The team leader is Dr. Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manages the Mars Exploration Rover project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
Two public forums have been scheduled at the University of New Mexico as part of the institution’s upcoming NCAA Division I athletics certification program. The forums are scheduled and designed to allow public input into the certification process. The first forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the Student Union Ballroom, Santa Ana A, from 12 to 1 p.m. The second forum will be held, Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in the Pete McDavid Lounge located at The Pit.
“Part of the NCAA certification process includes constructive feedback from the university community and the greater New Mexico community as a whole,” said Breda Bova, steering committee chair. “This is an opportunity for the entire UNM community to offer input on the study.”
The certification program’s purpose is to help ensure integrity in the institution’s athletics operations by opening up athletics to the rest of the university/college community and to the public. Institutions benefit by increasing campus-wide awareness and knowledge of the athletics program, confirming its strengths and developing plans to improve areas of concern.
UNM is currently in the midst of a yearlong self-study covering the areas of academic integrity, governance and commitment to rules compliance and a commitment to equity and student-athlete welfare. The self-study, led by UNM President Louis Caldera and Bova, is the second in the certification process for UNM.
UNM’s three-part self-study report is available online and can be viewed at: UNM Self Study
Click "Log On" and enter 473 in the Institutional ID line and sign-in.
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
The University of New Mexico John D. Robb Musical Trust presents “Little Jo,” a folk opera by UNM College of Fine Arts Dean Emeritus, John Donald Robb on Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. at the Journal Theatre at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
A full performance for nearly 600 students from area schools high schools will be presented free of charge on Friday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. at the NHCC, made possible by donor contributions.
The production features conductor, Guillermo Figueroa, music director of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, stage direction by David Chavez and a cast of professional singers, including, Peter Couchman, Aaron Pegram, Lina Ramos and many others.
One of two Robb operas, “Little Jo” is based on Robert Bright’s novel, “The Life and Death of Little Jo.” Robb was a pioneer collector of New Mexico Hispanic folk songs. During his tenure as dean of the College of Fine Arts, he decided to write an opera to incorporate Southwestern folk music. Little Jo is the story of the joys and sorrows of a young boy’s life in a small northern New Mexico farming village during World War II. It weaves a colorful tapestry of our state’s history and traditions as told through the music, folk songs -- including beloved Hispanic folk songs such as “Palomita,” A la ru,” BS Bendito sea Dios.”
References to cultural practices, such as the Penitentes, are featured. With emotion running from tenderness to tragedy, “Little Jo” is a rare cultural gem.
Tickets are $25, $20, and $15 with a $5 discount for students and seniors presenting valid ID. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and at the NHCC box office, 724-4771.
For more information, contact Alicia Ultan, director, John D. Robb Musical Trust, 277-8967, or at aultan@unm.edu/www.unm.edu/~rmt.
UNM President’s Club chair, Bob Bovinette recently announced his successor, Peggie Findlay, to lead the highly-successful annual-giving club.
“I am enthusiastic about the leadership skills that Peggie Findlay, founder of the Bosque School, brings to the President’s Club,” said Bovinette.
Findlay, a radiation oncologist, founded the Bosque School in 1994 in Albuquerque. She also serves on the boards of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the Albuquerque Youth Symphony.
Additionally, this past August, the President’s Club initiated an advisory committee, which includes nine appointed members: Peggie Findlay, Bob Bovinette, Bob Taichert, Suzanne Barker, Terri Cole, Barbara Ellena, Debbie Johnson, Nestor Romero and Larry Willard.
“This committee has been designed to serve as a liaison between the President’s Club and the community,” said Alexanna Padilla-Johnson, development associate and President’s Club manager. “One of the advisory committee functions is familiarizing the community with the goals and objectives of the President’s Club. They will also act as a sounding board for new undergraduate initiatives.”
President's Club funds allow UNM President Louis Caldera to respond to initiatives that further the vision to enhance academic excellence and undergraduate enrichment at the institution. One such initiative, the Freshman Learning Communities (FLC), is improving undergraduate programs and has led to a dramatic increase in retention and graduation rates. The success of the FLC’s helped it to become a permanent UNM program.
For more information on the President’s Club contact Padilla-Johnson at: (505) 277-9077 or via e-mail at: apjohn@unm.edu.
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
University of New Mexico MBA Program is among the best on issues of social and environmental stewardship in 2005 Beyond Grey Pinstripes Report
In a ranking announced today of the Top 30 global MBA programs – from nearly 100 surveyed – University of New Mexico's Robert O. Anderson Graduate Schools of Management has received the 18th top ranking. Beyond Grey Pinstripes is the only global ranking that evaluates MBA programs for their efforts to prepare graduates for the new business realities demanding social and environmental stewardship.
The ranking, released jointly by World Resources Institute and the Aspen Institute, measures the extent to which business schools prepare their students for the reality of tomorrow’s markets, equipping them with an understanding of the social, environmental, and economic perspectives required for business success in a competitive global economy.
“Corporations are increasingly dependent on executives who are able to help them negotiate the new realities of the changing business environment, particularly policies and practices that address issues of social and environmental responsibility,” said Judith Samuelson, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program.
“To be competitive, corporations need to recast social and environmental problems as business growth opportunities,” added Jonathan Lash, president of World Resources Institute. “Top-ranked Beyond Grey Pinstripes schools are leading the way in providing students with the skills that are becoming increasingly valuable to business’ bottom line, including searching for innovative technologies and entrepreneurship opportunities around climate change, water scarcity, labor issues, and poverty alleviation.”
The University of New Mexico's Anderson School of Management distinguished itself not only by offering a large number of courses that addressed social and environmental issues in business, but also by the relatively large proportion of students who actually took those classes.
“This ranking serves as a powerful affirmation of the work of the Anderson Schools, as we seek to fulfill our highest mission: shaping the intellect and character of the next generation of business leaders,” says Anderson Dean Chuck Crespy. “The study of ethics permeates our curriculum, and is reflected in the outstanding contributions Anderson alums have made to the betterment of social causes in our great state.”
The Beyond Grey Pinstripes report identified the Top 30 MBA programs by inviting nearly 600 MBA programs to report on their coursework and research: 1,842 courses, 1,713 extracurricular activities and programs, and 828 journal articles from leading peer-reviewed business publications were analyzed. A full description of the report, its methodology and individual MBA program ratings is available online at www.beyondgreypinstripes.org.
For more information on the Beyond Grey rankings or the Anderson School's of Management contact Sophie Martin at: (505) 710-9325.
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
University Libraries and the Indigenous Nations Library Program are sponsoring an October lecture titled, “Sustaining Indigenous Presence through Language” on Monday, Oct. 24. A brown bag discussion begins at noon in room 102 of Zimmerman Library. There will be a panel discussion from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Willard Reading room of Zimmerman. Both events focus on the importance of sustaining indigenous languages through community and academic programs.
Invited speakers include the Indigenous Language Institute’s Executive Director Inee Slaughter, and the institute’s program coordinator Brenda McKenna from Nambe Pueblo. Also, invited is Christine Sims, UNM assistant professor in the Department of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies. Sims, from Acoma Pueblo, testified before the U.S. Congress on behalf of indigenous language preservation in 2003.
Andrew Becenti, Diné, is the Navajo Language, Culture and History instructor at Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington. Maureen Olson is the Jicarilla Tribal Language Revitalization Coordinator in Dulce, New Mexico.
For more information about the event, please contact April Hale at (505) 277-7433. This event is free and open to the public.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
UNM Libraries is looking for emerging Hispanic writers who have published fewer than two books for a literary competition. Premío Aztlan is a literary prize first established by Rudolfo and Patricia Anaya, and recently revived by University Libraries.
One thousand dollars will be awarded to a Hispanic writer for a work of fiction published in the 2005 calendar year. The winner will be expected to give a reading at the University Libraries during April 2006.
Anaya says he and his wife started the prize as a way to nurture novice writers. When he began publishing fiction in New Mexico, Anaya won a literary award that encouraged him to keep writing. He says, “So many times, writers after one or two books give up, because they think no one appreciates their work.”
Publishers should submit a letter of nomination and authors should submit a letter of interest and resume to:
Rudolfo and Patricia Anaya Premío Aztlan Literary Prize
University Libraries, Dean's Office
MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Detailed guidelines for submission are available at Submission guidelines
The deadline for entry is December 31, 2005. Anyone with questions can contact Teresa Marquez at andaluz@unm.edu or (505) 277-0582 or Dina Ma'ayan at dinam@unm.edu or (505) 277-7197.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
The UNM Bookstore invites everyone to attend its annual Halloween Costume Contest on Monday, Oct. 31. The contest will be from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sign-up starts at 11:30 a.m., and judging will begin at noon. Prizes will be awarded for the first through third place winners. First place will win an iPod Nano, second place will receive a $75 gift certificate and a $50 gift certificate will go to the third place winner.
In addition to the contest, the Bookstore will be hosting a black and orange sale. Shoppers can save 25 percent on selected clothing and gifts. There will also be a Dead Book Sale. Selected books will be discounted up to 75 percent. Halloween items will be 50 percent off as well. A DJ will also be part of the festivities playing music including classic Halloween favorites.
For more information contact Anicia Esposito at (505) 277-9752.
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
Political Science Professor Andrew L. Ross has been named the new director of the University of New Mexico’s Office for Policy, Security, and Technology. He assumed the position Sept. 1. Ross was selected to head OPST after a national search by a committee chaired by Bert Useem, director of the Institute for Social Policy and professor of sociology.
OPST is a collaboration between UNM and Sandia National Laboratories that focuses on promoting and facilitating interdisciplinary policy-relevant work at the intersection of security and technology.
Ross succeeds Roger L. Hagengruber, who has served as director of OPST since its was established in 2003.
Ross said he is “thrilled to have the opportunity to develop OPST programs.” Since his arrival he has been building a faculty network to provide the foundation for OPST’s work, developing research project initiatives, and designing a curriculum development grant program. He will teach a new course on “International Relations: Theory and Practice” in the spring of 2006.
Ross brings a broad base of experience in national security and defense planning, research, education and program development. He comes to UNM after 16 years at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I., where he held a variety of positions, including research professor in the Strategic Research Department of the Naval War College’s Center for Naval Warfare Studies, acting director of the college’s advanced research program and co-leader of the college’s strategy task group, one of four task groups established to support the Chief of Naval Operations in the global war on terror.
His work with the strategy task group led to a Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service award in 2002. Prior, Ross served as first a Secretary of the Navy senior research fellow and then professor of National Security Affairs in the Naval War College’s National Security Decision Making Department, where he taught the college’s core course on strategy and force planning.
Ross’ work on U.S. grand strategy, national security and defense planning, regional security, weapons proliferation, and security and economics has appeared in numerous journals and books. He edited “The Political Economy of Defense: Issues and Perspectives,” (1991) and co-edited three editions of “Strategy and Force Planning,” (1995, 1997, 2000). His current research focuses on the U.S. grand strategy debate and military transformation.
Ross has held research fellowships at Cornell, Princeton, Harvard, the University of Illinois and the Naval War College; he also taught in the political science departments at the University of Illinois and the University of Kentucky. He earned his MA and PhD at Cornell University and his BA, summa cum laude, at American University.
University Libraries is hosting the 4th Annual Symposium on Scholarly Communication on Nov. 1, 2005 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Student Union Ballroom C. This year’s topic is “The Digital Academy: Innovations in Scholarly Publishing.”
Ann J. Wolpert, the director of libraries for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will keynote the symposium. She is currently serving as the President of the Association of Research Libraries and is a member of the editorial board of “Library & Information Science Research.” Wolpert also serves on the advisory committee to the National Science Foundation’s publication “Science and Engineering Indicators.”
Abby Smith, who lectures widely on the subject of scholarly communication, will also speak. She will discuss preservation and access strategies for libraries, archives and museums; the impact of digital information technologies on cultural heritage institutions; and the evolving role of information as a public good. She is currently working with the Library of Congress on its implementation of the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program.
Registration for this free symposium is available at http://hsc.unm.edu/library/sc/symposium.shtml
Faculty and staff are welcome.
The symposium is sponsored by Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs; Office of the Executive Vice President for the Health Sciences Center; Office of the Associate Vice President for Knowledge Management and IT; and Director of HSLIC; Office of the Dean of University Libraries; and Office of the Director of the UNM Law Library.
For more information contact Patricia Campbell at (505) 277-2678.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
The newest members of the University of New Mexico Service Corps (UNMSC) will take their initial oath of office and returning corps members will renew their oath before Lt. Governor Diane Denish, Thursday, Oct. 20, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
President Louis Caldera will host the event at University House. Caldera and Denish will speak to corps members and their families and will be sworn in as ex-officio members. A light lunch will be served as part of this noon hour event.
UNMSC is the campus-based AmeriCorps program. Consisting of UNM and TVI students, the organization serves throughout the Albuquerque community. About 50 corps members work primarily in after school, K-6 literacy programs and support programs of the Albuquerque Community Learning Centers. UNMSC is in its 9th year of existence and has performed thousands of hours of service to Albuquerque and the surrounding area.
UNMSC is dedicated to programs that promote positive youth development and leadership for elementary, middle and high school aged youth. Its programs promote a love for learning through literacy and service learning that meets the local community interest and needs.
Note to news media: Please contact Greg Johnston at 277-1816 or gregj@unm.edu to confirm your attendance.
Eight professors have been promoted to the rank of University of New Mexico distinguished professor, the highest rank bestowed on faculty. Distinguished professors are individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and are nationally and internationally renowned as scholars.
The 2005-2006 inductees are:
Joan Bybee
Bybee's work in the field of linguistics built a foundation for scholarly writing in the areas of linguistic typology, morphology, language change and semantics. In 2004, she was named president of the Linguistic Society of America as well as UNM annual research lecturer. She was selected as a Regent's professor in 1996. Bybee recently received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oslo.
Steven Feld
Feld is a scholar of music, language, sound and ethnomusicology who has received international accolades and attention. He received a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in 2003-2004 and serves as the founder and director of VoxLox, a documentary sound art label producing compact discs that advocate for human rights and acoustic ecology.
F. Chris Garcia
Garcia's research on Latino political attitudes has earned national and international recognition and contributed to the reputation of UNM's study of Latino culture in the U.S. Garcia served as the 17th UNM president in 2002-2003. Most recently, he was awarded the Franklin J. Goodnow Award for Distinguished Service from the American Political Science Association.
Nitant Kenkre
Kenkre has made profound, insightful and seminal contributions to the field of theoretical condensed matter physics and statistical mechanics. He was elected fellow of the American Physical Society in 1998 and is this year's UNM annual research lecturer. Kenkre is the founding director of the Consortium of the Americas for Interdisciplinary Science.
Robert T. Paine, Jr.
Paine devotes his attention to several topics that often intersect with different areas of chemistry, including analytical applications, organic synthesis and spectroscopic/structural characterization and materials science. Paine was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and served as the 40th UNM annual research lecturer in 1995.
Gary Scharnhorst
Scharnhorst redefined 19th century American literature by discovering and publishing previously unnoted texts. He has become an international authority on Bret Harte, friend and colleague of Mark Twain. He illuminates our understanding of canonical writers by detailing their interactions with so-called marginal writers of the day. He authored eight books, served as president of the Western Literature Association and received four Fulbright awards.
Lawrence Guy Straus
Straus, a Paleolithic archeologist, works in Western Europe, including Spain, France, Portugal and Belgium. He has been editor of UNM's Journal of Anthropological Research since 1995 and a member of the U.S. National Committee for INQUA (the International Union for Quaternary Research) and U.S. representative to the UISPP (International Union of Prehistoric & Protohistoric Sciences) Commission on the Upper Paleolithic of Europe.
Eberhard Uhlenhuth
Uhlenhuth's research career spans more than 50 years. He has been principal investigator, investigator and consultant to some 40 research trials. His areas of specialization are pathogenesis, psychopathology, treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders and pharmacoepidemiology. He has been named charter fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
A distinguished professor title is awarded to only a few of the most prominent faculty. The five others who hold UNM's highest faculty rank are Eric Charnov, biology; Louise Lamphere, anthropology; Randy Thornhill, biology; William Miller, psychology; and James Brown, biology.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915
Islamic scholar Anouar Majid will examine the ongoing conflict between Islam and the United States in a public lecture—“Saints at Odds: Islam and America in the World”—at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at UNM SUB Ballroom C.
Majid's lecture is the second in the Nexus: Religion in the Public University series sponsored by UNM's Religious Studies Program through a grant from the Louisville Institute. The lecture is free and open to the public.
According to U.S. religious studies authority Cornel West, Majid is one of few “towering Islamic intellectuals,” examining the place of religion and Islam in postcolonial theory and the culture of globalization.
Born in Tangier, Morocco, Majid is professor and chair of English at the University of New England in Maine. He is the author of numerous books and articles, including “Unveiling Traditions: Postcolonial Islam in a Polycentric World (2000),” recommended as a book for understanding the context of 9/11.
In this lecture, Professor Majid will challenge listeners to acknowledge essential differences between American culture and the Islamic tradition, while, at the same time, exploring how the two worlds can illuminate each other's paths and narrow the scope of their misunderstanding.
In addition to four public lectures during the 2005-06 academic year, the Nexus project also involves a dialogue between a group of clergy from the community and UNM faculty. Richard Wood, director of the UNM Religious Studies Program, and Cindy Geppert, associate director, are coordinators.
For more information, call 277-4009.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915
The Student Activities Center is sponsoring a College Bowl Campus Tournament on Nov. 5 and 6, and is searching for four and five member teams to participate.
Coordinator Trey Smith says they hope to field about 30 teams. Any group of students can sign up at the Student Activities Center in the Student Union Building, rm. 1018 or can call 277-4706 for more information.
Last year, a UNM team placed 16th in the National College Bowl Tournament. This year the winning team of the UNM Campus College Bowl will get a free trip to the regional tournament in Tucson, Arizona.
The deadline for entry is Oct. 28, 2005. Organizers are encouraging departments across campus to enter teams in the competition. College Bowl is a fast paced game of wits as teams of students compete to be the quickest with the correct answers to questions in a wide range of fields.
Contact: Karen Wentworth (505) 277-5627
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce featured UNM researchers and administrators at a luncheon panel discussion recently. The luncheon, with more than 200 attendees, was an opportunity for UNM to talk about economic development activity generated at the university.
Steve Brueck, director of the Center for High Tech Materials, Wilmer Sibbet, professor of Neurology, and Tom Williams, a professor in the Pathology Department at the School of Medicine, all spoke about their experiences in patenting and commercializing research.
Brueck has directed CHTM for nearly 20 years, turning it from a small center of excellence funded by the state legislature into a specialized laboratory that works with federal and private researchers on leading edge advanced materials research.
Sibbet is the president and CEO of Avanca Medical Devices. He formed the company to market the safety syringes that he developed and patented. Williams has worked with Exagen Diagnostics, a local start-up company on a testing system for hepatitis C and breast cancer.
Lisa Kuuttila, chairman and CEO of the Science and Technology Corporation, talked about the challenges of patenting and marketing intellectual property in a university setting. STC is a wholly owned non-profit corporation at UNM that was developed to commercialize the intellectual property of faculty and students.
UNM Regent Mel Eaves also spoke about the problems of adequately funding research laboratories and buying equipment for researchers with a dwindling state investment in the university, as well as the need for greater public funding of research activities.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
“Beyond Beads and Feathers: News Coverage of Native Americans,” a discussion featuring local, national news media, will be held Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the University of New Mexico in Zimmerman Library's Willard Reading Room. The event is free and open to the public.
Journalists will share their experiences and insights regarding news coverage of issues critical to Native Americans. Topics will include Indian gaming, the U.S. Department of Interior's alleged mismanagement of the Individual Indian Money Accounts - Cobell v. Norton, Indian health care and the Red Lake Indian Reservation shootings.
Invited speakers are Tom Arviso, Navajo, chief executive officer of the Navajo Times Publishing company and publisher of the Navajo Times; Leslie Linthicum, reporter for the Albuquerque Journal, Antonia Gonzales-McConkey, Navajo, producer and anchor for National Native News, Jodi Rave, Mandan-Hidatsa, and reporter for the Missoulian and columnist for the Poynter Institute.
Daniel Littlefield, director of the American Native Press Archives at the University of Arkansas , is also a participant.
The event is co-sponsored by the Native American Journalists Association, UNM's Native American Studies, NAS Indigenous Research Group and Indigenous Nations Library Program.
For information, call 277-3917.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915
A proposed buyout of WebCT by its longtime rival Blackboard Inc. should be a positive move in the industry and beneficial to the University of New Mexico, a user of Web CT’s products. On Wednesday, Blackboard Inc. announced plans to buy WebCT in a $180-million deal. Both companies offer products allowing students to do course work online as part of an on-campus class or through a distance-education program.
Both boards of directors have approved the deal, which still needs final approval by regulators. If approved, the companies would have more than 3,700 clients including nonprofit and for-profit colleges, elementary and secondary schools, corporations and government agencies.
“We believe this is a positive move that will keep the WebCT product on the same technological track as it is today,” said UNM Chief Information Officer Bill Adkins. “We do not expect the buyout to have an adverse effect on UNM's long term directions with WebCT's Vista product at this time. However, the CIO's office and Extended University are watching this development very closely.”
According to reports, Blackboard would not phase out WebCT's products or lay off its workers, at least in the short term. The WebCT technology will continue to be produced, supported and enhanced, all under the WebCT name.
Eventually, though, the company plans to create a common architecture for both products. That will make it easier for others to create add-ons to customize Blackboard's offerings. Education-technology analysts say the new Blackboard will be far and away the dominant player in the market. The companies plan to complete the merger, under the Blackboard name, by year-end.
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
Howard Waitzkin, University of New Mexico professor of sociology and member of the UNM Institute for Social Research, has received a $1.25 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. The five-year grant will support the UNM-based New Mexico Mentorship and Education Program, focused on minority mental health issues in primary care settings.
First Choice Community Healthcare (a local network of community health centers), the UNM Department of Psychiatry and UNM Department of Family and Community Medicine are collaborators.
The program, unique to the Southwest, was first funded in a pilot phase by the NIMH in 1999. It includes an intensive, one-week annual training institute to introduce mental health services research to minority junior faculty and graduate students from Southwest institutions.
The program is also designed to build ongoing mentorship relationships between faculty or graduate student participants and nationally recognized mental health services researchers.
“Minority junior faculty requested we create the mentorship program. They will eventually take it over; meanwhile, we have mentors from around the nation,” Waitzkin said.
In addition, primary care practitioners from local community health centers will be paired with researchers and mentors who focus on mental health services in minority populations.
Mentored participants will obtain training to help compete for research support and manage funded proposals; acquire skills in research methods; learn about recent research on mental health services with a special emphasis on disparities in mental health outcomes for minority populations; establish networks with outstanding research mentors; and receive guidance in undertaking research with Southwest populations.
The university has received nearly 72.6 million in NIH funding for the 2005 fiscal year.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5920
The Provost’s Committee for Staff announced the award recipients for the Fall 2005 Provost’s Scholarship awards at a reception today. Marlene Ballejos, Darilyn Martinez, Monique Gaede and Debraha Driggers are the recipients.
“All of these individuals are doing a wonderful job in their current positions,” said interim Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs Reed Dasenbrock. “They are all extremely ambitious people who are trying to accomplish a whole lot more than their regular jobs.”
Ballejos works in the Office of Admissions at the School of Medicine. She has been at UNM for seven years and is pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology.
Martinez is an administrator for the Physical Therapy Program and has been employed at UNM for more than 14 years. She is working toward a bachelor’s degree in University Studies with an emphasis on community health and Behavioral Problem Education.
Gaede, who has been at UNM for four years, is a research assistant in Pediatric Oncology. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Sociology. Driggers is an accountant in the General Accounting department. She has been at UNM for nine years and is pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration.
The Provost’s Committee for Staff created the financial support scholarship to help defray costs associated with academic books, course fees and supplies. Members of the PCS and an Human Resources representative selected the recipients. The scholarship is awarded each semester.
A fund, in support of the scholarship, has been setup through an account at the UNM Foundation. UNM employees interested in contributing to the fund will have the option to do so through payroll deductions. The purpose of the foundation account is to help grow the fund and provide increased financial support to UNM staff.
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
The University of New Mexico has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to help support post-baccalaureate research and education (PREP). The three-year, $856,000 PREP grant will support six minority scholars the first year, eight the second and 10 in the third year. The program is aimed at recruiting students who recently graduated in biomedical or engineering programs but have not yet committed to continuing their education.
“This is a really exciting NIH funded program and follows on the heels, and is totally complementary, to other highly successful research and education programs at UNM,” said Chemistry Associate Professor and Program Director Jim Brozik. “The program is designed to help minority students that have recently graduated with a baccalaureate degree from a biomedical science or engineering program.”
The goals for the PREP program include identifying a cadre of qualified post-baccalaureate scholars, specifically minority BS/BA graduates, who chose to postpone graduate studies and to recruit them into the PREP program before they give up the idea of pursuing a graduate level career; provide these scholars with research and training opportunities that will give them the skills, confidence and time needed to prepare for graduate studies; and facilitate application and acceptance into a biomedical related graduate program.
“UNM, the NIH and many other governmental agencies and state institutions across the country are keenly aware that a baccalaureate degree from a biomedical related science or math program is no guarantee of acceptance into a graduate program or a job offer in the private sector,” said Brozik. “Moreover, many students with BS/BA degrees in science or math will never work or attend graduate school in a field related to their undergraduate studies. The reasons for this are as varied as there are individuals who fall into this category.”
Brozik says UNM and many other academic institutions are currently not structured to serve post-baccalaureate students who are not officially enrolled in graduate school and, therefore, many-especially minority students-will simply fall through this gap.
“Our PREP program specifically targets those students who have decided to postpone application to a Ph.D. program for a variety of individual well thought out reasons. The program will fill the gap for as many as 24 underrepresented minority students between receiving a baccalaureate degree and entering graduate school in a biomedical related field,” he said. “Our PREP program will provide a meaningful, focused and personalized experience that is designed to provide a seamless transition from a BS/BA degree to entrance into a Ph.D. program.”
Recruitment
Theresa Lopez, of the PROFOUND office and the program coordinator for the new PREP program, and will work closely with other campus programs such as the Initiative for Minority Student Development (IMSD), Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC), McNair, Research Opportunity Program, NMMESA, PURSUE, Upward Bound and others, and state programs such as Alliance for Minority Participation or AMP program.
Other key on-campus laboratories that have used the PROFOUND office to hire undergraduate researchers that would also qualify as a PREP scholar after graduating with a BA/BS degree will also be utilized.
Several important recruiting strategies have been developed for appropriate candidates to the PREP program including: personal recruitment by faculty, who have come to know the students as undergraduates in their classes, and have received information through flyers and by e-mail about the program and application procedures; information (brochure and application materials) that is distributed by e-mail, and face-to-face by the PREP program coordinator, who will meet with participants from other UNM undergraduate programs; and information that is posted on the PROFOUND web site, which is frequently consulted by students across campus who are seeking a research laboratory appointment, as well as a link on the web home-page of each relevant department.
A brochure that describes the PREP program and application information will be created and sent by e-mail to faculty in relevant departments at UNM and to undergraduate students on list serves of relevant departments at UNM and participating in various training programs. Relevant departments and student development offices at other institutions in the New Mexico and the Four Corners region will also be targeted.
The PREP program is complementary to similar programs at UNM such as the IMSD program, coordinated by Professor Maggie Werner-Washburne, and the MARC program, directed by Professor Mary Anne Nelson, both of the Biology Department,
“We anticipate that UNM’s PREP program will have a big impact on minority enrollment and success in graduate studies and will specifically target those students who typically slip through the cracks by putting off graduate school for a year or two,” said Brozik.
Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821
President Louis Caldera was a featured speaker at the 10th meeting of the American Council on Education Conference in Tucson, Arizona recently. The conference theme, “Educating All of One Nation,” was designed to help universities better plan for, respond to and meet higher education needs of our increasingly diverse society.
Caldera spoke about the magnitude of the challenge faced by universities in the United States, where 70,000 engineers graduate each year, in a world where a million engineers graduate each year in China and India.
Caldera said part of the answer is to focus on bringing more minorities into the higher education system through community and business partnerships. He said community partnerships like the ENLACE program at UNM, which provides mentoring and tutoring for minority students, is important.
He also noted that business partnerships are vital and that the business community must engage in supporting public academic programs in all institutions, not just the elite institutions. Caldera said funders need to recognize that the majority of minority education takes place in the public universities.
The American Council on Education is the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
KNME-TV, Channel 5 recently premiered a provocative new series featuring some of media’s outspoken voices on “The Line.” Lively, stimulating and unpredictable, “The Line” is a diverse take on the news. “The Line" airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. and repeats Sundays at 7 a.m.
“This show is a first for New Mexico,” said show host Steve Lawrence. “It offers points of view, analysis and intelligence that viewers simply can not get anywhere else. There are no party lines here. This is a freewheeling, pointed, but civilized discussion of stories changing our lives."
To keep the conversation fresh, commentators on “The Line” feature a guest to explore the national and New Mexico issues making headlines. Lawrence is editor of Crosswinds Weekly. “The Line” is produced by Tish Bravo.
“We have a great deal of talent in New Mexico and no lack of opinions,” said Ted A. Garcia, KNME-TV General Manager & CEO. “KNME believes it is important to have a continuing insightful dialogue about key issues concerning our community.”
“It seemed to me there was a yawning gap in New Mexico public affairs programming,” Lawrence said. “No one was doing informed, smart, and provocative commentary and discussion of the stories that are changing our lives. There were a couple of interview shows, including Kate Nelson's excellent IN FOCUS, but no forum for analysts from across the political spectrum to talk about issues, events, politics and culture.”
To keep the conversation fresh, each week THE LINE's commentators are joined by a new guest, to explore the national and New Mexico issues making headlines today and those of tomorrow. THE LINE is hosted by Steve Lawrence, Editor, Crosswinds Weekly and produced by Tish Bravo.
This week's guest is Jim Scarantino, columnist, The Alibi.
Contact: Evy Todd, (505) 277-1218
UNM Staff Council President Sabra Basler is the first staff representative appointed to the newly formed Higher Education Advisory Board. Basler said, “I am honored to have a small role in assisting our state universities and community colleges to progress. Higher education benefits all of the people and will be the backbone of economic development in New Mexico.”
Photo: Staff Council President Sabra Basler
The board was created last year by HB 745 and is comprised of 14 members from all higher education institutions in the state. Dr. Beverlee McClure, the new cabinet secretary for higher education, said, “This advisory board is to serve as the main driver for the creation of our statewide strategic plan for higher education.”
Basler’s term runs through October 2006. She will also join the UNM Faculty Senate Governmental Relations Committee this year as an ex-officio member. Basler is currently serving as a member on the Staff Council Governmental Relations Committee.
Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
University of New Mexico director of athletics Rudy Davalos today announced he will retire from his position effective Aug. 31, 2006. Davalos, who will turn 67 in November, was named UNM's 11th director on Nov. 16, 1992, after a five-year stint as the athletics director at the University of Houston. He is in his 13th year with the Lobos, and only Roy Johnson (1920-49) and Pete McDavid (1956-74) have served the office longer.
"It's been a great run," said Davalos, who has hired all but three of UNM's current head coaches. "I've been blessed with great coaches, a great staff and a tremendous group of young men and women who have represented the University of New Mexico extremely well academically and in competition. Lobo fans are a passionate group and I have been fortunate to spend 13 years of my professional career at this great institution and in this great city. The program is in excellent shape financially, academically and competitively. Whoever takes my place is coming into an excellent situation. I plan on helping the University and the athletics department in any way I can in future years.
"I have my health and I'm really looking forward to being totally independent; to be able to spend a lot of time with my children and grandchildren. They live in various parts of the country and it will be nice to take off and see each one of them whenever I want.
"During the 13 years I have been at UNM, I've served under four presidents, three governors and numerous regents. These people, along with a great group of legislators, have been very supportive and non-interfering, which I'm sure that is part of the reason we have been so successful."
Earlier today, the UNM Board of Regents announced that the new basketball practice facility currently under construction south of The Pit will bear Davalos' name. It will be called the Rudy Davalos Basketball Center. The facility, which will house offices for both men's and women's basketball, is expected to be completed by late November.
"To have the new basketball practice facility named after me by our University is one of the nicest things I have had happen to me in my professional career. My whole family appreciates this wonderful gesture."
Jamie Koch (pronounced like cook), President of the UNM Board of Regents, said Davalos' successor would be named by June 1, 2006.
"Rudy has set a standard for what we would like to have in an athletics director," said Koch. "He placed a well-rounded, across-the-board emphasis is all sports from an academic and athletics standpoint. We will certainly use Rudy as a resource in finding the next person to lead the department."
"Rudy has done a great job for the University as athletics director," said UNM President Louis Caldera. "Our program is as competitive as it's ever been and stronger academically and financially because of the talented and high integrity coaches and staff Rudy recruited to UNM, and the leadership he's provided. Thanks to his efforts, our intercollegiate program is poised for a sustained period of greatness."
Davalos currently serves on the NCAA Div. I Women's Basketball Committee and the Executive Committee of NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics). Davalos was recognized by Sports Illustrated in 2002 as one of the 101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports.
Davalos leaves a legacy of unparalleled academic, athletics and financial success during his tenure at UNM. Davalos' many accomplishments while at UNM:
Highlights During Rudy Davalos' Tenure at the University of New Mexico (1992-current)
Academics
• The student-athletes representing the Lobos' 21 sports compiled a school-record 3.05 GPA during the 2004 fall semester and a 3.02 in the spring of 2005, the sixth straight semester the Lobos have surpassed a 3.0...the department's highest combined student-athlete GPA prior to 1992 was 2.73 on two occasions...16 student-athletes were named to academic All-America teams in 2004-05, and 93 have gained national academic recognition since 1993
Athletics Competition in 2004-05
• UNM finished 48th nationally in the Sports Academy Director's Cup, the second-best ranking in school history...UNM was 43rd in 1995-96
• A school-record 15 teams represented UNM at NCAA postseason competition
• UNM was one of just 11 NCAA Div. I institutions to have its football team play in a bowl game and also have both its men's and women's basketball teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament
Athletics Competition (1993-2005)
• The UNM ski team won the 2004 NCAA championship, the first Lobo program to claim a national title
• In the 10 years before Davalos came to UNM, only five sports combined to win or share 10 conference titles...since his arrival, eight teams have won or shared 35 regular-season or postseason conference championships...UNM has been represented at NCAA postseason competition 112 times, while 147 student-athletes have earned All-America recognition
• From 1983-92, football was 29-88 overall and 15-61 in conference play...since 1993, the overall mark is 73-76, 46-47 in league action...the record stands at 31-25 the past since 2001, including 20-11 in MWC play with three straight bowl appearances for the first time in program history
• Men's basketball has made 10 trips to postseason since 1993, including seven NCAA Tournaments...from 1983-92, the Lobos advanced to the NCAAs only once
• All of the women's basketball postseason showings have occurred in the past eight years with five NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 in 2003, and three NITs
Attendance
• Average attendance after three football games in 2005 is 40,509, a figure that would represent the school's fourth record in the past five years...17,404 season tickets were sold in 2005, a record for the third straight season
• Average attendance for football since 1993 is 28,955 compared to just 17,502 from 1983-92...the average is 34,421 since 2001
• Lobo men's and women's basketball have both ranked in the top-15 in national average attendance each of the past seven years...the women were 4th in 2004-05 at 10,674 a game, the men 14th at 14,308
• Among the nation's leaders in men's and women's soccer
Facilities </