Geoffrey Megargee, author of “The War of Annihilation: Combat and Genocide on the Eastern Front, 1941,” will speak on Tuesday, Oct 30, 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Mesa Vista Hall History Common Room. He will present “Selective Realities. Selective Memories: The German General’s Postwar Recollections.”
Megargee is an Applied Research Scholar at the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.
His visit to UNM is sponsored by the University Honors Program, the History Department, Religious Studies and European Studies.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Innovation – not only is it the key to overcoming increasing global competition, but it’s crucial in solving large-scale world problems. The University of New Mexico is hosting a symposium, "Educating for Innovation: Connecting UNM to the World’s Challenges," to present ideas from national keynote speakers and regional leaders about how to strengthen the culture of innovation and educate students to be able to innovate. The symposium will be held Tuesday, Oct. 2 at the Student Union Building Ballrooms A and B.
The symposium is sponsored by the UNM School of Engineering, UNM Anderson School of Management, Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, Mesa Del Sol, Albuquerque Economic Development and STC.UNM.
Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici are the honorary symposium co-chairs and have played key leadership roles in raising the awareness of threats to U.S. competitiveness, the importance of innovation, the necessity of re-invigorating investment in research, and, in particular, the imperative of transforming education.
Multiple reports, particularly the National Academy of Engineering's Rising Above the Gathering Storm, have emphasized that transformational changes are needed in higher education, particularly in mathematics, science, engineering, and business.
Morning session - 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Dr. R. Keith Sawyer, professor of Psychology and Education at Washington University in St. Louis will present, “Creativity, Innovation and the New Sciences of Learning.”
Sawyer’s talk will be followed by a panel discussion that includes Duane Dimos (Sandia), Francis Edwards (Anderson Foundation Board Member), Suleiman Kassicieh (Anderson School of Management), Vera John-Steiner (UNM), and Trevor Loy (Flywheel Ventures).
Afternoon session - 1:45 to 4:15 p.m.
Robert W. Galvin will present “Three Major Innovative Strategies to Create Wealth and Solve World Problems.”
This talk will be introduced by UNM President David R. Schmidly and will be followed by a panel discussion that includes Terri Cole (Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce), Mike Daly (Mesa del Sol), Ned Godshall (Altela Inc.), Lisa Kuuttila (STC.UNM), Jack McGowan (Energy Control, Inc.) and Jeff Sterba (PNM).
The symposium is part of a series of events marking the inauguration of UNM President David Schmidly. It is open to the public and is free of charge. Parking will be available in the structure adjacent the SUB. Parking and seating are limited, so please arrive early.
For more information visit: http://www.soe.unm.edu/Symposium/ or call the UNM School of Engineering Dean’s Office at 505-277-5521.
"New Mexico in Focus” looks at New Mexico, which has one of the worst underage drinking problems in the country. Acting U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu takes a closer look at the problem, and what state and national leaders are doing about it. KNME’s newly reformatted one-hour public affairs show, “New Mexico in Focus,” premieres Friday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. on KNME, Channel 5, and repeats Sundays at 6:30 a.m.
Also on this program - Is New Mexico’s economy on a downward slide? Panelists take a look at the bond issues on next Tuesday’s Albuquerque municipal ballot.
Co-hosted by journalist David Alire Garcia and local columnist Gene Grant, “New Mexico in Focus” takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, health, education and arts issues and explores them in-depth, with a critical eye to give them context beyond the “news of the moment.”
Guests - Sept. 28 & 30
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu
Dr. Robert Miller, New Mexico Pediatric Society
Dr. Michael Thomas, UNM Honors Program
Dr. William Wiese, Public Health Institute at UNM
Regular Commentators/Panelists
Hosts: Gene Grant and David Alire Garcia
Margaret Montoya, UNM Schools of Law and Medicine
Whitney Cheshire, Political Consultant, Blogger: www.wednesdaymorningqb.com )
Jim Scarantino, Weekly Alibi Columnist
Kevin McDonald is the producer of “New Mexico in Focus.” Support has been provided by McCune Charitable Foundation. Closed captioning has been made possible by a gift from Mrs. Elspeth G. Bobbs.
Media Contact: Evy Todd, (505) 277-1218; e-mail: etodd@knme.org
David J. Schmidly will be officially installed as the University of New Mexico’s 20th president during a ceremony Sunday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m. in Popejoy Hall. The public is invited to the ceremony as well as the reception that follows at University House. Free reserved seating tickets are available at ticket offices at the UNM Bookstore or UNM Arena.
The ceremony will include a variety of music, an academic procession and the formal installation with participation by the UNM Board of Regents, special guests, students, faculty, staff and alumni organizations. UNM’s tradition of installing or investing presidents dates back to 1912.
President Schmidly’s inauguration goes beyond the installation ceremony. A week of free symposia showcase UNM’s contributions in the areas of community service, sustainable environments, health policy, research, innovation, athletics, arts and culture. The theme is “Connect,” to illustrate the president’s commitment to build and enhance connections between the University and communities.
Activities kick off with the symposium, “40 Years of Community Activism: 1967-2007, Civil Rights Reform, Then and Now,” on Thursday, Sept. 27, and Friday, Sept. 28, from 8:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building ballrooms. Sessions are designed to promote dialogue about past and present civil rights issues.
Featured events include a presidential inaugural lecture documenting the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement and filmed tribute to World War II civil rights reformers. For more information visit: Civil Rights Symposium.
Other inaugural symposia include:
* Monday, Oct. 1
“Connections: Natural History, Aesthetics, and Conservation,” featuring Harry Green, Cornell University. Student Union Building ballrooms, 9 to 11 a.m.
* “Connecting the Arts, Humanities and Social Conscience,” featuring Mexican-born writer, performance artist and educator G uillermo Gomez-Pena. Rodey Theatre, Center for the Arts, 2 to 4 p.m.
* Tuesday, Oct. 2
“Educating for Innovation: Connecting UNM to the World’s Challenges,” featuring Keith Sawyer, Washington University, and Robert W. Galvin, Galvin Electricity Initiative. Student Union Building ballrooms, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* Thursday, Oct. 4
“Creating Health Policy to Connect and Improve Community Health” with Edward O’Neil, Center for the Health Professions. Health Sciences Center Domenici Center Auditorium, 11:30 to 1 p.m.
* Friday, Oct. 5
“Connecting Athletics & Academics,” featuring NCAA President Myles Brand. Student Union Building ballrooms, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
* Saturday, Oct. 6
On Saturday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. , is the inaugural campus open house “Explore UNM,” for prospective and current students and their parents and families. It is also high school senior day, which begins with early riser tours at 9 a.m. and a general information session at 10:30 a.m. in the Student Union ballrooms. Registration will be held near the Center for the Arts, east plaza.
During the open house, schools, colleges and departments will showcase facilities, programs and support services. An information fair at the Student Union Building features more than 60 academic and support programs. Activities include tours, hands-on activities, demonstrations, student research presentations, performances, exhibitions, a keynote lecture on parenting/mentoring college students and more than a dozen parent/student-aimed workshops.
In addition, receptions for the campus community are planned throughout the week. A main campus reception for faculty, staff and students is Tuesday, Oct. 2, from 3 to 5 p.m. at University House. A retiree reception is Thursday, Oct. 4, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Science and Technology Park Rotunda. A Health Sciences reception for faculty, staff and students follows the health policy symposia Thursday, Oct. 4, 1 to 3 p.m. on the HSC plaza.
Parking is available at the Cornell Parking Structure near Central and Stanford NE. Regular parking rates apply during the week.
The parking structure is available Saturday, Oct. 6, for $6 all-day parking. Other parking throughout campus in lettered zones is free, including the Zia lot at the football stadium with shuttles from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Parking for the Sunday, Oct. 7, installation ceremony is free at the structure and in lettered zones.
Inaugural activities are funded by corporate and private donors, including the UNM Alumni Association, UNM Foundation, Lockheed Martin, Bank of Albuquerque and Bank of America.
For a detailed schedule of events, visit the inauguration Web site, http://www.unm.edu/inauguration/.
Media Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915; e-mail: lmellas@unm.edu
Hassan Abassary, a cook at the University of New Mexico-Gallup Child Care Center, has been named as one of the recipients of the UNM Provost’s Committee for Staff Academic Support Scholarships. He will be recognized in a meeting with Interim Provost Viola Florez on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at UNM’s Albuquerque campus.
The scholarship is for a UNM employee who is using his or her tuition remission benefit to obtain a degree or professional certificate as well as to take professional development classes. The Provost’s Committee for Staff created this financial support scholarship to help defray the costs associated with academic books, course fees and supplies. There are three scholarships of $250 awarded each fall and spring semester.
Abassary, a native of Morocco, joined the staff as cook in February. He ran a kitchen at a restaurant in Washington, D.C., before moving to the Gallup area with his wife, Christine Gleason, manager of the Adult Basic Education program at UNM-Gallup. Since joining the cooking staff, he says he has worked to introduce more healthful fare for the children in the program and to help steer the children away from junk food.
Everyday, he helps prepare with the other cook on staff, Priscilla Johnson, breakfast, lunch, dinner and three snacks a day for the children enrolled in the child care program.
On his own, Abassary has started a business called “Take Home Chef,” where he hires himself out for parties and private dinners to create gourmet meals. He specializes in North African cuisine but can provide any type of American or international fare. He emphasizes creating an attractive presentation and an imaginative menu. He says he’s been delighted since moving to this area to find fresh meats available, although he says the price is higher here than on the east coast. In time, he hopes to open a restaurant in Gallup.
Lina Sandve, chair of the Provost’s Committee for Staff, commented that the committee uses an applicant’s personal statement of need as one of the main deciding factors in their selection process. She said Abassary’s personal statement was “very compelling” and that it was evident he is a life-long learner.
Media Contact: Linda Thornton, (505) 863-7565; e-mail: lthornton@gallup.unm.edu
The University of New Mexico hosts Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., an event designed to introduce high school seniors to campus life. In conjunction, the university is hosting the first “Explore UNM” campus open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. aimed at prospective students of all ages as well as current UNM students and families.
Senior Day begins with early riser tours at 9 a.m. and a general information session at 10:30 a.m. in the Student Union ballrooms. Registration will be held near the Center for the Arts, east plaza.
Tours of campus and the residence halls will be provided along with information about admissions, financial aid, scholarships, academic programs and student activities.
During the open house, colleges and departments will be showcased. Activities include hands-on activities, demonstrations, student research presentations, performances, exhibitions, a keynote lecture on parenting/mentoring college students and more than a dozen parent/student-aimed workshops.
An information fair at the Student Union Building will feature more than 60 academic and support programs.
Free parking is available throughout campus in lettered zones and at the Zia lot at the football stadium (shuttles run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) Special event parking is also available for $6 at the Cornell Parking Structure, near Central and Stanford NE.
Call 505-277-2260 or 1-800-CALL UNM (225-5866), ext. 3, to reserve your space at UNM Senior Day and Explore UNM.
UNM President David J. Schmidly has accepted an appointment to the executive committee of the Commission on the Urban Agenda (CUA), which focuses on urban issues and programs for the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). Schmidly’s term will run for three years beginning in November 2007.
The CUA advocates for policies, positions and legislative strategies that further the urban agenda at the national, state and local levels. It also fosters the development of programs and projects of special interest to those universities with a strong commitment to urban areas.
“UNM has been called a city within a city, but we are by no means an island,” said Schmidly. “The metro area’s challenges are also our challenges, and it is incumbent upon the Albuquerque campus to work with its surrounding communities to develop effective solutions.”
Schmidly notes that CUA member institutions are committed to leveraging their academic assets to strengthen their urban communities, which is a strong focus for several UNM programs. “Promoting economic development and healthy communities are two of the university’s four core goals. By strengthening partnerships with our urban neighbors, we can show immediate progress in those areas.”
26 Participants Will Benefit from $231,448 Grant
The University of New Mexico’s Ronald E. McNair TRiO Program has been refunded for another four years, according to a recent grant notification from the Department of Education to the office of New Mexico U.S. Senator Pete Domenici. The grant of $231,448 per year will be used to fund 26 undergraduate participants annually in the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Program.
UNM is the lone New Mexico recipient of funding for this program in fiscal year 2007, and was the only applicant from New Mexico for funding under this program in this fiscal year. The project’s purpose is “to award grants to institutions of higher education for projects designed to provide disadvantaged college students with effective preparation for doctoral study,” according to a description provided by the Department of Education.
Types of projects funded under the TRiO McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program include “academic counseling, financial aid assistance, mentoring, research opportunities, seminars, summer internships and tutoring. Guidance for students seeking admission and financial aid for graduate programs also is supported,” according to the Department of Education’s overview.
UNM’s McNair Program is housed under Associate Vice President for Student Services, Tim Gutierrez, who reports to the vice president of Student Affairs.
“The continued vitality of our TRiO Programs at UNM is underscored by this program’s re-funding,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Eliseo “Cheo” Torres. “We continue to grow and nurture programs at our institution that are designed to assist students who are promising and who need a variety of difference kinds of assistance in order to succeed.”
The ultimate goal of the program, according to Department of Education materials, is to “increase the attainment of Ph.D. degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society.”
They also state that “Federal TRiO Programs are educational opportunity outreach programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRiO includes six outreach and support programs targeted to serve and assist low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.
TRiO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRiO projects and a dissemination partnership program to encourage the replication or adaptation of successful practices of TRiO projects at institutions and agencies that do not have TRiO grants.”
For more information about the federal Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, visit the Department of Education’s TRiO Programs Web site at: TRiO Programs.
For more information about the UNM McNair program, call Carolina Aguirre, 277-5491.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Thomas J. Schoeman, AIA, has been chosen to receive the 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning. A 1973 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, Schoeman is president and CEO of JMA, the 45th largest architectural firm in the United States.
Schoeman will be honored at the school’s honor convocation on Friday, Oct. 5, at 5:30 p.m. in the UNM Student Union Ballroom.
Roger Schluntz, dean, UNM School of Architecture and Planning, said, “Tom’s immensely successful career is matched by his outstanding community service. He is an exemplar to our students of the significant leadership role that architects may have in their communities.”
Schoeman’s firm, JMA, has office locations in Southern Nevada and California and each office employs the highest degree of architectural talents for the benefit of the firm’s clients. The firm has developed individualized areas of interest in healthcare, hospitality, commercial and public education. Each studio brings together the best possible team of knowledge, talent and resources for project design. JMA provides professional services in architecture planning, interior design and environmental graphics.
JMA has planned and designed more than 60 million square feet in the last 10 years and currently has more than 150 employees. JMA’s longevity and success is evidence of the firm’s ability to meet client needs and to attract and maintain quality members of the firm.
JMA’s list of pro bono designs for community projects is extensive, but, as Schoeman said, “It is very satisfying to see a project grow into a reality that will help improve the area in which we live. Giving back to the community is vital to its positive growth.”
Schoeman’s recognitions include the Nevada Silver Medal from the American Institute of Architect’s, an AIA Western Mountain Region Merit Firm of the Year Award, 14 AIA Nevada Awards, four Gold Nugget Awards, two Architectural Firm of the Year Awards from NAIOP, UNLV Fine Arts Sidney Award, The Desert Research Institute President’s Award and more than 45 industry awards.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Assistant Professor of American Studies, Jake Kosek hadn’t been in Truchas, New Mexico more than a couple of hours when one of his new neighbors fired a rifle at him. Kosek was cutting across the neighbor’s empty field to reach his rental house since the road was blocked by an overflowing irrigation ditch. That introduced him to the tension underlying the battle over forest management in northern New Mexico.
Kosek was there to research a book. As an environmentalist he wanted to understand how a disagreement over the way the U.S. Forest Service managed the forests of northern New Mexico had escalated into the most violent environmental conflict in the country. He quickly realized his curiosity had landed him on the front lines of a three way dispute among the local Hispanic population, outside environmentalists and the U.S. Government.
For nearly two years Kosek lived in Truchas, worked in the community and explored the contradiction of a Hispanic population that was becoming less dependent financially on the forest and more dependent on it for a cultural identity.
The dispute in northern New Mexico centered on how heavily the Santa Fe National Forest should be logged, and whether the public should be excluded from parts of the forest to allow native species to recover from the changes brought on by logging.
Kosek wanted to know why environmentalists seeking to protect the forest and its birds and animals were so hated by the local population who loved the forest. And he wanted to understand how the U.S. Forest Service, the agency charged with managing the forest came to be hated by nearly everyone.
Understories
The book that came from that experience, “Understories, the Political Life of Forests in Northern New Mexico” explores the simmering stew of race, culture and environmentalism that began boiling violently over something as dry and dull as a forest management plan.
One of the chapters in the book is “Smokey the Bear is a White Racist Pig.” Kosek says he remembers the images of Smokey the Bear from his childhood. “I grew up with Smokey. I loved Smokey. It’s been a part of my life, but there’s a history, and I trace this history out specifically by which the forest became nationalized. The nation was considered basically to be white folks. And the posters and ideas of Smokey were part of that. He was brought in by the forest service in a very paternalistic way and people learned to hate him.”
Kosek says New Mexico made him think about environmentalism in a different way. He considers himself a life long environmentalist, and came to New Mexico with assumptions about why people felt as they did.
He had just spent years working in Latin America and Africa on community development and poverty programs. When he looked at national parks in Australia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nepal and Costa Rica he began to see an under story to the environmental movement in the ways that native peoples had been excluded, sometimes violently from parks as governments moved to preserve land, and he became interested in that tension between environmentalists and native populations. So it didn’t seem a big stretch when he decided to come to northern New Mexico.
But as he spent time in the state and began to understand the people who live here, his thinking changed. “There’s a different history here which forces a different set of questions, which don’t allow you to talk about the clean notion of wilderness in the same way,” he says. “This land has such a long history. It’s still visible. It’s visible in the land grants. It’s visible in the reservations. It’s visible in the racial makeup and even in the landscape in here. So you can’t just say preserve wilderness for wilderness sake, it’s just not possible.”
He’s learned, Kosek says that you can’t think about environmentalism without thinking about race and class history and that is one of the fundamental conclusions drawn in the book.
Kosek’s book is attracting national acclaim. It has just been given the John Hope Franklin Publication Award, given by the American Studies Association for the best book in American Studies for 2007.
After the Story
Kosek’s book deals only with the conflict in northern New Mexico but he says the nature of the battle between the local Hispanic population, the local environmental organizations who have mostly white, wealthier members, and the U.S. Forest Service caused several national environmental organizations to go through an internal soul searching process about their positions and outlook on issues. He believes that re-examination is still in progress and will shift the entire national environmental debate in some unexpected ways.
New Research
Kosek is already working on a new book, this one about bees. The germ of the idea came from his research on “Understories”. He is a bee keeper and farmer on the side, and he’s interested in the relationship between people and bees. Now he’s researching bee history and looking at new and strange ways humans and bees interact. He’s still dealing with race and class and environmental politics, but the focus is now on understanding human nature in relation to bees.
Media Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; e-mail: kwent2@unm.edu
UNM Earth and Planetary Sciences Emeritus Professor Wolf Elston will present a lecture Friday, Sept. 28 about the "Giant Volcanoes of Southwestern New Mexico." The talk will be held in the Kudo Lecture Room (rm. 122) in Northrop Hall at 2 p.m. The talk is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in the department museum.
Elston has spent his career specializing in volcanology and the many related areas including economic geology, mid-Tertiary extensional tectonics and ignimbrite flare-up of southwestern North America, ash-flow tuff cauldrons, relationship of volcanic centers to economic mineralization. His research also includes regional geology of southwestern New Mexico.
For more information call the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at, 277-4204.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
UNM Bookstore kicks off Homecoming weekend with a live broadcast on 610 - The Sports Animal
Check out the happenings Friday, Sept. 28 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. when Ian Martin and The Sports Animal broadcast live outside the UNM Bookstore. The leader in Albuquerque sports talk radio will interview head women's basketball coach Don Flanagan; head men's soccer coach Jeremy Fishbein; volleyball coach Jeff Nelson; and director of athletics Paul Krebs. UNM President David J. Schmidly will also make a special guest appearance.
In addition, the UNM Bookstore will be celebrating Game Day Friday, in which all Lobo fans will receive 25 percent off all Lobowear and 25 percent off all Spirit merchandise. Get your gear for the game and enjoy great savings on Game Day Friday at Your UNM Bookstore.
The savings continue through Saturday, Sept. 29 with a Homecoming Sale. Save 25 percent off all Lobowear and 25 percent off all Spirit merchandise. Everything you need to show your Lobo Pride – Lobowear, stadium blankets, caps and much more!
Come to Your UNM Bookstore this Friday morning, Sept. 28 and meet the UNM coaches and athletic director and save big on everything Lobos.
Media Contact: Anicia Esposito, (505) 277-9752; e-mail: aespo@unm.edu
The University of New Mexico annual crime statistics report shows some fluctuation over the three-year reporting period, but statistically, violent crime on campus remains low while property crimes continue to be higher.
UNM Police compile the statistics annually in compliance with the federal Clery Law, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and requires colleges and universities to release three years of crime statistics for homicide/manslaughter, sex offenses, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, hate crimes and aggravated assault. In addition, the number of arrests for alcohol, drug and weapons violations is reported.
For the past three years, UNM had zero homicides or hate crimes. Violent crimes such as robbery and aggravated assault dropped in 2006. Sex offenses increased from one to three. Auto theft and burglary increased, mirroring statistics in the greater community.
Liquor law violations dropped significantly, attributed to UNM’s zero tolerance policy for alcohol violations and proactive measures implemented by UNM Police and the Dean of Students Office.
“UNM's student population changes by about 25 percent every year as new students enter and others graduate, which substantially impacts fluctuations in UNM's reported crimes from year to year,” says UNM Police Chief Kathy Guimond.
City environment and population density impact the amount of crime urban universities experience, and therefore it tends to be higher than for predominately rural universities. UNM has about 40,000 students, employees and visitors on campus on any given week day.
UNM traditionally experiences more property crime than violent crime, says the chief.
“Due in large part to our open academic environment and our ever-changing population, the campus community is often very trusting,” Guimond says. “This results in opportunities for people to commit property crimes.”
Guimond says UNM's proactive efforts also help identify more crimes as well as being a deterrent. Police speak to students and parents throughout summer orientation. UNM does crime analysis and data sharing with area law enforcement.
Newer safety initiatives include an educational presentation for sororities, fraternities and campus organizations, a dedicated training session for UNM staff so they can serve as “eyes and ears” for police and consolidation of police and security services. The campus has emergency “blue light” phones and a 24-hour campus escort program.
UNM's crime statistics report for 2004 – 2006 can be found at: UNM Crime Statistics 2004 - 2006.
Media Contact: Pat Davis, (505) 249-8304
On Thursday, Sept. 27, the Cherry-Silver Games, an event held annually as part of UNM's Homecoming activities, will feature the hijinks of students competing in a variety of wacky and hilarious games all in an attempt to attain the coveted Cherry-Silver Cup. The antics begin at 3:30 at the Duck Pond.
Photo: A student competes in the Tin Man contest and the Yellow Brick Road Roll contest from last year's Cherry-silver games.
Some of the games include the Lobo Howl, where participants compete as the best howler; the Star Lobo, an event where teams toss footballs through a target; the Lobo Splash, a water balloon toss game; and the Lobo Steam Roll, where contestants must wrap themselves up in a plastic table cloth. Two additional events include the Race for Lucy and the Louie Slobber.
For more information contact the Student Activities Office at (505) 277–4706, and for more information on UNM's 82nd annual Homecoming visit: Homecoming 2007.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
UNM's Jill Anne Yeagley of the Campus Office of Substance Abuse selected to participate on panel
The Acting U.S. Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu is visiting New Mexico to hold a series of discussions on preventing and reducing underage drinking with prevention and law enforcement professionals as well as the general public. The Surgeon General will hold a presentation Wednesday, Sept. 26 at the Marriott Pyramid on I-25. His talk is titled, "Helping Teens Make Good Decisions About Alcohol." The event takes place from 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. The event is free to the general public.
UNM's Jill Anne Yeagley of the Campus Office of Substance Abuse has been selected by New Mexico First Lady Barbara Richardson to participate on a panel of substance abuse and law enforcement professionals that will be included in the Surgeon General's program.
This event is part of Governor Richardson's DWI Speaker Series.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
The UNM Athletics Department will conduct National Anthem auditions for 2007-08 Lobo basketball games on Saturday, Oct. 6 from noon to 3 p.m. at The Pit. Those individuals wishing to try out should be at The Pit by noon and must have an assigned time. A total of 39 slots available, 19 men’s game and 20 women’s are available.
Each singer will have two minutes to perform a traditional version of the anthem. Singers will be notified of selections the week of Oct. 8-12.
Please RSVP to Lori Ann Salgado (loriann@unm.edu) or (505) 925-5014 by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4. A reservation is required.
If you can’t make the audition, please mail a rendition of the anthem to:
Lori Ann Salgado
UNM Athletics
MSC 04 2680, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
As part of Homecoming festivities, the University of New Mexico Lobo baseball team hosts a scrimmage game between current players and alums on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. at Isotopes Park. The game is free and open to the public.
Among those who have been invited are Senator Pete Domenici, class of ’54 and Rear Admiral (Ret.) James Hinkle, ’68. Alums who have organized the event include Larry Harrison, ’83, Kyle Rutledge, ’80, Ernie Blackstone, ’83, and Jeff Grady, ’05.
“The Lobo alums are important to our heritage and goal to build a solid program. We want them to share their friendships and commitment to be champions with our current players,” said Ray Birmingham, coach.
In his desire to build the Lobo baseball family, Coach Birmingham extends the invitation to the community at large. “We invite anyone who has ever chased a foul ball across a parking lot. Please join us and then we’ll all go across the street and watch the Lobo football team take on BYU,” he said.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Interim Provost Viola Florez to be recognized as Mortar Board Lobo award winner
The UNM Alumni Association will honor six alumni with its Zia Award at its annual All-University Breakfast Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007 at 9 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The recipients include: Monica Armenta, Steve Bacchus, Brian Burnett, Leonard DeLayo, Jr., Sandra Begay-Campbell and Chuck Wellborn. Additionally, this year’s recipient of the Lobo Award is interim UNM Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Viola “Vi” Florez.
Individuals interested in attending the All-University Breakfast may do so by registering online at: Homecoming 2007 or by contacting the UNM Alumni Relations office at (505) 277-5808. Tickets are $15 per person and reservations are required. The Embassy Suites Hotel is located at 1000 Woodward Pl., N.E.
ZIA AWARD RECIPIENTS
The Zia Award is presented to UNM alumni living in New Mexico who have distinguished themselves in one, or many, of the following area: philanthropic endeavors, public office, service to the University, community and volunteer activities, business/professional fields, or who have made a contribution to education.
Monica Armenta
In July 2007, Armenta became the executive director of the Albuquerque Public Schools communications department, after more than two decades in television news at the local NBC affiliate, KOB TV. She currently oversees all internal and external communications for Albuquerque Public Schools. She originally joined APS as part of its Foundation in December 2005.
After graduating from UNM in 1984 with a bachelor of arts in journalism, Armenta was hired to be a reporter and fill-in anchor for the morning news. In less than two years, she became the co-anchor of the number one morning news show. In addition, Armenta also co-anchored a noon show and “Eye On New Mexico,” a KOB TV public affairs talk show.
She started at KOB as an intern while still attending UNM. While at the University, she was the SPJ-SDX Student President, and she won the New Mexico Broadcaster Association Scholarship in 1984.
Steve Bacchus (posthumous)
A truly great UNM alum, Bacchus received his bachelor of arts in Management from the Anderson School of Management in 1966 and his MBA in 1968. Bacchus was a fine athlete at UNM, lettering in basketball (1962-1965).
Additionally, he was a member of the Alumni Lettermen’s Association and was active in the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was also a stalwart UNM Alumni board member from 1999-2005 and served as president of the Association in 2003-04.
Brian Burnett
Burnett, president, Bohannan Huston, received his Civil Engineering degree from UNM in 1978 and went on to obtain his Master’s in Hydrology and Water Resources in 1980. He is a graduate of the 1989 class of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Albuquerque Program and a 2000 graduate of Leadership New Mexico.
A recognized leader in the Albuquerque community, Burnett has held numerous committee and leadership positions, working to create a stronger business climate by bringing together business organizations to discuss strategies that address issues of education, growth, water and economic development. He is the immediate Past-President of ACEC-New Mexico and served as NAIOP New Mexico President for 2004. In addition, he is a past President of the UNM Alumni Association and currently serves on the Presbyterian Healthcare System Albuquerque Board of Directors.
Through his leadership role in a variety of organizations and community service groups, Burnett actively promotes New Mexico growth, direction in water issues, and support in creating jobs for New Mexicans and their children. He currently chairs Gov. Bill Richardson's Blue Ribbon Water Task Force, providing him an opportunity to be at the heart of water issues facing the State of New Mexico.
Leonard DeLayo, Jr.
DeLayo, who graduated from UNM with both a bachelor of arts (1971) and a juris doctorate (1974), is currently a practicing attorney with more than 30 years of general and corporate practice with a primary emphasis on commercial litigation, corporate, employer/employee relations, real estate, fiduciary matters and financial institutions. He is a member of the New Mexico Bar Association, American Bar Association, New Mexico and American Trial Lawyers Associations and the Albuquerque Bar Association.
Since 1987, DeLayo held a variety of positions for the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education including secretary, vice president and president, a position he held from 1992-2003 when he retired from the board. He has also served within the community on a number of other boards including the UNM Presidential Scholarship Foundation drive.
Sandra Begay-Campbell
Former UNM Regent Sandra Begay-Campbell is a principal member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories. In her position she leads Sandia’s technical efforts in the Renewable Energy Program to assist tribes with renewable energy development.
In 1987, Begay-Campbell received a bachelor of science in Civil Engineering degree from UNM. She worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories before she earned a master’s of science - Structural Engineering degree from Stanford University and she also worked previously at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Begay-Campbell is also the past recipient of the 2005 UNM School of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award. She received the Stanford University 2000 Multicultural Alumni of the Year Award and was selected as a recipient of the Governor's Award for Outstanding Women from the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women.
Chuck Wellborn
Wellborn graduated from UNM in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He was the first in his family to obtain a college education. He also earned a law degree, and later, a master of laws degree from New York University. Wellborn is currently working for the McCune Charitable Foundation, creating economic development projects in rural and low-income areas of New Mexico and assisting in the creation of New Mexico Community Capital, a $15 million community development venture capital fund.
In 1995 Wellborn became the founding president and CEO of the Science & Technology Corporation @ UNM, a nonprofit corporation, recently renamed STC.UNM, created by UNM to serve as its technology commercialization arm. Previously, he was a shareholder in the law firm of Modrall, Sperling in Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest law firm, where he practiced law for 30 years primarily representing business organizations, including a number of technology-based start-up companies. He serves on the board of directors of the Association of Commerce and Industry, the New Mexico Tax Research Institute, the MIND Institute and STC.UNM.
LOBO AWARD RECIPIENT
The Lobo Award is presented to a UNM individual who has demonstrated outstanding personal service to the institution or for notable career achievements that reflect credit on the University.
Viola “Vi” Florez
Florez, who served as the dean at the UNM College of Education prior to her appointment in June 2007 as interim provost, earned her bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Humanities from Ft. Lewis College, a master’s in Education from the University of Colorado and her Ph.D. from Texas A&M-Kingsville.
At UNM, Florez has focused on diversity, faculty investment, improvement of undergraduate and graduate education, and P-20 education as her major priorities. Her major accomplishments include achieving national rankings for the College of Education in U.S. News and World Report, increasing faculty and student diversity, securing funding for building renewal and new construction, and outreach with educational partners.
Throughout her career, Florez has been dedicated to academic quality and access and equity for all students, especially students pursuing higher education. She has published numerous articles, book chapters, monographs and other scholarly works in the field of teacher education, leadership, educational policy, reading/literacy with a major focus on multiculturalism, and second language acquisition.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
On Tuesday, Sept. 25, UNM Recreational Services celebrates 50 years of providing recreation programs for students. The event will be held on Johnson Fields at 7 p.m.
This is an exclusive student event and activities will include:
* Live Reggae Band Kev Lee
* Food catered by Garcias of Albuquerque
* Birthday Cake
* Pinata Breaking Celebration
* Giant Inflatable Twister Game
* Inflatable Bungee Runner Game
* Hula Hoop Contests
* Army ROTC Rock Wall and Obstacle Course
* Corn Toss
* Volleyball and Soccer
The event is sponsored by UNM Recreational Services and the Office of Student Affairs. Students should bring their Lobo ID for participation.
Laura Montoya, coordinator, Recreational Services, dug into the history of the program and discovered it was created by Armond Seidler, then chair of the physical education department, and the man for whom the swimming complex is named.
“Armand said that when Johnson Center was built it was originally just for athletic events and was perceived as one of the best venues for sports back in 1957. The students got angry that they would close their doors when classes were over and no one was allowed to recreate.
Armand then approached President Tom Popejoy about this and he gave him a whopping $10,000 to start a recreation program! The first director was Bill Degroot. It started out as Intramural Sports, then developed into Leisure Services and then finally Recreational Services,” she said.
Montoya added that she’s “dug up” some photos to help celebrate the jubilee. They will be on display on Friday, Sept. 28.
On Friday, Sept. 28, as part of UNM Homecoming festivities, the School of Architecture and Planning Alumni Chapter will present the Maureen Walter Alumni of the Year Award to Regina Chavez. Chavez graduated with her master’s in Community and Regional Planning in 1999 and served on the alumni board from 2003-07.
A long time City of Albuquerque employee, she recently left to form her own consulting business, Cultural Econ.
This is the third time the award has been given. It is named in memory of Maureen Walter, alum and one of the four founders of the chapter, who passed away in 2005. It is based on service to the school and the community.
In her work with the City of Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department, Chavez worked with community partners to recruit, retain and expand desirable economic-based companies. Project focus is on small business, arts and culture, downtown revitalization, sustainable/green economic development, incentives and industrial revenue bonds program.
In the Aviation Department, she worked with the director of Aviation, Airport Advisory Board, Albuquerque Arts Board, Aviation Arts Planning Committee and the City’s Public Art Program to develop and manage the Arts Program of the Albuquerque International Sunport.
She maintained the airport’s 112-piece permanent art collection, coordinating airport public art acquisitions, working with local museums and non-profit organizations to develop permanent and temporary exhibits, establishing the airport’s art master plan and policies, producing the Sunport Serenades year-round musical performance series, and serving as the Sunport’s liaison with local arts organizations and the public.
With the Hispanic Culture Foundation, she served as executive director and director of finance and personnel. She reported to a 15-member board of trustees to develop and administer arts, cultural, and educational programs, promotional material, fundraising activities, financial management, the foundation newsletter, staff and board development and community relations.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
October marks the 50th Anniversary of Johnson Center at the University of New Mexico. To celebrate, a reception to mark the occasion is set for Friday, Sept. 28 at 4:30 p.m. in the Auxiliary Gym preceding the Mountain West Conference volleyball match at 6:30 p.m. between UNM and TCU, to be held in the main arena.
During the break between games, a birthday cake cutting celebration is planned. Tours of the center are also available beginning at 2 p.m. President Schmidly, Interim Provost Viola Florez and Vice President of Student Affairs Eliseo “Cheo” Torres will be on hand to cut the cake. Members of the Roy Johnson family, for whom the center is named, have also been invited.
Opening in 1957, it has served the university community in a variety of ways for half a century. Providing academic, athletic and recreational support, Johnson Gym, renamed Johnson Center in 1986, has become a campus and New Mexico landmark.
Instrumental in the growth of Lobo basketball’s popularity and providing competition venues for Lobo gymnastics, wrestling, swimming and volleyball, the center has witnessed a rich history of Lobo athletics. It has been home to the College of Education’s Physical Education, Health Education, Recreation and Nutrition Programs; providing classrooms and teaching venues for vast student audiences.
Recreationally, Johnson Center has afforded students, faculty and staff a popular “playground” and has added immeasurably to the culture of campus life.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Krzysztof “Kris” Galicki, professor, Mathematics and Statistics, died today, Monday, Sept. 24, announced Alejandro Aceves, chair of the department. Galicki was an avid hiker who had a terrible accident in the Alps on July 8 and never recovered. He was brought to Albuquerque in August and died at a Presbyterian Hospice. He was 49 years old. He is survived by his wife Rowan Wymark.
Photo: Krzysztof “Kris” Galicki
“Kris was a full professor and member of this department since 1989. Our hearts and thoughts are with Rowan and with Kris’ family,” Aceves said.
Wymark said that arrangements are being made with French Mortuary and that a memorial service is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 10 at the UNM Alumni Chapel.
“Kris came to the United States in 1984 and to UNM in 1989. He was fabulous as a husband and friend. He was funny, sweet, kind and energetic,” Wymark said.
She added that a lot of Galicki’s work was in Europe, but he always promoted UNM. “He spread the UNM community around Europe,” she said.
Charles Boyer, professor, Mathematics and Statistics, said that he and Galicki shared a collaboration dating back to Galicki’s arrival on campus.
“We had a great working relationship. We enjoyed working together. At 49, he was still growing as a mathematician,” Boyer said. They have a book in its final stages, to be published by Oxford University Press.
Titled, “Sasakian Geometry,” the book addresses differential geometry, a way of measuring things.
“We give and prove examples that satisfy Einstein equations that he used in his general theory of relativity. Called ‘Sasaki Einstein Metrics,’ they are types of metrics, or ways to measure that have been used in particle physics and cosmology. They create models on how the universe works,” Boyer said. He said that this type of geometry is used by physicists.
Boyer said that he and Galicki were scheduled to deliver a session at the American Mathematical Society conference, to be held here Oct. 13-14. Galicki helped organize the conference. “I will deliver a tribute to him before the session,” Boyer said.
Aceves added, “While he left us much too early, it is what you do while you live, not so much the number of years you live that matters. Many of us will agree he left a mark and lived to the fullest, in particular when we think about two passions he had: mathematics and hiking. Kris epitomized the highest level of professionalism as a researcher and as a teacher.”
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
As part of a series of symposia leading up to the installation of David J. Schmidly as UNM’s 20th president, the College of Fine Arts, College of Arts and Sciences and University Libraries present “Connecting the Arts, Humanities and Social Conscience” at 2 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 1, in the Rodey Theatre in the Center for the Arts.
The symposium features a keynote address by Guillermo Gómez-Peña, director and founder of La Pocha Nostra, an international nonprofit organization which fosters collaboration in socially-transformative, experimental performance art.
UNM faculty panelists include Holly Barnet-Sanchez, associate professor, Department of Art and Art History, Teresa Eckmann, postdoctoral fellow, Center for Regional Studies in the Center for Southwest Research, Miguel Gandert, professor, Department of Communications and Journalism, Brian Herrera, assistant professor, Department of Theatre and Dance, and Gabriel Melendez, professor, Department of American Studies.
Based in San Francisco, La Pocha has associates across the U.S., Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries. Collaborating across national borders and artistic disciplines, La Pocha artists produce projects ranging from solos to large-scale performance installations using video, photography, audio and cyber-art. The projects challenge audiences to rethink the boundaries between cultures, ethnicities, genders and languages, as well as those between art and politics, artist and spectator.
One of La Pocha’s ongoing projects is a living museum where performers exhibit themselves as human artifacts – such as an ethnographic diorama or freak show – using the culturally marginalizing context to challenge stereotypes and social fears. Audience members move through the interactive, simultaneously performed installations, creating a unique experience for each participant, with some audience members becoming the diorama at the end of the show.
Gómez-Peña’s work in performance, video, installation, poetry, journalism, cultural theory and radical pedagogy explores cross-cultural issues, immigration, the politics of language and new technologies. His work has been presented at more than 700 venues in almost 20 nations. A MacArthur Fellow and American Book Award winner, he has been a visiting artist and lecturer at Universidad de Tucuman in Argentina, UCLA, Dartmouth, MIT and other colleges and performance centers throughout the world.
Source: Pochanostra
Media Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-1564; e-mail: michal@unm.edu
Long time University Controller and Associate Vice President of Finance William W. Britton is retiring after 19 years of service at the University of New Mexico. He is a licensed certified public accountant in Illinois, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Photo: University Controller and Associate Vice President of Finance William W. Britton.
Britton's career started in 1963 as the controller at ENMU. After, he moved on to Northern Illinois University-Divisional Controller, Oklahoma State University-Budget Director and then back to New Mexico at UNM in 1988.
A native New Mexican, Britton was born in Dona Ana. Britton graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a BBA and MBA in Accounting & Finance.
Britton's retirement is effective Oct. 1, 2007.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
Now that students are nestled snugly in their dorms, they might not have given thought to the improvements that the UNM Housing office put into their new homes away from home.
But upgrading and maintaining the dorms that thousands of students call home is of the utmost importance to the university and its employees in the Housing Department. The department reinvests 100 percent of its revenues after expenses into student dorm projects.
“Over this past school year, nearly 50 projects totaling $1 million were completed to improve and repair dorm halls at UNM,” said Dupuy Bateman, director of UNM Housing and Food Services.
Improvements include roof replacement to Hokona, Santa Clara, Santa Ana, Laguna and DeVargas Halls; enhancements to the emergency lighting and exit signs to dorms throughout campus; upgrades to electrical systems at Coronado, Alvarado, Santa Ana and Santa Clara Halls; and fixing potential dangerous problems to sidewalks and stairways. Additionally, Housing has provided wireless internet access to all of the dorms on campus.
A significant investment was also made in Laguna and DeVargas Halls – a new fire alarm system, costing approximately $540,000.
At the Student Family Housing apartments, located on Buena Vista near Central New Mexico Community College, employees repaired and upgraded much of the landscaping while installing new, code-compliant, playground equipment.
“The care and well-being of our students is my highest priority,” said Bateman.
There are plans to refurbish all of the dorm rooms on campus. But, like many departments, UNM Housing is a self-supporting department – meaning that the Housing Department earns all of the money needed to maintain the dorms and dining areas on campus from dorm room revenues.
“As other major projects come online the housing department will continue to complete work on dorm projects as time and resources permit” Bateman said.
Media Contact: Benson Hendrix, (505) 277-1816; e-mail: bhendrix@unm.edu
Samuel Truett will present “A Cossack Warrior on the U.S.-Mexican Frontier: Masculinity, Family, and the Border Crossings of Emilio Kosterlitzky” on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at noon in the Student Union Building Fiesta room. Truett, associate professor of history at UNM, will discuss the story of Emilio Kosterlitzky, an enigmatic transnational wanderer who spent his life crossing borders and taking on new identities.
In 1872 Kosterlitzky deserted from a Russian ship in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. He made his way to northern Mexico and became a frontier cavalryman. In 1913, after losing a revolutionary battle for the border town of Nogales, Sonora, he became a U.S. prisoner-of-war. After his release, he moved with his Mexican wife and children to Los Angeles. There he became a spy for Bureau of Investigation, using his talents as a policeman and linguist to defend his new homeland until his death in 1928.
Truett will discuss Kosterlitzky’s story with an eye to the ways that he used his masculine identity and networks of family and fraternity to build his reputation and move with relative ease across borders even as he devoted his life to policing these same boundaries.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Media Contact: Sari Krosinsky, (505) 277-1564; e-mail: michal@unm.edu
Mary Dammann of Tijeras, N.M. will be featured on the “Caregiver of the Week” segment, on the national PBS series “A Place of Our Own” and “Los Niños en Su Casa,” on Friday, Sept. 28 at 1 and 1:30 p.m., respectively on KNME Channel 5.
Additionally, the Los Angeles PBS station, KCET, the series producer, has invited Dammann and Edward J. Ulman, KNME education and outreach manager, to the First National Child Care Providers Awards Ceremony - presented by “A Place of Our Own” and “Los Niños en Su Casa,” Wednesday, Oct. 10 at the Reserve Officers Association, in Washington, D.C. Recipients those featured as “Childcare Provider of the Week” in the series.
Approximately 200 guests are expected to attend, including members of the legislature, educational community and the media.
“Childcare Provider of the Week”
Down on Mary Dammann’s farm just outside of Albuquerque, N.M., goats munch on vegetables, preschoolers push a wagon, and, best of all, young children experience the many great things living in a rural area offers. Dammann says becoming a childcare provider 27 years ago changed her life. After working in childcare centers over the years, she knew it was time to open a home-based business and partner with her daughter, Jessica.
“A Place of Our Own” is the English-language companion to the Spanish-language series “Los Niños en su Casa.” Both shows are designed for parents and anyone who takes care of young kids: grandparents, nannies, babysitters and home daycare providers. The shows covers: tantrums, literacy, preventing obesity, speech and language delays, among topics. These Peabody Award-winning series combine an entertainment format — the daytime talk / demonstration show — with solid educational information on how young children learn, and what adults need to know to help kids be prepared for kindergarten and beyond.
Kindergarten teachers estimate that one in three children is unprepared for the challenges of school. “A Place of Our Own” and its Spanish-language companion series “Los Niños en Su Casa” respond to this need by providing parents and childcare providers with information about helping young children develop social, emotional and cognitive skills.
In fun and engaging half-hour episodes, Debi Gutierrez, host of “A Place of Our Own,” and Alina Rosario, host of “Los Niños en su Casa,” interact with parents and caregivers who provide insight on how to raise smart, healthy and happy children. The series also illustrate exemplary childcare, with segments shot in homes and pre-school centers, and demonstrate everyday activities to engage children in learning through play.
Media Contact: Evy Todd, (505) 277-1218; e-mail: etodd@knme.org
‘Everyone’s a Lobo! Woof, Woof, Woof’ theme for 2007
The University of New Mexico will celebrate its 82nd annual homecoming, Sept. 24-29, with a catchphrase everyone should know, “Everyone’s A Lobo! Woof! Woof! Woof!” Homecoming week will feature more than 50 separate events all leading up to the big football game Saturday, Sept. 29, when UNM takes on BYU. The festivities begin Monday, Sept. 24 with a variety of student activities on tap. A complete list of events can be found at: Homecoming 2007.
On Tuesday, Sept. 25, departments across campus will decorate lobbies and offices as part of the Campus Decorating Contest. Judging will be held from 11 to 2 p.m. On Wednesday, Sept. 26, current full-time UNM faculty and staff employees who are UNM alumni are invited to an appreciation lunch at the Student Union Ballroom beginning at noon. Additionally, students can vote on the UNM Homecoming royalty in the Student Union Building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"The Lobo Howl," a longtime Homecoming tradition, along with other activities that are all a part of the Cherry/Silver Games competition, is set for Thursday, Sept. 27. Students strive for the coveted Cherry/Silver Cup in wacky and hilarious games at the Duck Pond.
On Friday, Sept. 28, it’s Lobo Spirit Day. Wear your UNM cherry red and silver on campus and show your Lobo pride! Join students for a pep rally at noon by the duck pond to send the Lobo teams to victory. Also on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., alumni reunions from many colleges and programs will take place all across campus. From 8 to 11 p.m., alumni are invited to join UNM students for an evening of music and dancing and to meet the 2007 Homecoming Court.
Events for Saturday, Sept. 29 include the All-University Breakfast at the Embassy Suites, the Alumni Lettermen's Tailgate Party, the Southwest Fiesta (tailgate party) at the northeast end of University Stadium, which starts at 3:30 p.m., and the 14th annual Alumni Association Silent Auction. Tickets for the SW Fiesta Tailgate are $10 per person and $5 for children under 12. The week culminates with the football game between BYU and New Mexico at University Stadium. Game time is 6:30 p.m.
Other homecoming highlights include affinity group reunions, lecture series, various student activities and more. For a complete list of activities or for advanced ticket sales call 277-5808 or visit: Homecoming 2007.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
The National Federation of Press Women recently named UNM Today the best newsletter in the nation. This is the first year UNM Today has received the top award in the annual NFPW contest. Last year the newsletter received an honorable mention, as well as a first place award in the regional contest.
“This award is a testament to the hard work of the writers, photographers, former editor Laurie Mellas, copy editor Carolyn Gonzales and designers Jana Fothergill and John Sumrow,” said Sari Krosinsky, UNM Today editor. “Through this team effort, UNM Today strives to serve the university community while setting a standard of excellence in communication.”
Produced by the University Communication and Marketing department, UNM Today delivers news and features showcasing the university to an audience of more than 15,000 readers.
The National Federation of Press Women is a nationwide organization of professional women and men pursuing careers across the communications spectrum. Founded in 1937, its mission is to advance the professional standards of press women.
The UNM School of Architecture and Planning has announced its inaugural exhibition, “inside PREDOCK,” at the recently completed George Pearl Hall. The show will open on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on the UNM campus and continue through Jan. 25, 2008.
An internationally acclaimed architect with completed works on several continents, Antoine Predock, FAIA, is the 2006 recipient of the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, the highest recognition bestowed on an architect by the profession. His firm, Antoine Predock Architect, is located in Albuquerque, with studios also in Los Angeles and Taipei.
Roger Schluntz, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, said, “Antoine is an architect of extraordinary talent. I am always astonished by both the breadth and the creativity of his powerful, and always intriguing, design work. Of all living architects, he perhaps best demonstrates in his seminal projects the relationship of the man-made and natural environments. That he was educated at our school and has received an honorary doctorate from UNM makes this exhibit particularly special for the faculty and students as well.”
Displaying highly crafted models, competition boards, and prints, the exhibition will feature a number of Predock’s projects and completed buildings, including Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, Austin City Hall and Plaza, and the Spencer Theater near Ruidoso, N.M.
Designed by Antoine Predock, FAIA, the soon-to-be opened Pearl Hall, located on the block Cornell Mall and Central Avenue on the UNM main campus, will be an integral aspect of the exhibit. Construction on Pearl Hall began in 2005 and will serve as the new home of the professional programs in architecture, community and regional planning, and landscape architecture, as well as the Fine Arts & Design Library.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Redondo Drive on the west side of campus will be closed between Hodgin Hall and Martin Luther King Blvd. on Saturday, Sept. 22 between 6 a.m. and noon. The closure will allow a crane to place air handlers on the top of the new Centennial Engineering Center.
Media Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; e-mail: kwent2@unm.edu
Show airs Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. and repeats Sunday, Sept. 23 at 6:30 a.m. on Ch. 5
'New Mexico In Focus' is KNME, Channel 5’s newly reconceived and invigorated prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. This week’s topics include: Both Sides Of The Debate - The Albuquerque School Board Recently Approved a Plan to Arm Its Officers During The School Day; Why Are So Many New Mexicans Carrying a Firearm?; Is a Gang Registry Really the Best Way to Handle a Growing Problem in Albuquerque?
Co-hosted by journalist David Alire Garcia and local columnist Gene Grant, 'New Mexico In Focus' takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, health, education and arts issues and explores them in-depth, with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment."
Other regular commentators include Margaret Montoya, UNM Schools of Law and Medicine; Whitney Cheshire, political consultant, blogger: Wednesday Morning QB and Jim Scarantino, Weekly Alibi Columnist.
This Week’s guests include...
· Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group
· Marty Esquivel, Albuquerque Public Schools Board Member
· Robert Lucero, Albuquerque Public Schools Board Member
· Lt. Steve Tellez, Albuquerque Public Schools Police Chief
· Emma Sandoval, Youth Intern, Southwest Organizing Project
Support for 'New Mexico In Focus' has been provided by McCune Charitable Foundation. Closed Captioning of 'New Mexico In Focus' has been made possible from a gift by Mrs. Elspeth G. Bobbs.
Media Contact: Evy Todd, (505) 277-1218; e-mail: etodd@knme.org
UNM Vice President for athletics Paul Krebs announced today that beginning with this week's game against Sacramento State, UNM will no longer sell standing-room-only tickets to Lobo football games. Krebs says the decision is in the best interest of all fans.
Photo: Long lines greeted walkup ticket seekers at the NMSU-UNM football game on Sept. 8.
"We certainly want to encourage fans to attend all of our events and cheer on the Lobos," said Krebs. "Coach (Rocky) Long has an exciting team and we want University Stadium to be an intimidating venue for our opponents, however, we also want it to be a safe and comfortable environment for fans of all ages. We also want our fans to display proper sportsmanship. The safety of everyone who enters University Stadium for a Lobo football game is paramount."
Capacity at University Stadium will now be listed at 40,094, which includes 38,768 seats and 1,326 game-day workers.
Media Contact: Greg Remington, (505) 925-5520; e-mail: gregrem@unm.edu
The University of New Mexico features keynote addresses by national civil rights activists and experts as well as roundtables and interdisciplinary scholars during “UNM Civil Rights Symposium—40 Years of Community Activism, 1967-2007: Civil Rights Reform Then and Now,” Thursday and Friday, Sept. 27-28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The events are at the UNM Student Union Building, unless specified otherwise.
“The symposium is designed to promote dialogue among faculty, students, UNM staff and the public about past and present civil rights issues,” said Michelle Hall Kells, assistant professor of English and symposium organizer.
Panelists will address issues relative to communities, histories, and current social conditions and address how civic activism changed over the past forty years, what inequities endure within the U.S. social system, as well as where and how current leaders can effect positive change.
Thursday features several panels including one on community health and human rights featuring Brenda Claiborne, dean, UNM College of Arts and Sciences and Arthur Kaufman, UNM School of Medicine. The international perspectives on human and civil rights panel includes law faculty Jennifer Moore and UNM anthropologist Carole Nagengast.
A panel on community engagement is also featured Thursday, as is a panel on language rights and New Mexico diversity issues, a panel on college support programs and another on environmental justice and human rights. Two separate panels address native identities and tribal concerns.
On Friday at 9 a.m. in SUB Ballroom B, a keynote address “Literacy and Civic Engagement,” features Jacqueline Jones Royster. Women’s and African American issues panels will follow.
A noontime keynote features Kehaulani Kauanui presenting, “Native Sovereignty, Civil Rights, and Questions of Social Justice,” also in SUB Ballroom B, followed at 1 p.m., with Vicente Ximenes presenting, “LBJ’s ‘Great Society’ and Civil Rights Reform.”
At 1:30 p.m., a filmed tribute by Henry Cisneros to Ximenes and WWII civil rights reformers will be presented. UNM President David J. Schmidly will make remarks as will Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez. John Garcia, secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services will present a tribute to New Mexico veterans.
At 2:30 p.m., Hector Galán will present the Presidential Inaugural Lecture, ¡Chicano! Documenting the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement.
From 7-9 p.m. at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Galán’s films on capturing Latino World War II experiences will be shown.
The events are free and open to the public. Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to attend as many of the sessions as desired. Participation and luncheon are free of charge. No registration is required. Arrive early to ensure available seating and parking. For more information, visit the symposium Web site, Civil Rights, or contact Bernadine Hernandez, berna18@unm.edu, 277-6347.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
The work of eminent Navajo painter Emmi Whitehorse will be on exhibit Oct. 1 through Nov. 1 at the Ingham Chapman Gallery of the University of New Mexico-Gallup. The work of the internationally acclaimed painter has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and is in museum collections across the country, in Japan and Europe.
Whitehorse, who has a master’s in art from UNM, draws from her Navajo heritage for much of her inspiration.
As a contemporary artist, she has moved in recent years from a more referential way of painting to one she describes as more “sensory.”
Her landscapes portray an intimacy with nature and place, with attention to plants and landscape, to fluctuations of light. In recent years, her work has reflected her preoccupation with water, principally in studies using the color red.
“Whitehorse has an international reputation,” said John Zimmerman, gallery manager, “and for us to exhibit her work in Ingham Chapman is a tremendous honor. I hope the local community will take this opportunity to visit the gallery and see this exhibit. Emmi Whitehorse is a great example to our students of someone who was just like they were. She got her master’s degree at UNM, and went on to earn an international reputation as an artist.”
Whitehorse will be on the UNM-Gallup campus on Monday, Oct. 1 to give a lecture at 5:30 p.m. in Calvin Hall 248B, followed by a reception in the gallery at 6:30 p.m.
Media Contact: Linda Thornton, (505) 863-7565; e-mail: lthornton@gallup.unm.edu
This summer, the University of New Mexico was selected as one of the 24 partners to take part in the Earth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA), an innovative professional development program for pre-service and in-service middle and high school teachers.
UNM will join other colleges, universities, science research and education organizations spread among 22 states and the District of Columbia.
“I believe the cohort of partners we have selected are an excellent mix that will bring varied and innovative approaches to implementing the ESSEA courses,” said Theresa Schwerin, IGES’s associate director of education.
ESSEA is funded through a cooperative agreement awarded to The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) by the National Science Foundation under its Geoscience Teacher Training program, which supports projects designed to improve the quality of geoscience education. GEO-Teach projects provide pre-service teacher training, in-service professional development and access to high-quality curricular materials.
As an ESSEA partner, UNM will receive funding and training to offer online Earth system science courses geared toward teachers of specific grade levels and aligned to national education standards.
Working in collaborative groups, teachers who enroll in an ESSEA course can earn undergraduate and graduate credit while learning to teach Earth system science using inquiry-based classroom methods, such as problem based learning.
"Earth Systems science is a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding earth processes and has broad applications to all science disciplines,” explained Matthew Nyman, ESSEA principal investigator. “The online course will be augmented by a field experience organized in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, which will provide a New Mexico context for teachers. We believe this is an incredible opportunity for science teachers,” he said.
The NSF-funded program will build and expand on the original ESSEA program funded by NASA and administered by IGES from 2000 to 2005.
IGES will provide the partners with online tools, modules and materials, which will be accessed through the participating institutions learning management systems.
UNM’s project is a collaboration among UNM Earth & Planetary Sciences, UNM Extended University/New Media & Extended Learning, and the NM Museum of Natural History.
Principal Investigator is Matthew Nyman, Earth & Planetary Sciences/Natural Science and co-investigators are: Debby Knotts, New Media & Extended Learning/Extended University; Gary Weissman, Earth & Planetary Sciences; Selena Connealy, NM Museum of Natural History.
This fall, UNM will offer an online course for high school teachers from Albuquerque Public Schools and Northern New Mexico’s rural school districts.
This 13 week course will utilize UNM’s LMS Blackboard Learning System Vista Enterprise and web conferencing tools with options for a field experience mid way through the semester.
Next spring, UNM will launch the mid school science teachers version of this course. As a two year program, UNM will offer these courses again in Fall 2008, as well as Spring 2009.
For more information on the ESSEA project, contact UNM Extended University/New Media & Extended Learning at, (505) 277-8128.
Media Contact: Kim Jarigese, (505) 277-6433; e-mail: kjar@unm.edu
UNM Chief Economic Development Officer John A. Garcia has been appointed by President George W. Bush to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency that promotes the preservation, enhancement and productive use of our nation’s historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy.
Mayor Thomas R. Miller of Franklin Tennessee was also appointed, and Julia A. King of St. Mary’s City, Maryland and Ann A. Pritzlaff of Denver, Colorado were reappointed.
Garcia is a former secretary of the New Mexico Department of Tourism, and the New Mexico Economic Development Department. He also served as New Mexico’s Senior Officer of Cultural Affairs and has experience on a statewide level in developing cultural tourism opportunities.
In addition to his work for UNM, he also consults for Grubbs & Ellis NM and oversees his management company, Hospitotally.
Garcia will fill one of the general public positions on the 23-member council. His term runs through 2011.
The goal the of National Historic Preservation Act, which established the ACHP in 1966, is to have federal agencies act as responsible stewards of our nation’s resources when their actions affect historic properties.
Media Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; e-mail: kwent2@unm.edu
The University of New Mexico hosts the annual UNM Water Forum on Friday, Oct. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Union Building Lobo rooms A&B. The event features presentations from different segments of the campus water community and invited guests. The event is free, but those wanting to attend need to register by Monday, Oct. 1 at its Web site: UNM Water Forum.
“The Water Forum brings together guests and UNM community members who are engaged in water research so that we can learn from one another and share our work,” said Tim J. Ward, assistant vice president for research.
He said that the goal is to continue a dialog that will lead to collaboration, partnerships and synthesis of ideas for expanding interdisciplinary research and creative activity on water topics.
Presentation topics include water as art, climate and snowmelt, economic valuation of water level changes, international watershed management and water quality.
Sandy Gaines, the new director of the UNM Law School’s Utton Transboundary Resources Center, will talk about his vision and goals for the center. Jennifer Parody will present, “Endangered Species and the Middle Rio Grande,” and Erik Webb, Sandia National Laboratories and Senator Pete Domenici staffer, will provide a perspective on selected federal water activities.
Sponsors of the forum are the UNM Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the UNM Water Resources Program.
For more information, contact Amy Cordoba at 277-0168 or acordoba@unm.edu
or Tim J. Ward at 277—2328 or tjward@unm.edu
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: gconzal@unm.edu
University of New Mexico students can compete for a top prize of $25,000, plus an additional $10,000 in seed funding, in the third annual UNM Technology Business Plan Competition. President David J. Schmidly will join business leaders, UNM faculty and potential team members for the 2008 kick off of this exciting event at a reception on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Anderson Student Center.
Interested students must be enrolled at UNM for at least six credit hours during the fall 2007 or spring 2008 semesters. Teams will present a plan to start a company based on technology innovation used to produce new products or services.
Judges consisting of successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, technologists, and business experts, will evaluate the plans for viability, attractiveness to investors, and ability to sustain high value-added employment in New Mexico. Top honors will be handed out on Friday, April 11, 2008. Second place finishers will receive $10,000, and the third place prize is $5,000.
Dr. Sul Kassicieh who runs the competition as part of UNM’s Center for Support of Economic Development, points out the importance of new business creation in generating high-paying jobs and, wealth in the region.
Business and community supporters of the competition the past two years have included:
· Michael Gallegos and American Property Management Corporation, providing the $25,000 Michael Gallegos Prize for Entrepreneurship
· Technology Ventures Corporation and Lockheed Martin, giving the
$10,000 TVC Lockheed Martin Prize
· Brent DePonte and DePonte Investments, Inc., offering the $5,000
DePonte Investments Prize in 2007
· Honeywell, Inc., supplying the $5,000 Honeywell Prize in 2006
· vSpring Capital, Wasatch Venture Fund and the New Mexico Venture Capital Association, providing support for the events integral to the competition, and
· Brownstein Hyatt & Farber and Grant Thornton LLP, providing in-kind donations of legal and accounting services.
Additionally this year, Trevor Loy and Flywheel Ventures, a locally-based venture capital firm, have committed to offer at least $10,000 in seed funding to the winning team(s).
The competition is open to all UNM students, and Dr. Kassicieh intends this year to increase participation from students in all of UNM’s Main and North Campus schools and colleges.
For more information call or e-mail Jennifer Bayley, Program Manager at 277-6172 or bayley@mgt.unm.edu.
Media Contacts: Leslie Venzuela, (505) 277-7117; e-mail: venzuela@mgt.unm.edu or Erin Gardner, (505) 306-9575; e-mail: news@mgt.unm.edu
Gloria Valencia-Weber, an Indian Law expert and professor with the University of New Mexico School of Law, has been elected to the American Law Institute – an organization of judges, lawyers and legal scholars.
Valencia-Weber was nominated by her colleagues across the U.S. for her professional achievements and her commitment to the law. Her greatest contribution to the American Legal System has been in the field of Indian Law where she's established the first two Indian Law certificate programs at American Bar Association-accredited universities – first at the University of Tulsa and then the UNM School of Law in 1994.
“I am gratified that people outside and inside the UNM School of Law appreciate my work as being of merit on a national level,” she said. “I look forward to contributing whatever I can to the institute.”
The American Law Institute was founded in 1923 by a group of judges, lawyers and legal educators who worked to address the complexities of early 20th century American law and promote better adaptation of the law to social needs, secure a stronger administration of justice and encourage legal scholarship.
Professor Valencia-Weber is also an extensively published author on the field of Indian Law and is regarded as a nationwide resource on Indian Law issues. Currently she is the chair of the Indian Law on State Bar Exams Committee of the Federal Bar Association.
She has recently published two Indian Law-related articles and is a regular speaker at forums around the world. Recently, Valencia-Weber was one of two UNM School of Law professors to speak at a conference at the Inns of Court in London. Prior to this – in the fall of 2006 – she presented a talk at Harvard Law School.
Valencia-Weber joins four other UNM School of Law faculty who are currently ALI members – Dean Suellyn Scarnecchia, Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, Alfred Mathewson, and Peter Winograd.
Media Contact: Benson Hendrix, (505) 277-1816; e-mail: bhendrix@unm.edu
New Mexico Secretary of Economic Development Fred Mondragon and Executive Vice President and Deputy Laboratory Director of Sandia National Laboratories John Stichman are joining the board of STC.UNM.
“We are very pleased with the addition of two outstanding individuals to the STC Board of Directors,' President and CEO of STC.UNM Lisa Kuuttila. "They bring a wealth of experience to STC as well as important connections with STC’s partners, the NMEDD and Sandia, in economic development for the state of New Mexico. I look forward to working with both of them.”
Mondragon has extensive experience in economic development. Before being appointed to the New Mexico Economic Development Department, he was the director of the Office of Economic Development for the City of Albuquerque, where he participated in the recruitment or expansion of Tesla Motors, Verizon Wireless, Eclipse Aviation, Advent Solar and Albuquerque Studios. He also developed initiatives to improve resources for local business expansion and to better assist existing small and medium sized businesses in Albuquerque.
Mondragon has also held positions as chief executive officer of the UNM Hospital and has been a regional administration of a major hospital system in New Mexico and deputy chief administrative officer of the City of Albuquerque.
Stichman joined Sandia in 1972, and is responsible for lab operations, staff and facilities. He is charged with overall stewardship of the technical capabilities at Sandia and for setting, promulgating and maintaining standards for technical activities. In addition he is responsible for the independent assessment of weapons’ safety, security and reliability for Sandia.
Strichman is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and is registered as a professional engineer in New Mexico. His published papers and conference presentations include the subjects of instrumentation and control, implantable medical electronics and real-time optical computing.
STC.UNM is a non-profit corporation formed by and owned entirely by the University of New Mexico to protect and transfer its faculty inventions to the commercial marketplace.
Media Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; e-mail: kwent2@unm.edu
On Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Student Union Building, the unveiling of The Mendez Stamp will be celebrated as part of the 60th Anniversary of Mendez vs. Westminster segregation case. Cake and punch will be served at the event and all faculty, staff and students are invited to attend.
Sixty years ago, a group of California Hispanic parents fought to end segregation in their schools. This groundbreaking court case became known as Mendez vs. Westminster School District and started a movement toward equality in all school districts regardless of race.
The event is sponsored by the University of New Mexico and contributors to the De Colores Hispanic Cultural Festival. For more information contact Jennifer Gomez-Chavez at 277-7763.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNM Continuing Education is proud to announce a free lecture with Mayor Martin Chávez. Mayor Chávez will discuss his plans and vision for the city and the state from 1:30 to 3 p.m., Sept. 18, at the UNM Continuing Education Conference Center, 1634 University Blvd., N.E.
His priorities include continued improvements in public safety, greater environmental sustainability and further urban revitalization—since Albuquerque has already achieved one of the nation’s fastest turnarounds in this regard.
Firm plans include creating more clean, high-wage jobs, improving services for the most vulnerable in the community and earning more national recognition as a top city for business and culture. Additionally, there will be a question and answer session following the lecture.
Bring a friend, and enter a drawing for a $50 gift certificate towards any UNM Continuing Education course. For information, call Maya Sutton at 277-6179 or mmsutton@unm.edu. This is a free event open to the public.
University Libraries will honor Associate Professor of Architecture and Planning Bill Fleming on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. in the Willard Reading Room of Zimmerman Library. Fleming will give a lecture titled “The Greening of a Watershed in Nepal.” The lecture will be based on material gathered during his sabbatical in Nepal and is co-written with his wife, Jeanie.
Each month University Libraries recognizes faculty members for their scholarly work. The awards are based on recommendations from university schools and colleges.
Media Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; e-mail: kwent2@unm.edu
The 2nd Banner HR/Payroll Town Hall is Wednesday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Health Sciences Center Domenici Center Auditorium. The event will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about what measures are in place to ensure the security of your data, get details about the October campus-wide testing and what it means to you, and to find out what each of us can do as individuals to get ready for the project go-live.
A dedicated shuttle will be available for the event from Main Campus to HSC Domenici Center. The shuttle will pick up from the Duck Pond between 9:15-9:50. After the event, the shuttle will run for one hour to transport attendees back to the Duck Pond.
For those who are unable to attend at HSC, a room has been reserved at each campus to view the event:
* Main Campus - SUB Theater
* Gallup - Auditorium 248C
* Los Alamos - Lecture Hall Bldg. 2
* Taos - Klauer Hall 109
* Valencia- Student Committee Center 108
If you are unable to view the presentation during the scheduled time frame, the event will be taped and posted on the Human Resources Web site. Stay tuned for more information on the viewing the presentation after Sept. 19.
For more information contact Human Resources at, 277-5824 or via e-mail, hrpr@unm.edu or 277-5824.
Media Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915; e-mail: lmellas@unm.edu
UNM chapter one of only 28 chapters to take home the Golden Torch Award
The Maia chapter of Mortar Board at The University of New Mexico was recently presented with the Golden Torch Award and was one of five finalists for the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award for the 2006-07 academic year at the organization’s recent national conference.
The University of New Mexico chapter was one of only 28 chapters to take home the Golden Torch Award, selected for going above and beyond timeliness and excellence while exemplifying the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service.
Laura Bouldin, 2007-08 chapter president, was on hand to accept the award on behalf of the group.
Additionally, the Maia chapter was one of five finalists for the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award. This award is presented annually to the chapter which exemplifies the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service in the most outstanding manner.
Mortar Board is a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. Since its founding in 1918, the organization has grown from the four founding chapters to 223 chartered collegiate and 25 active alumni chapters with nearly a quarter of a million initiated members across the nation. The Maia chapter at UNM was founded in 1936.
Mortar Board provides opportunities for continued leadership development, promotes service to colleges and universities and encourages lifelong contributions to the global community. Some notable Mortar Board members include former President Jimmy Carter, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Lance Armstrong and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
The University of New Mexico today announced it has received formal notification from the National Collegiate Athletic Association of four potential violations of NCAA rules involving members of the school’s football coaching staff during the spring semester of 2004 and the fall semester of 2005.
No current football student-athletes are involved in the allegations. Additionally, the NCAA did not allege that the University, at any time, failed to exercise institutional control over the program and no allegations were directed at the head football coach.
The Notice of Allegations, issued by the NCAA, involved three members of the football coaching staff, two who are no longer employed at the University. They are alleged to have aided four prospective student-athletes and one then current student-athlete to enroll in and improperly obtain course credit from another four-year institution. Only two of the five student-athletes ever competed at UNM.
“We have exerted every effort to work with the NCAA to investigate these allegations,” said Vice-President for Athletics Paul Krebs, who noted that the University was first made aware of the alleged incidents just one month after he assumed his position in June of 2006. “We immediately established an internal task force to work closely with the NCAA to ensure they received everything they requested.
“We will not tolerate intentional violations of NCAA rules. There is nothing more important to the health and well-being of an athletics department than integrity. Since I took this position, we have focused significant time and energy on expanding and improving our compliance and academic services, including personnel, budget and professional development and strengthening our commitment to the academic mission for all student-athletes.”
The University plans to respond to the allegations to the NCAA in writing by December 7. The next stage of the process will be a hearing in front of the NCAA Infractions Committee in the spring of 2008.
The University has retained outside counsel to assist in the investigation and, if deemed appropriate, it will consider self-imposed penalties against the football program.
Krebs cited newly appointed University President David Schmidly’s new initiatives to tighten academic oversight over athletics. Earlier this year, President Schmidly made student-athletes’ academic advisors directly responsible to the University’s chief academic officer, the Provost, and made the NCAA Compliance Officer directly answerable to the President.
“Once we know all the facts,” President Schmidly promised, “we will take whatever additional steps are called for to ensure that this University sets the highest standard for compliance. At the University of New Mexico, our first priority for student-athletes must always be academics, first and foremost – and the most important lesson we have to teach is honest fair play.”
Media Contact: Greg Remington, (505) 710-7911; e-mail: gregrem@unm.edu
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has approved a new area code, 575, as of Oct. 7, 2007, to accommodate increased demand for phone numbers in the state of New Mexico. There is no change in how long distance calling will be handled from UNM Main, North, South and Valencia campus phones, although beginning Oct. 7, 2007, the new 575 area code can be dialed.
A 'permissive dialing' period when either area code can be used extends until Oct. 5, 2008, after which correct use becomes mandatory.
For maps, FAQ and more information visit: New Mexico 575 Info or contact ITS Communications Network Services at, 277-1111 with questions or for assistance.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
UNM President David J. Schmidly has named a university search committee to conduct the search for a provost to lead the institution’s academic mission. Professor Julia Fulghum, the Chairperson of the School of Engineering’s Chemical & Nuclear Engineering Department will chair the committee.
Other members of the committee include: English Professor Scott Sanders, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Native American Studies Beverly Singer; Institute for Ethics Director and Associate Professor of the Internal Medicine Division of Geriatrics Anne Simpson; chairperson of the Mathematics & Statistics Department Professor Alejandro Aceves; College of Nursing Professor Marie Lobo; Anderson School of Management Assistant Professor of Finance and International Technology Management Dande DeGregorio; Associate Professor of Language Literacy and Socioculture Leroy Ortiz; Dean of the College of Pharmacy John Pieper; Executive Director of UNM Los Alamos, Cedric Page; Johnson Center Manager of Physical Performance Development Roger Wrolstad; College of Arts & Sciences College Administrator Vicki Hall; College of Fine Arts and Art History Director of Graduate Studies Holly Barnet-Sanchez; Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs; Associate Registrar Jep Choate; Office of Equal Opportunity Director Art Gonzales; College of Arts & Sciences Dean Brenda Claiborne; and Graduate Student in Community and Regional Planning Moneka Stevens.
The committee will begin meet