Good Monday morning Aggies! Graduation weekend is coming up. It is my favorite time of the year. I hope you will make every effort to attend graduation on our student’s biggest day of their academic life. Throughout this past week I had a number of 1:1 meetings. I started my Monday by having breakfast with Dr. Ann Hubbell of NMSU, the 4th and last finalist for the Graduate School Dean’s job. Following breakfast, I met with faculty representatives to discuss the annual faculty evaluation process and accompanying Administrative Rules and Procedures.
After lunch, I met with the English department faculty. I want to thank Liz Schirmer for coordinating the meeting. Next, I went to meet with the Astronomy faculty. I appreciate Jason Jackiewicz for organizing the meeting. And then, I met with the Math department leadership team. I am grateful to John Harding for facilitating the meeting. After these meetings, I went to the Spiritual Center to attend the Aggie Memorial ceremony. This event honors students, employees, and alumni who passed away this past year.
On Tuesday, I had a meeting to discuss data issues followed by a monthly meeting of NMSU Global advisory committee. Right before lunch, I attended a meeting to discuss Native American student recruiting. After lunch, I attended a meeting with the Department of Biology. I want to thank Charles Shuster for scheduling this meeting. Later in the afternoon, I spent several hours at the Zuhl library, meeting with the reference/research and interlibrary/document delivery units.
To start Wednesday, I had a meeting to discuss institutional effectiveness and then had a meeting with the Deans and Chancellor Gogue. Immediately following this, I went to O’Donnell Hall to attend a meeting on the Health Equities Ph.D. program and with the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (HEST) Executive Leadership team. Chancellor Gogue and I enjoyed our interactions with the HEST leadership team. In the afternoon, Chancellor Gogue and I met with the Chemical and Materials Engineering department. I want to thank Joseph Holles for facilitating our meeting. Today was lighter than normal, so I was able to attend to some administrative duties and take care of some things on my “to do list.” To end Wednesday, I attended the Men of Color “Living the Dream Achievement Ceremony” in the Corbett Center. My kudos go out to Patrick Turner and his team for organizing a wonderful event.
On Thursday, I stopped by Knox Hall to visit with the Martha Desmond and Matthew Gompper. They were hosting a daylong workshop for the US Fish and Wildlife Service as part of a Sloan Foundation grant they had received. Afterwards, I listened into the Graduate School Dean’s search committee deliberations to get a better understanding of the nuances of how each finalist was received during their on-campus interview. In the afternoon, I attended the IT Strategic Planning committee meeting. Next, Chancellor Gogue and I attended the Physics department meeting. I want to thank Stefan Zollner for organizing this meeting. In the evening, I attended the TRIO Student Support Services Graduation Recognition Ceremony in the Hardman Jacobs Undergraduate Learning Center.
To start Friday, I had breakfast with incoming ASNMSU President Citlalli Benitez and Vice President Eduardo Gallegos. We had a very productive discussion and plan to do this monthly. Next, I attended the School of Social Work meeting with Chancellor Gogue. I want to thank Hector Diaz for organizing this meeting. Following this, we went to the Accounting and Information Systems meeting. I appreciate Kevin Melendrez facilitating the conversation. Next, I attended the Strategic Executive Budget Team meeting. Immediately after this meeting, Chancellor Gogue and I attended the Kinesiology meeting. I appreciate Christopher Aiken squeezing us into their meeting. Following this meeting, we went to the Corbett Center to attend the Disability Access Services Graduation Recognition Ceremony. Afterwards, I attended the Asian/Pacific Islander first ever graduation recognition outside Garcia Center. Next, I drove to Gerald Thomas Hall to attend the happy hour with the Burrell College of Medicine and NMSU faculty. To end Friday, I attended the military veteran graduation cord ceremony in the Corbett Center.
On Saturday morning, I attended the Native American student graduation ceremony at the Fulton Center Danny Villanueva Victory Club. It was a nice event and I got to sit next to one of the undergraduate students, Javen Tso and his mother. Javen is getting his degree in kinesiology with a minor in exercise science. He is applying to doctoral programs in physical therapy and I have no doubt, he will be successful in his doctoral studies and future career. To end my work week, on Sunday afternoon, I attended the matinee performance of “Godspell” at the Center for the Arts. I want to thank Wil Kilroy for inviting me to attend. It has been a while since I last attended a musical, so it was a nice treat for me to experience. The NMSU students were amazing and I highly recommend everyone attending future events.
This week, I received five recipients for being NMSU Unsung Heroes. However, each week I will highlight only three recipients and I save the overflow for ensuing weeks.
Karen Hancock (Administrative Department Secretary) – Recognized by Dean Enrico Pontelli and Department of Geological Sciences Department Head, Dr. Nancy McMillan. According to Dean Pontelli and Dr. McMillan, Karen Hancock has served the College of Arts & Sciences for many years. She served the Department of Computer Science for many years and she is currently serving as the administrative assistant for both the Department of Geological Sciences and the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies. She has always handled her complex assignments and duties with calm, grace, and dedication. Her current position is challenging, working in two different buildings, with completely different degree programs and with departments with different strengths and challenges. She handles these duties brilliantly. In particular, her efforts during the pandemic have been crucial to the continued successful operation of both departments. Congratulations Karen and thank you for going above and beyond for NMSU!
Danielle Blackburn (Administrative Assistant in the Department of Psychology) – As noted by Department of Psychology Department Head, Dr. Andrew Conway, Danielle Blackburn is the Administrative Assistant in the Department of Psychology. Danielle joined the Psychology Department in June of 2022. Prior to that she worked as an administrative assistant in ACES in the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM). Before joining the NMSU community, Danielle worked at the Southwest Border Food Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center where she helped facilitate trainings on food safety, cyber security, and how to be prepared in case of an emergency. In just her first year in Psychology, Danielle has become an integral and valuable member of the department – facilitating and supporting the transition in departmental leadership. Thank you Danielle for your tireless efforts. Your dedication illustrates how everyone contributes to the success of NMSU in their own way and I appreciate what you do for us.
Tiffany Santos (Curator of the Zuhl Museum) – As Dr. Nancy McMillan shared, Tiffany Santos is the curator of the Zuhl Museum. But much more than that, she also is the director, public relations director, advertiser, intern supervisor, education specialist, display creator, and whatever else must happen daily in the Zuhl Museum, Home of the Zuhl Collection----NMSU’s Smithsonian-quality home to petrified wood, fossils, and minerals. This is because Tiffany is the ONLY employee of the Zuhl Museum and manages all facets of its existence and growth. When you go visit the Zuhl Museum (well worth your time!), think about how Tiffany accomplishes all of this without a formal operating budget, and you will understand why she is certainly one of NMSU’s unsung heroes! Thank you Tiffany for what you do to make the Zuhl Museum special!
Kudos to nineteen undergraduate students, accompanied by their advisor, Dr. Chaddy Robinson, from the College of ACES, recently returned from the National Agri-Marketing Association’s (NAMA) 2023 Agri-Marketing Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The National Agri-Marketing Association is the premiere association for professional agricultural marketers in the United States. The NAMA association organizes a national competition that includes an individual personal sales contest, as well as a team marketing plan contest. Undergraduate students from more than 30 universities across the United States and Canada participated in these two contests. Students in the sales competition compete individually, participating in mock sales events where students interact with industry professionals, selling an agricultural product. This year more than 30 students participated in the sales contest. Two NMSU students made it to the final round, with Elizabeth “Anne” Hodnett, a student in Agricultural and Extension Education, earning the top spot! The marketing competition requires students to identify an undermarketed or new to market product and develop a customized marketing plan for it. This year, NMSU students developed a marketing plan for a locally produced freeze-dried salsa, perfect for campers and hikers. This competition includes a written executive summary of the plan and for the team to present it to a panel of industry professionals who serve as judges. NMSU won the competition with their excellent marketing plan and presentation, surpassing powerhouse schools such as Iowa State University, Purdue University, and the University of Guelph. Students involved: Analisa Jeffers, Carmina Jaramillo Martinez, Chyanne Rael, Maggie Long, Kari Dominguez, Marisol Olivas, Morgan Owen, Sophia Flores, Sarah Roderick, Elizabeth “Anne” Hodnett, Marissa Cereceres, Emily Johnson, Antonio Ethan Ortiz-Ulibarri, Brandon Larranaga, Charles “Tyler” Peraza, Gabe Gregory, Kaleb Herndon, Hunter Alcon, and Patrick Torres. Congratulations to NMSU ACES’s NAMA team as well as individual students for their top achievements!
The monthly Research and Creativity Digest, which will be posted tomorrow, is meant to inform the campus about issues, accomplishments, opportunities, services and tools in research and creativity and to introduce the campus to faculty and staff who support the enterprise. Be on the lookout tomorrow for an email with the subject line: Extra! Extra! Read All About Research and Creativity at NMSU: May 2023.
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