Dear colleagues,

To emphasize the critical need for increased faculty salaries, Senate Chair Vimal Chaitanya, Vice-Chair Christopher Brown, Deputy Provost James McAteer, Interim VP of Finance Christopher Kinsley, AVP of Government and Community Relations Clayton Abbey, and I traveled to Santa Fe to meet with legislative, finance, and HED leadership. Our meetings were productive and well-received, fostering alignment in our efforts to advocate to increase faculty salaries on par with those at R1 universities. Backed by compelling data from the faculty compensation task force, we were well-prepared to present and articulate the urgency of this need to government offices.

Additionally, our visit allowed us to participate in the State Board of Finance meeting, where final approvals were secured for the capital expenditures for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture Administration Building and the replacement of the Thomas and Brown Building.

It was a real joy last week to attend Aggie Shark Tank, where students had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to "Sharks" – experienced business professionals offering investment and guidance to support student entrepreneurs. This event was sponsored by the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship. Now in its seventh year, the Hunt Center, housed at NMSU’s Arrowhead Center, has made significant strides in strengthening the region’s entrepreneurial pipeline by focusing on the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

Finally, I want to celebrate the recent graduates of the Aggie Leadership Training Academy. Managed by the Center for Learning & Professional Development and open to all NMSU faculty and staff, ALTA is a testament to the belief that leadership is defined not by job titles but by individual capacity and growth. Thank you, Dr. Vanetta Busch, director of CLPD, for your expertise and leadership in shaping this impactful program. I encourage more of our faculty and staff to take advantage of the leadership workshops offered through ALTA.

Together, these initiatives reflect NMSU's commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership across our university community. We are NMSU.

Lakshmi N. Reddi
Interim Provost
New Mexico State University