Dear colleagues, 

Welcome back, faculty and staff, to the Spring 2025 semester. I hope you had a restful break and are ready for an exciting and productive semester ahead. 

I would like to extend congratulations to this year’s faculty award recipients, who were recognized at the Spring 2025 convocation for their exceptional achievements and contributions to our university. In STEM, Cory Windorff, Di Shi, and Gary Eiceman were honored for their excellence at the early, mid, and distinguished career levels, respectively. In the Social Sciences and Humanities, Jamal Mamkhezri, Motoko Furuhashi, and Judith Flores Carmona were similarly celebrated for their outstanding work at the early, mid, and distinguished career levels.

Special recognition also goes to Rachel Boren for her impactful research, and to Monique Matute-Chavarria, Sarah Wiegand, and Anita Hernández for their excellence in team research. Additionally, Donna Sauter and her work with Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition (ICAN) received the Community Engagement, Extension, and Outreach Award, and Jessica Houston was awarded the prestigious Westhafer Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity. These accomplishments reflect the exceptional talent and dedication of our faculty to both our institution and our students.

I have started reviewing the promotion and tenure applications from all colleges, and it has been a truly humbling experience. The academic achievements of our faculty are remarkable, with many exceeding the expectations set at the department and college levels for promotion and tenure. I deeply appreciate their dedication to fostering a supportive learning environment for students, conducting groundbreaking research, engaging with the community, and contributing through service and outreach activities.

After a lengthy set of deliberations by the Task Force on International Affairs, we have decided to expand the scope of what we currently provide under International Student and Scholar Services and establish it as a central unit reporting directly to the Provost's Office. In addition to managing formalities related to student and scholar visas (I-20, CPT, OPT, etc.), this central unit will provide comprehensive services for all stakeholders, including faculty and programs engaged in international collaborations. Deputy Provost James McAteer is assisting me with this initiative, and together we will engage all international-related services currently active on campus, and keep you all informed as we move forward.

Together, let's make this semester a time of growth, collaboration, and great achievements. We are NMSU.

Sincerely, 

Lakshmi N. Reddi
Interim Provost
New Mexico State University