Dear colleagues, 

As we continue to work together to make our academic operations efficient, I would like to share some updates in this message to what were shared in previous We Are NMSU messages.

Operational Efficiencies (follow-up to the August 14, 2025 We are NMSU message)

• Faculty Leave Requests (including Sabbatical)
  The leave request process has been moved into an Adobe Sign workflow, allowing faculty to submit requests electronically for Professional Leave Without Pay (LWOP), Personal Leave Without Pay (LWOP), Sabbatical Leave, and Educational Leave. The next step is to provide training for both submitters and approvers.
• International Travel Approvals
  We are working with Terra Dotta to configure international travel approvals. The system will streamline submissions, improve compliance tracking, and provide clearer visibility throughout the review process. It will also allow for improvement of safety for our international travelers. Additional guidance and training will be provided after implementation is finalized.
• Petition for Waiver of Registration Deadline
  In collaboration with the Registrar’s Office, we are working with Ellucian to standardize and streamline form processes to improve consistency and efficiency.
• Faculty Senate Legislation Routing
  This process is being transitioned into an Adobe Sign workflow to simplify routing and approvals. Implementation will proceed following final approval from Faculty Senate leadership.

Alumni Impact

In the July 2024 We Are NMSU message, we emphasized that the careers of our graduates are one of the clearest ways to understand the university’s impact. Steppingblocks allows us to view that impact more concretely by tracking the outcomes of more than 73,000 NMSU alumni.

The data continues to demonstrate consistent patterns, showing our alumni working across a wide range of professions, with common titles including Owner, Chief Executive Officer, Project Manager, Teacher, and President. It also highlights where they contribute, with leading employers such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, Las Cruces Public Schools, Sandia National Laboratories, the U.S. Air Force, and Intel Corporation.

Leadership Update - Graduate School

Dr. Ranjit Koodali’s title has been updated to Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies. This change better reflects the breadth of his responsibilities in advancing graduate education and interdisciplinary initiatives across the institution. I appreciate his continued service and commitment to student success and academic excellence.

Staff Feature: Tim Nesbitt

Mr. Tim Nesbitt, a proud native New Mexican, first arrived at NMSU in 1974 as an eager student and quickly developed a lasting connection to both the university and the Las Cruces community. After graduating, he returned as a staff accountant and has now dedicated more than four decades to serving alongside faculty, staff, and administrators whose shared commitment to hard work and service inspired him to build his career here. Throughout the years, he has come to believe that even within the complexities of a public institution, collaboration can transform a “no” into a thoughtful “yes,” guiding his approach to problem-solving and partnership. Although much of his work happens behind the scenes, participating in ceremonies such as Sam Steel and witnessing students celebrate the beginning of their futures remains one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of his journey at NMSU.

To Tim, “We Are NMSU” means we are all in this together and we should all work hard to build each other up, encourage each other, and show gratitude every possible moment.

Thank you for the work you do every day to support our students and our mission.

Sincerely, 

Lakshmi N. Reddi
Interim Provost
New Mexico State University