Towards the beginning of each semester, application and nomination materials will be distributed by email to eligible applicants or to deans/community college VPAA’s who nominate candidates for some awards. Candidates for all awards must be in good standing with the university. All awards come with a monetary stipend. With questions, please contact Tara Gray, Associate Provost for Faculty Development, at tgray@nmsu.edu or 646-1013
The Dennis Darnall Faculty Achievement Award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated remarkable, broad-based accomplishments in teaching, research and service to the profession, the university and the community. The award honors the achievements and services of Dennis W. Darnall as a New Mexico State University teacher, researcher, administrator, entrepreneur, and civic leader.
| Dennis W. Darnall Faculty Achievement Award Recipients | |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Anna Lopez, Counseling and Educational Psychology |
| 2012 | Michele Nishiguchi, Biology |
| 2011 | Laura A. Thompson, Psychology |
| 2010 | James E. Shearer, Music |
| 2009 | Ruth Cantrell, Theatre Arts |
| 2007 | Jon Holtzman, Astronomy |
| 2006 | Nina Compton, Finance |
| 2005 | Christine Eber, Sociology and Anthropology |
| 2004 | Jon Hunner, History |
| 2003 | L. Thomas Winfree, Jr., Criminal Justice |
| 2002 | Nancy J. McMillan, Geological Sciences |
| 2001 | Leigh Murray, Experimental Statistics |
| 2000 | William C. McCarthy, College of Engineering |
| 1999 | Margaret "Peggy" Kaczmarek, Counseling & Educational Psychology |
| 1998 | Reta Beebe, Astronomy |
| 1997 | Ricardo Aguilar-Melantzon, Languages & Linguistics |
| 1996 | Kevin McIlvoy, English |
| 1995 | Dale Alexander, Chemistry & Biochemistry |
The criteria for teaching awards at NMSU reflect those in NMSU Leads 1.2.4. They are explained by the University of Oregon at the links below:
The Westhafer Award is presented in alternating years for excellence in teaching or in research and creative activity. The Westhafer is presented in memory of Robert L. Westhafer, Professor in Mathematical Sciences from 1946 to 1957. The Westhafer is the highest award at NMSU for teaching or for research and creative activity.
All NMSU faculty on Las Cruces campus who have worked here ten years, are in good standing with the university, and devote a portion of their time to teaching are eligible to apply, including full-time, part-time, and temporary faculty. This lifetime honor is granted only once per candidate. Candidates apply directly to the Provost's Awards Committee that makes the decision.
| Recipients for Teaching | |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Mary Ballyk, Mathematical Sciences |
| 2019 | Lois Stanford, Anthropology |
| 2017 | Kenny Stevens, Engineering Technology |
| 2015 | Nathan Brooks, History |
| 2013 | John B. Wright, Geography |
| 2011 | Michèle Shuster, Biology |
| 2009 | David J. Pengelley, Mathematical Sciences |
| 2007 | Nina Compton, Finance |
| 2005 | Nancy V. Baker, Government |
| 2003 | Sherry K. Mills, Accounting |
| 2001 | Louis Ocepek, Art |
| 1999 | Kevin C. McIlvoy, English |
| 1997 | Elise “Pookie” Sautter, Marketing & General Business |
| 1995 | Robert Levi Gallegos, Curriculum & Instruction |
| 1993 | Dennis Hallford, Animal & Range Sciences |
| 1991 | Lowell B. Catlett, Agricultural Economics & Agricultural Business |
| 1989 | Reta Beebe, Astronomy |
| 1987 | N. Scott Urquhart, Experimental Statistics |
| 1985 | M. Dale Alexander, Chemistry |
| 1983 | Allan H. Savage, Accounting |
| 1981 | Isabel M. Crouch, Speech |
The Donald C. Roush awards are named for a former New Mexico State University executive vice president in recognition of his 35 years of helping to improve teaching in New Mexico. Any faculty who teaches is eligible for these awards, including tenure track, college track, and temporary faculty, as long as they have not won the award in the previous four years and are in good standing with the university.
The college-level Roush awards are decided based on input from students and department heads, with the selection made by deans and community campus directors (one college-level award winner for each college and two for the College of A&S—9 in total). College-level award winners compete for two university-wide awards and one community college award by submitting applications to the Provost’s Awards Committee that makes the decision.
Named in memory of Patricia Christmore, former accounting department head, the annual award recognizes and rewards excellence in teaching. Nominees come from among superb pre-tenure faculty members who are in good standing with the university. Deans make nominations based on input from students and department heads. Nominees submit applications to the Christmore award’s committee, a student subcommittee made up of members of ASNMSU, which makes the final decision
The Westhafer Award is presented in alternating years for excellence in teaching or in research and creative activity. The Westhafer is presented in memory of Robert L. Westhafer, Professor in Mathematical Sciences from 1946 to 1957. The Westhafer is the highest NMSU award for teaching or for research and creative activity.
All NMSU faculty on Las Cruces campus who have worked here ten years, are in good standing with the university, and devote a portion of their time to research or creative activity are eligible to apply, including full-time, part-time, and temporary faculty. This lifetime honor is granted only once per candidate. The Westhafer Research and Creative Activity Award honors outstanding achievement evidenced by one or more of the four Boyer scholarships: Discovery, Teaching, Engagement/Application, and Integration/Interdisciplinary. The criteria for the award are:
| Recipients for Research | |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Elizabeth Horodowich, History |
| 2020 | Abdu Abdelkefi, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering |
| 2018 | Kathryn A. Hanley, Biology |
| 2016 | Hongmei Luo, Chemical & Materials Engineering |
| 2014 | Mary O’Connell, Plant & Environmental Sciences |
| 2012 | Shuguang Deng, Chemical Engineering |
| 2010 | Jefferey Arterburn, Chemistry & Biochemistry |
| 2008 | James W. Herndon, Chemistry |
| 2006 | Matthias Burkhardt, Physics |
| 2004 | Gary Alan Eiceman, Chemistry |
| 2002 | Jaime Ramirez-Angulo, Klipsch School for Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| 2000 | Hung T. Nguyen, Mathematical Sciences |
| 1998 | Wenda R. Trevathan, Sociology & Anthropology |
| 1996 | Joseph D. Zund, Mathematical Sciences |
| 1994 | Cookie White Stephan, Sociology & Anthropology |
| 1992 | Gerald M. Flachs, Electrical & Computer Engineering |
| 1990 | Joseph Wang, Chemistry |
| 1988 | Ralph G. Wilkins, Chemistry |
| 1986 | Guadalupe Valdez, Foreign Languages |
| 1984 | Walter Whitford, Biology |
| 1982 | Peter J. Wierenga, Agronomy |
| 1980 | Fred Richman, Mathematical Sciences |
The University Research Council (URC) seeks to nurture, promote, and recognize the research and creative scholarly accomplishments of NMSU faculty, staff and students. As part of this effort, URC will present awards to NMSU faculty and staff in recognition of exceptional research and/or other creative scholarly efforts produced at NMSU. Application evaluation criteria is:
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Research Recognition Award
Team Research Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Research Recognition Award
Team Research Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Research Recognition
No awards were given.
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Early Career Team Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
Early Career Award
Distinguished Career Award
The Community Engagement, Extension and Outreach Award was developed by Provost Carol Parker in 2021. The award recognizes faculty and/or faculty-led organizations in good standing with the university who best exemplify NMSU LEADS 2025, Goal 3, Amplify Extension and Outreach. The recipient is selected from applications by the NMSU Leads 2025 Goal Team 3.
Applications are evaluated on implementation and impact.
"The great thing about the Community Engagement, Outreach and Extension Award is that it recognizes faculty and/or faculty-led organization's efforts that are sometimes forgotten. Few articles are published in established journals that highlight the acts of faculty at our land grant university when it comes to simply doing something for somebody else. Student and peer evaluations don't reflect all those things that we do outside the classroom. The Community Engagement, Outreach and Extension Award finally lets us all see those things that faculty do because they are passionate about making the world just a little bit better."
— Kenny Stevens, Faculty Advisor, Aggies Without Limits
The Regents Professorships were established in 2001 by the New Mexico State University Board of Regents to recognize faculty who have made outstanding contributions to New Mexico State’s mission as an Hispanic-Serving, land-grant, Carnegie Foundation Doctoral/Research University. It honors contributions in areas such as teaching, research, extension, and public service. It is the highest award for faculty based on these broad criteria.
A Regents Professorship is a lifetime honor conferred on distinguished faculty who demonstrate excellence in multiple professional areas. Regents Professors hold the title for as long as they continue to teach at New Mexico State University.
Tenured full professors in good standing with the university are eligible to apply. A committee, under the direction of the Provost, will review and evaluate the nominees. The committee, through the Provost, will recommend candidates to the President who will, in turn, make the final determination.
The availability of Regents Professorships is limited by available funding from the Regents Professorship endowment. The Regents Professorships come with a permanent increase in salary.
Regents Professor Master Teachers
Regents Emeritus Professorship
Regents Professor Master Teachers
Regents Professor Master Teachers
For 35 years, Carnegie New Mexico Professors of the Year saluted the most outstanding undergraduate instructors in the state—those who excel as teachers and influence the lives and careers of their students. It was recognized as one of the most prestigious awards for professors. NMSU is proud to have been the home to no fewer than seven Carnegie award winners between 1994-2012.
Location: Hadley Hall, Room 109
MSC 3445, PO BOX 30001 Las Cruces, NM 88003
(575) 646-2594
