Community News

The WNMU Board of Regents met April 29, 2025. Pictured (L-R): Regents J. Dean Reed, John V. Wertheim, Steven Neville, and Keana Huerta, Staff Senate President Bart Brown and ASWNMU President Brenda DominguezSILVER CITY, NM – The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents met on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Silver City. Present at the meeting were newly appointed Regents Steven Neville, John V. Wertheim, Keana Huerta and J. Dean Reed.

The Board began by electing officers. Neville will serve as chair, Wertheim as vice chair, Reed as treasurer and Huerta as deputy treasurer and secretary.

After approving the minutes of previous meetings and setting April 29 and May 8 as the dates of the next meetings, the Board was welcomed by Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Jack Crocker, who said, "We welcome you on behalf of the faculty, staff and the community. We are very happy that you are here and that you are willing to serve and have committed to it."

April 9, 2025
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish,

I write today on behalf of my constituents in Catron County who have not only raised the alarm
about the dangers posed by the Mexican gray wolf program but have taken the extraordinary
step of declaring a public safety disaster. This was not a symbolic gesture—it was an official act
of urgency by local leaders in response to real and ongoing threats to families, livestock, and
livelihoods across our rural communities.

The Center for Health Innovation-Public Health Institute is pleased to welcome Emma Eileen McKinley as the new Grant County Community Health Council Coordinator.

 Emma brings deep roots in our community and a strong background in public health, prevention education, and advocacy. For the past several years, she has served as the Outreach and Education Coordinator at Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services. In her position, she launched trauma-informed prevention programs, partnered with agencies across multiple sectors, and empowered local residents to engage in public health and safety efforts.

 Emma is also a longtime member of the Community Health Council and has contributed meaningfully through her work with the Youth Substance Awareness and Prevention Coalition. She brings a passionate commitment to justice, using anti-oppression frameworks and the socioecological model to guide her work.

Her energy, experience, and vision will be invaluable as she helps lead collaborative efforts to advance health needs in Grant County. Please join us in welcoming Emma to the CHI-PHI team!

Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) regrets to announce the conclusion of the Compassion for Seniors Program, effective immediately. This decision comes after careful consideration and due to the lack of funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Compassion for Seniors Program was launched in 2021 with the first donation from Silver Adult Care Services (SACS). HMS then partnered with Senator Siah Correa-Hemphill at the legislative session to secure additional state funding for the program with Junior Bill funding. In 2024, Senator Correa-Hemphill once again worked hard to secure continued funding for the program for another year, along with a generous donation from the Freeport CIF funds provided by Freeport McMoRan. The program was developed to provide essential support to older adults living on limited incomes in Grant and Hidalgo counties. The program has successfully assisted seniors with urgent needs such as household repairs, rent, mortgage, utilities, and other miscellaneous expenses. The program has provided invaluable assistance to many seniors, ensuring they have access to basic necessities and a better quality of life.

SILVER CITY, NM—Western New Mexico University honors the legacy of President Emeritus Dr. John Eldridge Counts, who passed away peacefully on March 27, 2025, in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Born on March 21, 1941, in Denver, Colorado, Counts was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and also earned two Master of Science degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a PhD from the University of Texas. He served in the U.S. Army for 33 years. As a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger for the 82nd Airborne Division, he served three tours—one in the Dominican Republic and two in Vietnam—where he received multiple Bronze Stars as well as two Purple Hearts. In addition, he served eight years in Germany, including 40 months as the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Command in Berlin during the fall of the Berlin Wall. His stateside tours included three years on the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and serving as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA.

HMS is grateful for the additional funding support from the New Mexico Rural Health Care Delivery Funds to support needed expansions in primary care,  behavioral health, and dental services. HMS will utilize this funding in support of the purchase of two mobile units, one for primary care and one for oral health care. These units will be deployed to rural communities and our local school systems in both Hidalgo and Grant Counties. Additionally, these funds will assist in ensuring access to Neuropsychological Testing, support the start-up of a Mobile Crisis Response Team, and finally, the development of transportation services for healthcare access in both counties. "The recent funding received by Hidalgo Medical Services is a testament to our collective dedication to improving community health. This significant investment will enable us to enhance our services and provide better care and access to those in need. We must continue to work together to ensure the success of these initiatives and support the well-being of our community. We are grateful to the Governor for these healthcare-specific allocated funds to improve access and care to rural New Mexicans, stated Dr. Dan Otero, HMS CEO."

Silver Stompers attending the NM Line Dancing Jamboree in Ruidoso (seated l to r) Robin Hines, Barbara Carr, Marylee Bell, Sherelle Wilkerson, Phyllis Burris, Christina Placencio, Lupe Carbajal, (standing l to r) Leticia Molina, Jolene Jones, Samantha Jones, Lucy Madrid, Priscilla Lucero, Joseph Drake, Jean Drake, Maria Elena Galindo, Angie VillegasRecent Events and Achievements

The Silver Stompers, led by instructor Barbara Carr, have recently made notable appearances. They participated in the Copper Country Senior Olympics on March 26 at the Grant County Veterans' Memorial Center, impressing spectators with their enthusiasm and precision.

Students, faculty and staff from WNMU attended the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) Best Practices Conference in Chicago, March 9-13, 2025. (Seated L-R: Assistant Director of Title V/Con Ganas Oscar Arteaga Romero, Director Title V/Con Ganas Marivel Medel, Professor of Education Alexandra Neves. Standing L-R: Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics and Statistics Sundar Tamang, Francia L. Ortega Robles, Valeria Adame, Nancy Lechuga Gallegos, Carlos Carranza, Alexa Greer and Brisa Chacón.)SILVER CITY, NM—A team of WNMU students, faculty and staff had the opportunity this spring to attend the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) Best Practices Conference in Chicago.

The trip was made possible by Con Ganas, a program funded with grant money awarded under the U.S. Department of Education's Title V Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions program, according to Marivel Medel, who directs Con Ganas.

Medel, Assistant Director of Title V/Con Ganas Oscar Arteaga Romero, and Education Professor Alexandra Neves presented at the conference about what WNMU is doing to better serve Hispanic students through the Con Ganas Summer Institute, a professional development initiative funded by the Title V grant.