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."

The regents were also welcomed by Faculty Senate President Phil Schoenberg, Staff Senate President Bart Brown and Associated Students of WNMU President Brenda Dominguez.

Crocker gave an informational report that described a number of upcoming events on campus.

Following the report, the Board informed those in attendance that they would begin a search for an interim president, and they plan to seek proposals from national talent search firms to begin recruiting for the permanent president position.

The Board then accepted the 2023-2024 FY Audit Report that has already been accepted by the Office of the State Auditor. The audit found no major irregularities, said Vice President of Business Affairs Kelley Riddle.

Riddle reported that a special forensic audit is underway as required by the State Auditor, and it will be completed by June 30. The audit is being conducted by Jaramillo Accounting Group.

Dominguez then walked the Board through the proposed changes to student fees for the 2025-2026 academic year, and the Board approved the fees as proposed. The per-credit fee amount for 2025-2026 will be slightly lower than this year's fees.

The Board then voted to maintain tuition at current rates for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The meeting concluded with comments from the public and comments from each Board member. In his concluding remarks, Neville, who is an NMSU alum, noted how pleased he was be back on the WNMU campus. "I was in the [NM] Senate for 20 years and I have had the opportunity to sit in meetings in virtually every campus in this state, and this was always one of my favorites," he said. "It is a great institution, and it is a great setting—this county and the Gila—the environment here is tremendous. So it was an easy decision on my part [to accept Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham's nomination to serve on the Board]. And if you will excuse my Aggie background, I will guarantee that I will put my heart into trying to make this university a better place."

The Board of Regents will next meet April 29, 2025.