By Mary Alice Murphy

After the public meeting adjourned, Shepard met with members of the local media.

The Beat asked about the comment made that the resigning President Joseph Shepard would be henceforth titled President Emeritus and would take a faculty position.

Shepard confirmed both, and said that he would serve as a tenured faculty member, working remotely, from where he and his wife will live in Embudo, NM. after they move from the Western New Mexico University president's home by Feb. 15, 2024.

His presidential term will end on Jan. 15, 2024, but the contract just signed and approved gives him time to move out of the house.

Shepard also noted that the contract would pay out his remaining 30 months of his now terminated contract which, when passed in 2022, set his tenure to end June 30, 2027. "It will total about $1.9 million to be paid on Jan. 15, 2025."

He said he would begin remotely teaching two courses a semester in the Business Department, under the direction of the Provost or the Business Department dean. As he also holds a degree in mathematics, he may be called to teach that. He has, in past, said he enjoyed his teaching the remedial math classes.

The employment section of the contract stipulates what his salary will be, as well as entitling him to an 8-month sabbatical to prepare for teaching courses, with full faculty compensation, including benefits, beginning Jan. 15, 2025.

The termination and severance contract also states the university has agreed to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Shepard for any claims relating to actions taken by Shepard in his capacity as president. The university will pay any costs if he seeks defense.

He said: "My hope is that the board continues with looking for a new president. I think the sooner that gets accomplished, the better it is, because it moves the community forward. I think that this announcement today will have people with their own emotions about it, and those emotions are best healed by again, moving forward, not looking back. I've always found in my life that you always run to something, not from something, and that's what the university should do."

Shepard also complimented the press that was present, SkyWest Media's Sabrina Pack, Juno Ogle of the Silver City Daily Press and this author of The Grant County Beat.

"I know you're supposed to be not biased," Shepard said. "I want to thank you for how you have covered all of this over the last year and a half. You have been admirable and fair. I haven't always liked the stories, but you have been what I recall journalism was and should be."