Other NM universities announcements

Honoring his father's legacy of supporting higher education, NMSU College of Business alumnus Michael F. D. Anaya is giving back to students in his own way by providing the Joe Anaya Memorial Scholarship.

"My father was a true role model for me, along with my mother, Grace Anaya," he shared. "They allowed me to attend NMSU without the burden of debt. I wanted to honor his memory by giving back to others in my own way, even if it's just a little."

Biochar, a charcoal-like material prepared from crop and forest residue, can have a big impact on soil health for large- and small-scale farms in New Mexico.

While research on how to effectively produce biochar for commercial purposes is still ongoing, growers can learn more about biochar and how it impacts soil health at this year's field day at the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center in Clovis. Researchers will also present information on other soil science projects, as well as dairy industry updates and hay production. The field day will begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 6 at the center, which is located 13 miles north of Clovis on Highway 288.

Manny Canas earned a bachelor's degree in astrophysics before choosing New Mexico State University in 2019 to pursue a master's degree. Guided by NMSU astronomy associate professor Wladimir Lyra, Canas collaborated on Lyra's 2022 NASA Emerging Worlds grant before earning his master's in 2023.

"Manny absorbed everything like a sponge," Lyra said. "It was a mentor-apprentice experience."

After receiving his master's, Canas launched a full-time tech career with Booz Allen Hamilton as a software engineer. He builds both the user interface and the server-side interactions of the software. The company has contracts with many government agencies from the IRS to NASA.

July 24 is National Tequila Day and Aggie fans can soon get their salt and limes ready to top off their tequila cocktails, say cheers, or simply enjoy on the rocks, with the latest New Mexico State University licensed product — Tepozán Tequila: The Crimson Edition.

The recent collaboration is between NM State Athletics and Tepozán Tequila with Matthew Hechter, owner and NMSU alumnus, and his co-founder Chris Brandon. Fans can get their first taste of the tequila during a launch event from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, August 8, at Elephant Ranch, located at 3995 W. Picacho Ave. in Las Cruces.

Marketing can serve as a powerful catalyst for building a business or brand, but there's a depth of strategic intricacies beyond what initially meets the eye. One faculty member in the College of Business has been deep diving within the field of strategic marketing, thanks to his entrepreneurial background and interest in strategic issues.

K.T. Manis, an assistant professor of marketing, has been with the College of Business since 2022, but his research didn't start there. "The role of technology and innovation adds a unique dimension to my work – a passion I've cultivated over the years."

Registration is now open for the inaugural New Mexico Startup Forum, hosted by Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University.

The forum will take place Sept. 4 and 5 at the Isleta Resort and Casino, 11000 Broadway Boulevard Southeast in Albuquerque. All early-stage startup businesses and innovators in New Mexico are encouraged to attend.

The forum will offer diverse programming designed to benefit entrepreneurs at all stages. Highlights include:

Thanks to a team effort led by alumni from New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, green chilelovers based near the nation's capital will soon be able to get their chile fix.

For the second consecutive year, the Sam Steel Council will trek more than 2,000 miles from Las Cruces to the Washington, D.C., area to bring hundreds of pounds of fresh, authentic Hatch-grown green chile to Aggies who once called New Mexico home.

Jay Lillywhite, a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business at New Mexico State University, has been named associate dean and director of the Agricultural Experiment Station in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Lillywhite had been serving as interim associate dean for AES since January and was selected for the role permanently effective July 1. In this role, Lillywhite works closely with college and university administrators, faculty and staff in the College of ACES, and university stakeholders.