Other NM universities announcements

Students in New Mexico State University's Fashion Merchandising and Design program are ready to rock their 2025 sustainable fashion designs on the runway for their fifth annual fashion show.

The event will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the heart of NMSU's Las Cruces campus, the Aggie Lounge at Corbett Center Student Union. 

"Our annual Sustainability Fashion Show brings together our design and merchandising students in so many ways," said Kelley Cleary Coffeen, associate professor in Fashion Merchandising and Design and co-adviser of Aggie Fashion Club. "Our event team and marketing team plan and promote the event, while our designers, directed by Insook Ahn, focus on the creative side. This year, we are adding a 'styled' collection with upcycled pieces to reflect the value of repurposing clothing." 

New Mexico State University senior art major Kayla Blundell put her sculpture skills to the test, weaving together astronomy and artwork through a partnership with NMSU astronomy assistant professor Juie Shetye. The result is an artist's vision of a total solar eclipse based on research. A total eclipse is when the moon blocks the sun, revealing only a glowing halo of light.

Shetye made the project possible with funds from a National Science Foundation grant that allowed her to engage students in the arts for a public outreach project. The result of their collaboration is Blundell's artistic expression integrating the beauty of the sun, the moon and a total eclipse with an understanding of the science behind it.

New Mexico State University's University Museum will open a new exhibit, "Ceramics and Culture: A Window into Casas Grandes," on April 17. The student-curated exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore the ancient Casas Grandes culture, with pottery and artifacts from the museum's collection highlighting the story of the Paquimé archaeological site in northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico. 

The exhibit is the result of months of hard work by students in museum curator and instructor Heather Para's Museum Field Methods class, who have worked closely with the museum's collection to create a meaningful experience for visitors. The public is invited to join the opening celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, with the exhibit remaining open during regular museum hours: Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free. 

The Scale Up New Mexico program, hosted by Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University and partially funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, is now accepting applications for its virtual C-Suite Sprint accelerator, designed specifically for tech startups in New Mexico.

The C-Suite Sprint is tailored for entrepreneurs and startups in New Mexico looking to strengthen their leadership teams. The program will run every Thursday from June 5 to July 10. Entrepreneurs interested in participating should apply to this free accelerator by May 23 to reserve their place. Successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance by May 27.

Students studying fungal biology at New Mexico State University will host a free mushroom-cooking demonstration and discussion as part of an effort to demystify the vast world of edible mushrooms.

The event is open to the public and will take place from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, in the Skeen Hall rotunda on NMSU's Las Cruces campus. 

The event is a collaboration between a fungal biology class taught by Soum Sanogo, professor of fungal plant pathology, the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management, and the Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems – all part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute will host its annual spring plant sale April 10-11 at the Fabián García Science Center, 113 W. University Ave., starting at 8 a.m. each day.

This year's sale will feature a variety of chiles, tomatoes and marigolds, including zinnias, coreopsis and petunias – all grown by Chile Pepper Institute staff and NMSU students. 

Tomato varieties like "Celebrity," "Bush Beefsteak" and "Early Girl," among other varieties, will be available, as will chile varieties like "NuMex Heritage Big Jim," "NuMex Joe E. Parker," jalapeños, bell peppers and several super-hot peppers, including "Trinidad Moruga Scorpion."

The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at New Mexico State University's Arrowhead Center, in collaboration with Startup Chihuahua and Startup Juárez, has successfully concluded the 2025 Borderplex Fundraising Sprint, a six-week accelerator program designed to help regional startups navigate the complexities of raising capital.

The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship is dedicated to strengthening the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem by empowering diverse communities to pursue entrepreneurship, expanding access to early-stage investment opportunities, and inspiring development of innovative products and services for the commercial market.

A team of civil engineering students from New Mexico State University recently took the national stage at the Hult Prize competition in Boston to present Arid Elements, their innovative startup focused on sustainable construction materials.

After winning NMSU's local Hult Prize competition in February, the Arid Elements team advanced to the national round of this globally renowned social entrepreneurship challenge. Team members Rebekah Pase, Alvin Birmingham-Monroe, Laney Matanis and Joseph Reyes pitched their venture, which centers on a novel stucco made from recycled glass and natural binders. Their solution offers a durable, energy-efficient, affordable alternative to traditional materials, merging sustainability with real-world practicality.