Other NM universities announcements

NM FAST has extended the application deadline for the SBIR/STTR Commercialization Bridge Pilot, a program that supports New Mexico companies transitioning from federal Phase II research and development to Phase III commercialization, procurement, and revenue generation. Applications are now due Wednesday, Aug. 5. The program runs from Aug. 18 through Sept. 15 and is delivered in partnership with the Santa Fe Business Incubator. 

The pilot is open to New Mexico companies that are active SBIR/STTR Phase II awardees, have completed Phase II within the past two years, or have completed Phase II and are working toward a first Phase III contract. Six to 10 companies will be selected to participate in the cohort. Eligible sectors include defense and national security, energy and clean tech, space and aerospace, health and biotech, advanced manufacturing, and cybersecurity. 

If you tune your radio to New Mexico State University's KRWG Public Media in the afternoon or evening, you'll hear two widely beloved voices known to listeners across the station's airwaves. Emily Guerra and Leora Zeitlin have hosted two of KRWG's most popular radio shows for more than 25 years and show no signs of stopping. 

Guerra and Zeitlin traveled on two different paths to reach KRWG, yet both began hosting their signature programs on March 8, 2000. They've since brought countless hours of Latin American and classical music to listeners in southern New Mexico and West Texas through their shows, "Fiesta!" and "Intermezzo."

New Mexico State University opens doors to new adventures, and for students Savannah Tuss and Jayda Goodson, one such door led to a nine-day trip to the United Kingdom in May. 

"This trip was much more than a sightseeing opportunity," said Tuss, an NMSU sophomore and state 4-H military ambassador. "It gave us the chance to learn about agriculture from a global perspective while developing leadership skills and representing New Mexico 4-H. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and would encourage other young people to take advantage of experiences like this whenever they can." 

NM FAST is now accepting applications for a free space-sector accelerator cohort designed to help New Mexico-based technology companies compete for federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. The cohort targets founders and researchers pursuing grants from NASA, Space Force, and related federal agencies, with programming set to launch July 21, 2026. 

The cohort will admit six to 10 New Mexico companies and run for 10 to 12 weeks, meeting in weekly sessions of approximately one and a half to two hours. Programming covers the full arc of federal commercialization strategy, including space-sector SBIR/STTR opportunities and federal funding pathways, proposal development for technical narratives and commercialization components, federal procurement positioning and agency discovery, capital strategy and follow-on funding options, and transition planning from Phase I to Phase II awards. Participants also receive targeted one-on-one advisory support throughout the program. The cohort is offered at no cost to accepted companies. 

Legacy can be a powerful responsibility, and New Mexico State University's Omega Psi Phi Fraternity members have embraced it. 

"Our ability to collaborate, deal with adversity and make things happen, that's always been a hallmark of our ability on this campus for 50 years," said Oliver Thomas, a 1978 NMSU graduate. "We're part of the legacy of this university and proud of the university." 

When members of the Eta Eta Chapter returned to NMSU in October 2025 to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the reunion provided an opportunity to reminisce about their college years and to plan for the next generation to follow in their footsteps. 

Registration is open for a second session of SBIR 101, a free two-hour foundations webinar hosted by NM FAST and sponsored by the New Mexico Economic Development Department that introduces first-time applicants to the federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. The session will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Q Station, 3225 Central Ave. NE, Albuquerque, with a virtual option available via Zoom for participants joining from anywhere in the state. 

The second session covers the same two-hour walkthrough as the first: what the SBIR program is, which federal agencies fund it, what reviewers look for in successful proposals, and the realistic timeline from idea to submission. The session is designed for any New Mexico-based founder, researcher, or small business that missed the first session or wants a refresher before attending a more advanced NM FAST workshop. 

Timothy Cleveland grew up in the Texas Panhandle, traveled east to earn his doctorate in philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, then returned west in 1987 to join the philosophy faculty at New Mexico State University.

"Big difference from Baltimore," Cleveland said. "Las Cruces was quite different then. It was probably 50,000 people or so, and I was excited about being at the university and I really hit it off with my colleagues. I was able to do many things that I wanted to do. Paul Sagal, who hired me, was the department head for 20 years. He said: 'You're going to be glad you came here,' and he was right."

The Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at New Mexico State University's Arrowhead Center is inviting NMSU students to apply to the Campus Founders Fund Scout program, a venture capital training opportunity that gives students hands-on experience in early-stage investing. The Hunt Center is partnering with Campus Founders Fund to identify and support strong candidates from the NMSU ecosystem. 

Campus Founders Fund, known as CFF, is a student-run venture capital fund backed by Kickstart, a Utah-based venture firm. Since 2014, CFF has invested in more than 50 university-based startups across the Mountain West, and its portfolio companies have collectively raised more than $150 million in follow-on funding. The fund has expanded its geographic reach to include New Mexico, making NMSU students eligible to participate.