Other NM universities announcements

Technology is evolving at a rapid pace; 3D printing is already shaping the world, whether that be in engineering, construction, or biomedicine. Preparing students for the future of the workforce means tailoring their education to reflect the world they will be walking into.

New Mexico State University, in collaboration with other New Mexico universities, is helping prepare for that future through the Center for Distributed Resilient and Emergent intelligence-based Additive Manufacturing Research Center. For three summers, they have invited educators from across New Mexico to attend their Additive Manufacturing Personal Development workshop.

A large investment by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department promises to boost efforts by New Mexico State University's College of Engineering to strengthen the state's electric grid infrastructure, while providing opportunities for students to improve hands-on learning and research opportunities.

Today, the New Mexico Board of Finance approved EMNRD's $31.2 million investment to expand and modernize NMSU's Integrated Digital Enterprise Accelerator Laboratory, also known as the IDEAL Center. The investment, part of a two-year project, will help transform the center into a nationally significant testbed for next-generation energy systems, said Olga Lavrova, the NMSU Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering professor who leads the IDEAL Center. She is also the principal investigator of the project, titled "SMaRT-GRID NM — Smarter, Modernized, and Resilient Technologies for Grid Reliability, Innovation, and Development in New Mexico Communities."

New Mexico State University astronomy Ph.D. student Aman Priyadarshi Kumar has been invited to speak at the 2026 TEDx Albuquerque (TEDxABQ) event this summer. TEDxABQ, an independently organized TED event, pulls together diverse thinkers to share ideas with the power to create change across the region.

The event begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 29 at the Albuquerque Rail Yards. This year's theme of "Reframe" invites audiences to shift their perspectives and challenge their assumptions.

"I am excited to represent NMSU, solar physics and the experience of being a first-generation student from India who came to the U.S. to study astronomy," he said. "More than anything, I am excited to help people feel that science is not distant or inaccessible. It can be human, personal and connected to everyday life."

NM FAST is hosting a free workshop designed to help New Mexico-based technology startups and small businesses understand the federal compliance requirements and safeguarding standards required for working with Department of Defense contractors. The workshop, "Basic Safeguarding Requirements for Defense Contractors," will be held on Tuesday, July 21, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Q Station, 3225 Central Ave. NE, Albuquerque, with a virtual option available via Zoom for participants joining from anywhere in the state. 

Led by Elythia McAnarney, a contracts manager with specialized expertise in CFCM and CPCM compliance, the session will cover foundational Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements, including FAR 52.204-21, DFARS 252.204-7012, and NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2. The workshop is designed for founders and business leaders exploring federal procurement pathways who need to understand the first steps toward compliance and the practical business implications of doing work with the U.S. Department of Defense. Zoom connection details will be provided to registered participants. 

Raymy Brown, a 1979, 1980 and 1982 New Mexico State University graduate, doesn't believe in sitting on the sidelines. He was an umpire at the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in August 2025. The selection as a World Series umpire is the highest honor given to Little League umpires.

"I do what I do to serve my community and to serve as a role model and an example to the youth of my community," Brown said.

This summer, Brown will umpire the Little League Southwest Region Tournament, which includes New Mexico, Aug. 6-11 in Waco, Texas. The winner advances to the LLBWS.

New Mexico State University's Atomic Aggies saw a successful launch at the 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition, the largest international rocketry competition in the world.

Every year, colleges from across the globe send their rocketry teams to compete in the event hosted by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association. This year, more than 100 teams traveled to Saragosa, Texas from over 15 countries including Brazil, India, Italy and others to launch the rockets they worked on.

"It means a lot to be able to compete on such a global stage," said Justin Bonds, NMSU aerospace engineering student and project manager for the Atomic Aggies. "We get to see how our designs work and get the opportunity to meet and learn from teams from around the world. It was also extremely meaningful as we launched the first two-stage rocket the team has ever built."

New Mexico State University engineering students are preparing for careers in the growing clean energy workforce while helping local businesses uncover opportunities to save energy, reduce costs, and advance sustainability.

Through the College of Engineering and the Building Training and Assessment Center, students gain industry-recognized credentials through in-person and online micro-credential courses and practical experience, while partnering with New Mexico companies to improve energy efficiency. The efforts are part of an ongoing initiative supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy that began in October 2024.

In his debut novel, "Eyes on the Horizon," New Mexico State University alumnus Canyon Young pens a thrilling tale set in 19th-century New Mexico that follows a son who embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth about his missing father.

Young, who graduated from NMSU in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in range science from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, self-published the novel in 2025 to unexpected fanfare. The book was a finalist for the Western Writers of America's 2026 Spur Awards, one of the highest honors in American literature.