Tag Archives: NMSU

The New Mexico State University community and visitors will have a new transportation option for navigating campus with the launch of an electronic, dock-less scooter sharing rental company.

“I think this could be a real game changer for NMSU,” said Emerson Morrow, ASNMSU president. “We need something to aid transportation and mobility, and I think this is definitely going to meet that need.”

The Associated Students of NMSU spearheaded the effort to partner with Spin. A 60-day trial begins on campus Friday, January 18.

Owned by the Ford Motor Company, Spin’s launch will include 100 scooters that will be collected daily at 7 p.m. and replaced at 7 a.m.

Riders must use the Spin app to rent the scooters, and the cost is $1 per ride plus $0.15 per minute.

Daily scooter setup locations will include Corbett Center, residence halls and the Horseshoe. Riders can find scooter locations on the app. Riders should be aware of traffic laws and safety regulations.

After the 60-day trial, the program will be evaluated, so NMSU is encouraging university community members to provide feedback via email at spin@nmsu.edu.

According to Morrow, students were excited about a scooter-sharing program on campus, and he is eager for the launch.

“I’m so pumped,” he said. “When I floated the possibility it was an immediate no, we just can’t do that. Spin is a company that has effectively answered every question that has come up.”

The Spin app is available for download through Apple’s App Store or Google Play.

Author: Tiffany Acosta – NMSU

The New Mexico State University Military Family Communication Project spanning the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business was formed in 2013.

The project is currently focused on post deployment reintegration and aims to develop programs to support military family members trying to reconnect with each other and their communities.

The project is seeking non-active duty veterans and their families who were present before and after deployment to participate in three family sessions to talk about their experiences with deployment and the return of a family member.

“I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of NMSU’s Military Family Communication Research team for over five years,” said Communication

Studies Professor Jeanne Flora. “We are a team of faculty and staff from across the university who joined together with the common goal of learning about and supporting military families who are reintegrating post-deployment.”

The research focuses on developing practical intervention skills that veterans and families can use to reconnect and improve family communication and health.

“Our research has truly been guided by families themselves, who have stressed to us the impact that deployment has on the whole family and the value of supportive, understanding relationships,” said Flora.

Participants will receive $100 for joining the study. For more information on the project contact Tim Ketelaar at 575- 646-1833 or ketelaar@nmsu.edu

Author: Faith Schifani – NMSU

Fifteen years after a chance meeting started their partnership, a compound Jeffrey Arterburn, and Eric Prossnitz discovered may lead to new skin cancer treatments.

Arterburn, a Regents professor in chemistry and biochemistry at New Mexico State University, and Prossnitz, a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, met after a regional scientific conference in 2003.  Arterburn told Prossnitz about some compounds he had developed that might help Prossnitz’s research. The two quickly realized that their work dovetailed nicely.

Arterburn, a medicinal chemist, had derived compounds from estrogen that Prossnitz could further modify to make fluorescent. The molecules lit up under a microscope, allowing scientists to see where their receptors were displayed on cells. Arterburn could further change the compounds’ properties by adding or removing atoms from their molecules.

Prossnitz, a molecular biologist, was studying breast cancer cells and their receptors. He was particularly interested in why some women who initially respond to breast cancer drugs later develop resistance to them, allowing the cancer to recur. When it does, it usually recurs more aggressively.

Prossnitz’s lab had discovered a receptor called GPER on the surface of breast cancer cells, which, when triggered by estrogen, increased the cells” cancerous behavior. Prossnitz was looking for a method to control how GPER responded; Arterburn’s compounds would help him see how the receptor interacted with estrogen.

So, with a pilot grant from the Cowboys for Cancer Research Foundation, the two began working together. Arterburn would create compounds in his lab and send them to Prossnitz for testing. The pilot funding would eventually lead to more than $8 million in research support, but those initial dollars meant a lot. “Those were personal donations,” Arterburn says. “People have lost [loved ones] or been affected by cancer.”

The pilot funds paid for the specialized substances and personnel they needed to carry out their first experiments. “Every nickel of that money goes right into supporting research,” Arterburn says.

Using Arterburn’s molecules, Prossnitz discovered that GPER responded to breast cancer drugs that shut down the estrogen receptor in the nucleus of ER-positive breast cancer cells. He showed that some of these same drugs also activated survival and growth signals in cells through GPER, an action not known when these drugs were developed. It may explain why some women develop resistance, he says.

Prossnitz and Arterburn worked with Larry Sklar, who leads UNM’s Center for Molecular Discovery, to find two molecules that greatly affected how GPER responds. One, called an agonist, activates the receptor. The other, called an antagonist, shuts it down.

To find the first compound, they screened a collection of 10,000 molecules. But to save time and effort, they enlisted help from UNM colleagues Tudor Oprea, and Cristian Bologa, who applied computational biology techniques to narrow down the search. “Instead of physically testing 10,000 compounds, we physically tested the top 100,” Prossnitz says. “They cut our work down a hundred-fold.”

Prossnitz, Arterburn and their colleagues obtained a patent for the compounds in 2011. Then, in 2017, a start-up company called Linnaeus contacted UNM.STC, a non-profit that oversees the transfer of UNM-developed technology. Linnaeus wanted to license the agonist for use in combination with immune therapy for melanoma.

Melanoma, like breast and some other cancers, was shown to respond to estrogen. Linnaeus’ founders’ initial studies suggested that the combination of the GPER agonist and immunotherapy might help the body destroy melanoma more effectively.

Linnaeus is currently carrying out pre-clinical studies. If they go well, Linnaeus will begin human trials at a few sites around the country, led by the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“This could be the first example of UNM basic research in cancer that goes from initial drug discovery and cell biology to clinical trials,” Prossnitz says. “It’s always a long shot.” But he and Arterburn hope it one day could change cancer treatment.

***

Editor’s Note: Eric Prossnitz, PhD, is a professor in UNM’s Department of Internal Medicine, and chief of the Division of Molecular Medicine. He directs the Cancer Biology and Signaling research program at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Jeffrey Arterburn, PhD, is a Regents’ professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the New Mexico State University. He served as director of the New Mexico IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence, NM-INBRE, from 2001-2016. He is also a member of the Cancer Therapeutics program at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Larry Sklar, PhD, is professor in the UNM Department of Pathology. He serves as director of the UNM Center for Molecular Discovery and leads the Cancer Therapeutics program at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Tudor Oprea, MD, PhD, is a professor in the UNM Department of Internal Medicine, and serves as chief of the Division of Translational Informatics. He is a member of the Cancer Therapeutics program at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Cristian Bologa, PhD, is a research professor in the UNM Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Translational Informatics, and a member of the Cancer Therapeutics program at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Author: Michele Sequeira – NMSU

Two associate professors with New Mexico State University’s College of Education have each been selected to positions that will help serve the educational needs of the region.

Blanca Araujo, director of the Office for Teacher Candidate Preparation, has been named the Stan Fulton Chair in Education for the Improvement of Border and Rural Schools, and Michelle Salazar Pérez, associate professor of Early Childhood Education, is the recipient of the J. Paul Taylor Endowed Professorship in Education. Araujo succeeds Azadeh Osanloo, while Pérez succeeds Betsy Cahill.

Osanloo and Cahill are co-directors of the NMSU School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership, which is housed in the College of Education.

The Stan Fulton Chair was established in 2005 to enhance communication among NMSU faculty, staff and students and pre-kindergarten through 12th grade constituents to improve border and rural schools. The chair works to expand, improve and coordinate existing outreach programs and research activities, and is funded in part by an endowed gift from Stan Fulton, a benefactor to the university and owner of Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino who died in January 2018.

Araujo co-authored the book, “Educating Across Borders: The Case of a Dual Language Program on the U.S.-Mexico Border,” based on research of border-crossing students attending school in El Paso and their experiences learning from a dual-language curriculum. Araujo also has experience working with rural and border communities, including time spent as a student and later a teacher in the Gadsden Independent School District.

“I feel very privileged and proud to be the Stan Fulton Chair,” said Araujo, who has been at NMSU for seven years. “I know the Fulton family has always supported Gadsden, and it means a lot to continue that work, especially being from the border and a rural school.”

Araujo said she plans to continue her work in bilingual and teacher education and studying binational students. Araujo will also take over for Osanloo in helping organize a youth summer camp with the Las Cruces Police Department.

The professorship was established in 2004 by family and friends of J. Paul Taylor, a retired state representative who received three degrees from NMSU. Taylor has been a lifelong advocate for PreK-12 education, most notably early childhood and bilingual education.

Pérez, who is in her sixth year at NMSU, will help organize the 27th International Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education Conference, which will take place at NMSU next fall. The conference will host attendees from across the globe, including New Zealand, Kenya, Norway and Denmark, along with the U.S. and Mexico.

“I feel very honored to be able to continue advocacy of early childhood education in the state of New Mexico, nationally and internationally,” Pérez said. “I also feel honored that I get to follow in Dr. Cahill’s footsteps because she’s done so much for border communities and the state.”

Pérez said she plans to use some of the funds she receives as part of the J. Paul Taylor Endowed Professorship to support research on children’s views of current events and how they affect their lives, and to help support graduate students conducting research on early childhood education topics that will help serve surrounding border communities.

Cahill and Osanloo said they were both pleased with the selection of Araujo and Pérez by the search committee responsible for choosing the Stan Fulton Chair and the J. Paul Taylor Endowed Professor.

“These women are committed to serving the educational institutions and communities of the State of New Mexico,” Osanloo said. “We are confident that they will continue to honor the legacy of both Stan Fulton and Rep. J. Paul Taylor.”

Author: Adriana M. Chavez – NMSU

Hugo Navarro Serrano knows the impact of studying abroad in the development of a person’s career. The Costa Rica native earned his master’s degree in civil engineering at New Mexico State University in 1993.

Now as the director of the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, he is working with NMSU’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences to create opportunities for both universities’ Extension education students.

The quest for a partnership began when College of ACES Dean Rolando A. Flores and members of the college leadership team visited Costa Rica in February after an invitation of the Costa Rican Minister of Education, Sonia M. Mora.

“We made an exploratory trip to a number of different universities,”  said Jon Boren, assistant dean and director of NMSU’s Cooperative Extension Service. “We visited with Extension colleagues about both of our Extension programs.”

Two goals arose from the trip – a reciprocal visit by an Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica leadership team to New Mexico and an interest in exploring possibilities of a student exchange program focusing on Extension education with hopes of a future dual degree program.

“Our visit created a great opportunity for them to bring some of their professors and students in Extension programs to New Mexico to see how we develop, deliver and evaluate Extension programs,” Boren said.

The first week of December, Serrano and a group of directors, faculty and students visited NMSU in Las Cruces and traveled north along the Rio Grande corridor to learn about New Mexico’s Cooperative Extension Service.

Diego Camacho, general coordinator of Extension at the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, has been working to make changes in the

Costa Rican Extension program.

“Many things that we have been thinking about are things that NMSU already has done here for years,” Camacho said. “When we see NMSU’s programs, we know it is important to make changes to include these things.”

During the visit, the leadership teams for both colleges discussed the possibility of developing a dual master’s degree program in Extension education.

“Most of our Extension people are engineers, who are working in their discipline, but they don’t have a formal education in Extension,” said Carmen Madriz, director of graduate studies at the Institute of Technical Education.

After reviewing NMSU’s Extension education program, Madriz said her colleagues saw an opportunity to work with NMSU to have a dual degree.

The first step to that goal is an exchange program where Costa Rican students will attend NMSU’s Extension 101 class and NMSU students will participate in internships.

“From this visit we have signed an agreement that we are going to start with Extension 101 as the first official activity,” Serrano said.

“Our Cooperative Extension Service programs are well known in New Mexico and in other states in the country,” said Dean Rolando A. Flores. “This year we have made great strides in sharing our successes with colleagues in Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico and India. International collaboration is a two-way street, they learn and we learn too. We are very hopeful of the opportunities that can result from collaborating with them.”

Author: Jane Moorman – NMSU

More than 1,200 New Mexico State University students are projected to participate in the fall commencement ceremony.

Commencement weekend will begin the evening of Friday, December 7, with a hooding ceremony for doctoral candidates at the Pan American Center at 6 p.m.

Following that, students receiving their bachelor’s and master’s degrees will be honored Saturday, December 8.

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. and candidates from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering and College of Health and Social Services will be recognized.

NMSU will recognize Ramakrishna and Ammu Devasthali as the honorary degree recipients during Friday’s ceremony.

Additionally, 456 associate degrees and 171 certificates will be conferred to students graduating from NMSU Dona Ana Community College, NMSU Alamogordo, NMSU Carlsbad and NMSU Grants this fall.

The Pan American Center will open one hour prior to each ceremony. Tickets are not required. Graduates should check in east of the Pan Am in Lot 32.

Arrowhead Drive between Triviz Drive and Stewart Street along the Pan Am will be closed during commencement. Graduates and the general public should park in the lots to the north and east of the Pan Am, with handicapped parking to the north and northeast of the building.

For family and friends who cannot make it out to the commencement ceremonies, Information & Communication Technologies Video Services will be live streaming them via this link.

Media covering the event should park in the south lot and obtain a media pass in the tent located in Lot 32, east of the Pan Am.

For more information about the commencement ceremony, visit the website.

A total of 1,270 candidates at NMSU’s main campus will receive the following degrees:

– Associate degree: 4
– Bachelor’s degree: 918
– Master’s degree: 287
– Doctoral degree: 61

The following number of degrees will be awarded from each college:

– Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences: 107
– Arts and Sciences: 367
– Business: 120
– Education: 76
– Engineering: 183
– Health and Social Services: 69
– Graduate School: 348

Author: Melissa R. Rutter – NMSU

A key part of many fields such as oil and gas exploration, mining, gas storage, carbon sequestration and geothermal energy development is being able to predict what is under the Earth’s surface.

New Mexico State University faculty and students will now be able to use cutting-edge techniques to analyze the subsurface structure of the Earth thanks to a donation of software worth more than $2.1 million from Petroleum Experts, Inc.

“We are very excited that our faculty and staff will have access to the Move software package,” said Nancy McMillan, Regents professor and department head of NMSU’s Department of Geological Sciences. “We appreciate the donation from Petroleum Experts, Inc. This will allow us to apply state-of-the-art methods of structural analysis for teaching and research.”

Reed Burgette, assistant professor of geological sciences, initiated the request for the software, and is coordinating the use of the Move software suite following the donation from Petroleum Experts, Inc.

“This software gives NMSU students the opportunity to learn skills relevant to employment in a variety of sectors,” said Burgette. “It allows users to construct 2D cross-sections as well as 3D models using available surface and subsurface geologic observations.”

A geometric model of the deformed crust can be restored to an un-deformed state to test for compatibility of the model with principles of structural geology and to understand the history of deformation through time. Additional modules of the program permit analysis of the relationships between faults and fractures and stress and strain in the deformed crust.

NMSU geological sciences faculty and students conducting research on tectonics – large-scale processes affecting the structure of the Earth’s crust – will use the software to understand the history of active and past deformation in diverse settings, including the Rio Grande rift of southern New Mexico, the Transverse Ranges of southern California and the Tien Shan Mountains of Central Asia.

“The Move software will enable faculty and students to pursue new directions in research at NMSU,” said Burgette. “This will be a great opportunity for our students to work with the kinds of 3D modeling tools they will be expected to master once they graduate and are in the workforce.”

Author: Minerva Baumann – NMSU

The second round of the Battle of I-10 was a hard-fought contest as NM State (5-1) slipped past UTEP (2-4), 62-58, on Wednesday night in front of a loud and energetic Miner faithful at the Don Haskins Center.

NM State took an 11-point lead (44-33) in the second half after AJ Harris made a three-pointer at the 14:12 mark. The Aggies were on a 13-0 run after the Miners had taken a 33-31 lead after a good Paul Thomas jump shot.

But unlike the previous game on Nov. 9, the Miners fought back and made it an exciting contest for the 6,000-plus fans.

“We have made a lot of progress obviously with our group. There is still a lot of room to grow in a lot of different areas,” first-year UTEP head coach Rodney Terry said. “Again, I give my guys credit for battling back. Two weeks ago, 11 minutes to go, and they go on a run we are probably not withstanding that. So, we have grown in that regards to know it is a long game, and that there are still a lot of possessions in this game and that this game is still a long way from being over. We put ourselves in position to win the game down the stretch now you have to execute down the stretch.”

Kaosi Ezeagu brought the Miners within five points (47-42) after he threw down a thunderous dunk at the 9:59 mark that got everyone in the out of their seats. Ezeagu, who led the Miners with nine rebounds, played great defense down the stretch that helped keep the Miners in the contest. He chipped in with four points and a steal.

Evan Gilyard, who led the Miners with 18 points, brought his squad within four points (49-45) after he connected on a pair of free throws at the 8:50 mark. And for every Aggie made basket, the Miners would answer with their own.

Efe Odigie, UTEP’s other double-digit scorer (12 points) on the night, connected on a mid-range jumper in the paint to make the score 54-50 with just over six minutes remaining in the contest. Fellow freshman Nigel Hawkins, after a made jump shot by Ivan Aurrecoechea, was good on a layup to make the count 56-52 with under five minutes remaining in the contest.

The Miners would then get within two points on two occasions. Odigie used his soft touch to connect on another midrange jumper on the baseline, making the score 56-54 at the 3:51 mark. And after a made lay in by Harris, Gilyard drove to the bucket and made a layup, getting UTEP within a pair of points (58-56) with under two minutes remaining in the contest.

But the Aggies made plays down the stretch, as Terrell Brown was good on a jump shot with 15 seconds remaining, boosting his team up four points. Odigie made another mid-range jumper with six seconds to go off an assist from Hawkins, but Brown, after being fouled, connected on his two free throw attempts to put the game away.

“I tip my hat to my guys in terms of their effort and obviously, the resilience that they showed to hang in there against some adversity,” Terry said. “To continue to battle back and keep putting ourselves in position to have an opportunity to be successful. At the end of the day like I say to our guys we play to win, we do not play to play close. When we get a little taste of that, and we get a feel for that and what that all takes then this group will continue to take steps forward.”

The Miners found themselves down 28-26 at the half after they had led by five points (24-19) after Hawkins made a layup at the 3:42 mark. But the Aggies finished the half on a 9-2 run.

Ountae Campbell was made eligible prior to the contest and played 15 minutes in his UTEP debut. The transfer from Fresno State made a three-pointer and drew a charge during the first half. Hawkins scored six points, while Jordan Lathon put in eight points. Thomas chipped in with five points and Kobe Magee scored two points.

UTEP will host Northwestern State on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Don Haskins Center.

Gallery by Andres ‘Ace’ Acosta – Chief Photographer – El Paso Herald Post

In their 217th meeting and second this season, rivals UTEP and NM State will tangle tonight at 7 p.m. in the Don Haskins Center as the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Battle of I-10 resumes.

“It’s a significant rivalry based on proximity. You can throw the records out and you’re going to get each other’s best game,” first-year UTEP head coach Rodney Terry said. “We understand what’s on the line in terms of the rivalry. I think it’s great that we have that kind of out-of-conference opponent early in the year where it means something on both ends. We’re going to compete as hard as we can.”

Wednesday night’s game is an ‘Orange Out’ and the first 5,000 fans will receive an orange pom-pom.

“We have a lot of respect for [NM State’s] program and what they’ve been able to do,” Terry said. “They have good players who put a lot of pressure on you defensively. In transition, they put a lot of pressure on you in terms of scoring early. You need to stop the ball with [A.J.] Harris and do a great job with him defensively. He can score for himself and he can also find guys that can score as well. Pick-and-roll defense is really big for us. We have to do a good job with our coverage. And the rebounding battle will be huge, we know they did a nice job rebounding against us [in Las Cruces]. They’re a good team and a great challenge for us in nonconference play.”

Single-game tickets, starting at $8, are available by calling (915) 747-5234. Fans can listen live on KOFX 92.3 with ‘The Voice of the Miners’ Jon Teicher and Steve Yellen. The Spanish broadcast can be heard on ESPN Deportes 1650AM with Omar Ropele and Abel Rodriguez. The Miners and Aggies can also be seen on the CUSA.TV live stream.

“We played at some really good environment earlier in the season and when I took this job I knew that [the Don Haskins Center] will be one of the toughest places to play as well. And we need to create that,” Terry said. “It doesn’t happen overnight. We know we need to put a good product on the floor for the Miner fans, one that will do really well on the floor and play with some grit and effort that this community will support. I’d like to think we’ll build some goodwill to where this community will come and get behind the kids who will do it the right way on and off the court. We’re trying to build a winner on and off the court with kids the community will feel good about and will want to come and support win or lose.”

The Miners (2-3) are coming off a loss at New Mexico (84-78) in which they had a five-point lead at the half on Nov. 24. The Lobos hit 8-of-11 from three-point range during the second half to pull away for the victory.

Sophomore Evan Gilyard, who was named the Conference USA Player of the Week on Nov. 26, scored 22 points to lead the squad and connected on 5-of-9 from downtown. It was Gilyard’s fourth time leading the team in scoring, while it was also his fourth 20-plus point performance of the young season.

Efe Odigie, who was named the C-USA Freshman of the Week on November 26, came up a rebound short of his third consecutive double-double. Odigie scored 11 points and went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe with under three minutes left in the game to keep the Miners in the contest.

A pair of UTEP freshmen hit double figures in points for the first time during their careers. Nigel Hawkins scored 12 points and led the team with two steals. Jordan Lathon connected on a pair of three-point buckets, scoring 10 points and leading the team with four assists. Paul Thomas scored a season-high 16 points before fouling out and Kaosi Ezeagu came off the bench to score six points and tally five rebounds.

Gilyard is the third-leading scorer in C-USA and ranks 43rd nationally at 20.8 points per game, while Odigie leads the league in rebounds per contest (10.2) and ranks 23rd nationally. As a team, UTEP ranks second in C-USA in three-point shooting percentage (.376) and fifth in defensive rebounds per game (27.6).

NM State (3-1) is coming off a split since hosting UTEP on Nov. 9. The Aggies fell to Saint Mary’s (Calif.), 73-58, on Nov. 14 in Las Cruces, while outscoring New Mexico, 98-94, on Nov. 17 in The Pit. Aggies 5-9 guard A.J. Harris led his team with 31 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 from downtown in 30 minutes of action against UNM. Terrell Brown chipped in with 20 points. Mohamed Thiam led the team in rebounds (nine) against the Lobos.

NM State is led by Harris’s 14.8 point per game, while Brown is averaging 12.8 points per contest. Eli Chuha paces the squad in rebounds per game (6.0).

The Aggies lead the all-time series 113-103, while the Miners have lost the last eight contests. UTEP’s last win came on Nov. 22, 2014, a 77-76 triumph in the Don Haskins Center.

Earlier this year, NM State defeated UTEP, 96-69, on November 9 at the Pan American Center.

The New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation has received a five-year, $4 million grant renewal from the National Science Foundation for 2018-2023.

New Mexico State University is the lead institution for the statewide program that was created in 1993.

New Mexico AMP helps underrepresented minority students in the state with activities designed to increase student recruitment, retention and graduation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program also supports academic and professional development of underrepresented STEM students.

“This continued funding allows us to continue the programs we’ve been successful with, and to better understand what makes them work. We continually assess our programs so that we can make them as effective as possible,” said J. Phillip King, New Mexico AMP director and civil engineering professor at NMSU.

With the newest funding from the NSF STEM Pathways and Research Alliances, New Mexico AMP will include a new social sciences component. Social science experts will increase the availability of contexts and opportunities for experiences that promote the development of a positive academic and scientific identity. The social science component will broadly disseminate learning from a rigorous, mixed methods social science research project and translation into practices for New Mexico AMP and to encourage change in STEM education, King said.

“The NM Alliance for Minority Participation has a long track record of great work to create opportunities for students to pursue careers in STEM disciplines – and in supporting students as they embark on that journey,” said Richard L. Wood, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of New Mexico.

“Equally important, NM AMP systematically reaches out to students who sometimes have been excluded or have excluded themselves from considering such careers. This will help UNM and all of New Mexico’s universities be part of creating the pipeline American society needs, of diverse leaders comfortable collaborating with people from all kinds of backgrounds. That the National Science Foundation recognizes this good work with the new grant only confirms what we know from experience: this work matters for our students and for the future we will all share.”

Since New Mexico AMP was established, the number of bachelor degrees in STEM fields for underrepresented minority students has more than tripled from 253 in 1992-1993 to 858 in 2015-2016. The percentage of bachelor degrees in STEM fields awarded to underrepresented minority students doubled from 24 to 48 percent during that period as well.

Approximately 1,500 students in New Mexico are served through outreach, mentoring, tutoring, bridge programs, undergraduate research, learning communities, professional development workshops and presentation events.

While NMSU is the lead institution, the New Mexico AMP partnership has seven university partners: Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Northern New Mexico College, University of New Mexico and Western New Mexico University; and seven community college partners; Central New Mexico College, Luna Community College, NMSU-Alamogordo, NMSU-Carlsbad, NMSU-Dona Ana Community College, Santa Fe Community College and San Juan Community College.

Author:  Tiffany Acosta – NMSU

A public screening at New Mexico State University of ‘ALTERNATE ENDINGS, ACTIVIST RISINGS’ will highlight the impact of art in AIDS activism and advocacy.

The event will be free and open to the public and held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. November 30 at the Creative Media Institute theatre on the NMSU campus located at 2915 McFie Circle.

This event is a co-presentation between the University Art Gallery, Department of Art, CMI and Gender and Sexuality Studies at NMSU.

An estimated 1.8 million new infections have been reported in 2017 alone and the arts play an imperative role informing communities of the most current HIV/AIDS epidemic crisis according to Marisa Sage, director of the NMSU art gallery.

The showing will tell short stories from six community organizations and collectives – ACT UP NY, Positive Women’s Network, Sero Project, The SPOT, Tacoma Action Collective and VOCAL NY. The program represents a wide range of organizational strategies, from direct action to grassroots service providers to nation-wide movement building, while considering the role of creative practices in activist responses to the ongoing AIDS crisis.

Introducing ‘ALTERNATE ENDINGS, ACTIVIST RISINGS’ will be Sage, Laura Anh Williams, associate professor of interdisciplinary studies, and Catherine Jonet, associate professor of interdisciplinary studies, in collaboration with Amy Lanasa and Evan Curtis from the CMI and the students of CMI 303 Cinema Review.

“Many of our students are at the age where they should be having realistic conversations about HIV/AIDS, but they feel the epidemic does not affect them, or they are too uncomfortable to have the conversation,” Sage said.”Arts and artists have and continue to play a fundamental role in shaping broader societal understandings of HIV and working within communities like Las Cruces to show that everyone can be impacted by the virus: straight, queer and trans people, people who are old and young, people who use drugs, sex workers, people of color and indigenous peoples.”

For more information on free parking you can visit NMSU’s Website. To view art work associated with ‘ALTERNATE ENDINGS, ACTIVIST RISINGS’ visit the visualaids website.

Author: Victoria Balderrama – NMSU

Zuzanna Puc registered her second straight double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) and UTEP battled valiantly but its comeback bid came up short in a 69-65 defeat to NM State in the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Battle of I-10 at the Don Haskins Center Saturday afternoon.

The Miners (2-1) dug themselves an 18-5 hole nine minutes into the game, allowing the four-time defending WAC regular-season champion Aggies (3-0) a much greater cushion than they needed. UTEP went to work, reducing the deficit to eight (30-22) at the break.

The margin remained eight (53-45) with 7:14 remaining in regulation before the Miners uncorked an 11-3 surge to finally pull even at 56 with 3:03 left. NM State didn’t flinch, countering with 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to extend its advantage back to six (62-56). UTEP inched within three (64-61) with 1:08 left but the Aggies put the game away by nailing their eighth and final triple of the contest.

“We didn’t start out well and got ourselves in a bit of a hole,” UTEP head coach Kevin Baker said. “I thought that was the difference in the game because we were fighting over that hump, fighting over that hump, fighting over that hump. I thought that when we tied it up we were in really good shape because we had had so much momentum. The crowd was really doing a great job. But you have to give credit where credit is due. We dared them all night long to make perimeter shots. They made them late. Our hat is off to them today. They played just a little bit better than the Miners today.”

Katarina Zec (14 points), Ariona Gill (14 points) and Alexa Hoy (career-high 13 points) joined Puc in double figures for scoring. Neidy Ocuane got involved as well, setting career bests for points (five), rebounds (five) and assists (three).

UTEP finished at 35.3 percent (18-51) from the floor, which was hindered by going 6-27 (22.2 percent)in the first half. The Miners nearly made up for that by going 24-34 (70.6 percent) at the free-throw line, committing a season-low 14 turnovers and winning the boards (36-33), but the Aggies had too much firepower.

Brooke Salas poured in 18 points while grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out a game-high seven helpers to set the tone for her squad. Monique Mills (11 points) and Dominique Mills (11 points) got after it as well. NM State connected on 48.3 percent (28-58) from the floor, including 8-23 from distance.

The Orange and Blue will be back in action when they play host to the seventh-annual UTEP Thanksgiving Classic. The event begins with a contest between Texas Southern and Abilene Christian at 1 p.m. MT Friday.

The Miners open up the Classic by locking up with Nicholls State at 3:30 p.m. MT Friday. One ticket serves as admission for both games. They are $5 for adults and $3 for kids, and may be purchased by calling (915) 747-5234.

Like UTEP Women’s Basketball On Facebook

Follow The Miners On Twitter

Follow The Miners On Instagram

Follow Coach Baker On Twitter

New Mexico State University’s business administration program has been ranked as one of the best programs in the state and nation for veterans, according to new rankings released by College Factual, a New York-based firm that tracks data analytics and insights on college outcomes.

The rankings are part of College Factual’s annual “Best Business Administration & Management Programs for Veterans” list for 2019.

In the national rankings review, NMSU’s business administration program at the Las Cruces campus ranked 104 out of 749 colleges and universities reviewed by College Factual for veteran friendliness, putting NMSU in the top 15 percent of all schools in the nation when it comes to offering a quality education to veterans studying business administration.

In the state rankings review, the program ranked first for veteran friendliness, beating similar programs at two other institutions in New Mexico to earn the recognition as the best program in the state for veterans studying business administration, according to College Factual. NMSU has received this recognition for the second consecutive year.

“NMSU’s College of Business honors the men and women who bravely serve our country, and we are proud that our business administration program has been recognized once again as one of the nation’s best programs for military veterans,” College of Business Dean James Hoffman said. “Our college has a tradition of academic excellence and is committed to helping veterans through our BA program and educational resources.”

NMSU’s College of Business has a four-year undergraduate business administration program that allows students to emphasize in one of seven areas: economics, finance, general business, information systems, international business, management and marketing.

Based on PayScale survey data, a student who graduates with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from NMSU realizes early-career earnings of about $49,591 and mid-career earnings of about $62,176, according to College Factual.

College Factual developed the rankings to highlight schools that offer quality outcomes in a specific major, and offer support and resources to help veterans and active-duty military students thrive. Colleges and universities are ranked based on their academic excellence and services they provide for military veterans.

For more information about NMSU’s College of Business, visit their website.

Author: Carlos Andres Lopez – NMSU

In celebration of November as Native American Heritage Month, the University Museum at New Mexico State University will host a symposium bringing together Indigenous water protectors to share their perspectives and their work protecting water in a growing international water crisis.

The events surrounding ‘Indigenous Symposium: Water Protection,’ will be held Nov.14-15 and will give an opportunity for the indigenous leaders to share stories and solutions to protect water resources. All events are free and open to the public. They are also bilingual.

The symposium will feature Jose Gomez, a Maya Mam Indigenous Water Defender from Guatemala currently on tour in the western United States to meet with other indigenous leaders and activists fighting to protect their waters.

“As Indigenous people, creating international links with communities from other countries strengthens our struggle for the protection and stewardship of our common resources,” Gómez said. “Solidarity helps us acquire information about, and intervene in, the capitalist system’s plans against our people.”

Gómez is also the co-coordinator of the Association of Communities for Development and the Defense of Land and Natural Resources (ACODET) which is a coalition of Indigenous communities in Guatemala’s rural Ixcán region that has used grassroots organizing to halt construction on the Xalalá project – a mega-dam that, if built, would flood multiple communities and have a devastating impact on life in the region.

The opening ceremony will be held on Wednesday Nov, 14th from 9-10 a.m. outdoors near the Corbett Center and will feature NMSU anthropology professor Don Pepion and the Piro Dancers. That evening, Gómez will give a presentation from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Branigan Cultural Center.

Multiple events are scheduled for Thursday, November 15. The first is an unveiling of the Water Protector Mural at 4:00 p.m. with Barricade Culture Shop and Murals of Las Cruces at 1305 East University Avenue.

The Indigenous Water Protector Panel will follow from 5:30 – 7 p.m. in the College of Health and Social Services Auditorium, Room 101A. This event features six Indigenous water protectors who will discuss their work and experiences.

The celebration will continue at the University Museum with the ‘Water is Life Celebration’ from 7-9 p.m. with music, dance, Indian tacos and more. It will feature performances by the dance group Danza Omecoatl, Artson, Native American Music Award winner, and a local band Papayas con Chile

There will also be a silent auction of art by Ome, Francella, and Saba, with proceeds benefitting ACODET, as well as two Indigenous art installations on view in the museum: ‘Pictograff: The Art of War Prayer’ and ‘Live Long and Prosper: Sci-fi Images in Contemporary Indigenous Art.”

Author:  Victoria Balderrama – NMSU

UTEP Head Coach Rodney Terry, along with his revamped roster will experience their first Battle of I-10 on Friday (Nov. 9) as UTEP will face NM State for the first time this season.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in the Pan American Center.

“It’s obviously a great rivalry, one that we have tremendous respect for and respect for their program and what they’ve been able to do,” Terry said. “There’s obvious respect for coach (Chris) Jans and how he gets his guys prepared to compete at a very high level. I think it’s great for both of us to compete at a high level and continue to get better.”

The Miners and Aggies will face each other for the 216th time on Friday night, while the two will square off for a second time this season on Wednesday, November 28 in the Don Haskins Center.

The November 9 date is the earliest that the two programs will meet in the history of the rivalry, while it’s the second time since the 2014-15 season that UTEP will take on NM State in its second game of the season.

The Miners (1-0) are coming off a 90-63 victory over UT Permian Basin on Nov. 6, while Terry chalked up his first win as UTEP’s head coach. Terry started two freshmen in Efe Odigie and Jordan Lathon, while Kaosi Ezeagu played significant minutes off the bench. The trio combined for 39 points, the second-most combined points ever by UTEP freshmen in a season opener.

Odigie impressed in his UTEP debut, scoring 23 points and pulling down nine rebounds in 19 minutes of action. Odigie’s tied the most points ever by a UTEP freshman in a season opener. Terry’s other big man, Ezeagu, made a positive impression, scoring 10 points, tallying nine rebounds and blocking a pair of shots. Lathon led the Miners with 10 rebounds, dished out four assists, blocked two shots and chipped in with six points. Lathon was the first UTEP freshman with 10-plus boards in a season opener since 1978.

As far as UTEP’s returning letterwinners, Paul Thomas energized the Miner faithful and his teammates with a thunderous dunk over a UT Permian Basin defender during the second half. The senior scored 10 points, blocked a shot, tallied a pair of dimes and three rebounds.

Evan Gilyard led the Miners with 24 points on 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. The sophomore sensation scored 16 of his points during the second half, while connecting on 5-of-7 three-point buckets. Gilyard tied for the team lead with fellow sophomore Kobe Magee as each dished out five assists. Magee was the first Miner to play the full 40 minutes in season opener since Nov. 21, 2000.

After heading to the locker room up four points (38-34), Terry’s squad came out with more intensity during the second half and outscored the Falcons, 52-29, after hitting on more than 65 percent of their field goals. Overall, UTEP connected on over 52 percent of its field goals, while going 11-for-23 from three-point range. The Miners also dished out 19 assists, combined for six blocks and outrebounded their opponent, 42-40. UTEP’s 42 free throw attempts were its third-most in a season opener.

The Aggies (1-0) also won on opening night, defeating North Dakota State, 73-56. Redshirt senior JoJo Zamora led the team with 16 points in 19 minutes, while junior Terrell Brown scored 13 points off the bench. Junior Clayton Henry led NM State with seven rebounds and chipped in with eight points. The Aggies recorded eight assists and outrebounded NDSU 47-31.

UTEP and NM State is the longest-running series in school history, as the Aggies lead the series 112-103.

Last season during the first meeting on Nov. 25 in Las Cruces, Thomas (30 minutes) and Gilyard (33 minutes) tied for the team lead with 14 points each and registered five rebounds apiece.

During the second meeting in El Paso, Thomas recorded nine points and three rebounds, while Magee, after only playing one minute in the first meeting, upped his minutes to eight in the second game.