Statement from Dr. Mary Hotvedt, the former Chair of the Regents of Western New Mexico University
I and the other regents have been in a year-long struggle over accusations, audits, and investigations into Dr. Joe Shepard's supposedly profligate spending.
Smear tactics have consequences. They ruin people's health and wellbeing. They affect job prospects. They interfere with ongoing institutional work. Frankly, they waste more resources than you can imagine.
In the northern NM press, and with the aid of certain political and private figures, Dr. Shepard has been condemned over the past year. Every move we have made to speak to the policies we changed, our confidence in the work of Dr. Shepard and all the faculty and staff, has been put down or ignored.
Why was Shepard—and WNMU—singled out for this treatment? Why no other school or president? We may never have all the answers, although I do know some of the players. I do think his fierce advocacy for WNMU to receive financial parity angered powerful people. His style, a style which made his work on behalf of Florida Coastal University so successful, led to an immense transformation here for our university. But that same intensity made him foes.
Shepard's shared vision for WNMU was of a strong Hispanic-serving school that would reach out into new fields. He and his team worked for an international network with Mexico and other Spanish-speaking institutions, and memos of understanding with community colleges. He encouraged faculty in developing online and Zoom education as well as fine face-to-face class experiences. He bolstered mentorship to keep students engaged. He believed that the best schools combined online with a vibrant physical campus environment. We have all seen the success of that.
In short, he wanted WNMU to punch above its weight, to provide a world-class education here in southwest New Mexico. I think, as he does, our students deserve the finest, not just an adequate, educational experience.
Recently, a parent of a WNMU undergraduate told me how much their student had grown in academic work. They also told me how the student was benefitting from all the foreign students' friendships and fresh perspectives. That one story made me glad to have shared Dr. Shepard's vision and to have been able to work for it, despite the sad current outcome.
The regents have been under fire for Shepard's separation agreement and faculty appointment negotiated with legal counsel on both sides. I am limited about what I can say about the negotiation at this point. Many have thought we should have fired him outright for his spending. I note that the State Auditor, in his letter to the Board, acknowledged that we had been working to correct policies. Furthermore, he noted that no fraud was committed.
I doubt there will be a scheduled WNMU Board meeting on January 7th because the regents have resigned at the Governor's request. These have been superb, free-thinking professionals I truly respect. That includes the student regent who is an asset to New Mexico.
Many people don't know much about the role of regents. Each regent is vetted carefully, reviewed by the senate judiciary committee, appointed by the governor, and confirmed by senate vote. It was a great day six years ago when Lt. Gov. Howie Morales swore me in as WNMU Regent. Despite the difficulties of the past year and currently, I am glad to have served.
Regents are volunteers. We are only paid the same way legislators are, $95 a day for any official work. We are a constitutional body, giving us authority over the school we serve. We are bound by many rules, correctly so. No regent can or does make purchases for their school nor profits from their service. We have careful rules to prevent "rolling quorum," so that we cannot take votes or make a majority decision outside of public meetings. This means that since we meet only a few times a year, we do not come out rapidly as some would like with statements or speak to the press about ongoing business. We have only one employee, and that's the president of our university or college.
This year has deeply shaken my trust in many media outlets in our state, but not my belief in the strength of our university. I hope the new leadership of WNMU will continue and build on what Dr. Shepard and his team have created here.
