One of the biggest cases of corruption in southern New Mexico has recently been identified by the investigative news organization, Searchlight New Mexico. Over the last several years, Dr Joseph Shepard, the president of WNMU, has misused more than $100,000 of University money for the personal benefit of himself, his wife and several of the University Regents. Some of this money was used for lavish trips to Africa for his little group of co-conspirators. Other funds were spent on very high-end furnishings for his University house, and extravagant lodging and meals when he (frequently) traveled to Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

However, Dr Shepard is no dummy. He and his wife have friends in very high places, extending to the Governor’s office, who may be able to bury these misdeeds before he ever has to answer for them. 

The State Auditor’s office, who oversees the use of State funds, has opened a formal investigation into Dr Shepard’s activities.Read about it here in the Grant County Beat. Let’s hope that the Auditor is independent enough to Force Dr Shepard to return all of the misspent funds. Certainly, the Regents, being complicit in these expenditures, cannot be expected to do the right thing and replace Dr Shepard with an honest person.

Mark S Donnell, MD

Silver City NM