Community News

The WNMU Board of Regents met on September 10, in a hybrid sessionSILVER CITY, NM — The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents met in a hybrid session at the J. Cloyd Miller Library on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Chair Steven Neville presided over the meeting, joined by Regents John V. Wertheim, Keana Huerta, J. Dean Reed and Gregory Trujillo, as well as the executive leadership team. 

The Regents tackled critical infrastructure needs, reviewed staff compensation findings, and heard encouraging enrollment updates during the regular session.

In his first official report to the Board of Regents, President Jose E. Coll reported that the university will have a WNMU Day during the upcoming legislative session in early 2027. Coll also reported strong momentum in undergraduate recruitment, highlighting a 20% year-over-year increase in first-time undergraduate enrollment. Coll and university leadership underscored that ongoing student retention and campus housing capacity remain top priorities for WNMU. 

WNMU Associate Professor and Department Chair of Early Childhood and Special Education, Wenjie Wang, PhDSILVER CITY, NM — How young children build connections between concrete objects and abstract concepts is central to the innovative early childhood education research led by Associate Professor and Department Chair of Early Childhood and Special Education, Wenjie Wang, PhD, conducted in collaboration with Adjunct Associate Professor Annabelle Black Delfin, PhD, a former research director for the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Education at WNMU. The research explores how young children develop spatial reasoning and mathematical thinking through map-making activities and visual symbols. 

The multiyear project, titled the "Treasure Map Experience," was published in a prestigious international peer-reviewed journal. The study investigated how 3- to 5-year-old children use shapes, colors and spatial layouts to represent familiar environments such as classrooms, playgrounds and bedrooms.

A primary finding of the research is that young children consistently prioritize shape over color when creating symbolic representations. When asked to construct maps, children frequently selected geometric shapes to represent physical landmarks—such as using a triangle to depict a mountain or combining circles and lines to represent a table. These symbolic anchors function as crucial bridges in cognitive development, facilitating the transition from concrete physical objects to abstract numerical and spatial reasoning.

Parents Hong Gen Piao (dad) and Xian Yu Li (mom), traveled from China to Silver City with WNMU first-year student athlete Zhixian ("David") PiaoSILVER CITY, NM — Fresh off a 12-hour transpacific flight and a two-day acclimation stop in Arizona, freshman student-athlete Zhixian ("David") Piao officially arrived at Western New Mexico University to join the Mustang men's golf program. Accompanying him on this career-defining journey were his father, Hong Gen Piao, and his mother, Xian Yu Li, who traveled alongside him from China's expansive Shandong Province. 

Piao's relationship with golf began at age 12, driven initially by his father, who recognized his son's athletic potential early on. While learning golf initially required discipline and persistence, Piao developed a deep passion for the game within his first two years of play as his technical skills expanded. Now 18, Piao steps onto the WNMU campus determined to strengthen his game while pursuing a degree in business management.

Image of high-tech drone helping fight fires.SILVER CITY, NM — For Western New Mexico University alum Kade Evans, lessons learned during his time at the university are put to the test every day in the high-pressure world of firefighting and emergency services. 

During Evan's time at WNMU, he was a bridge-builder who understood early on that effective communication and community trust are the bedrocks of any successful public service initiative. These values, fostered in the inclusive environment of Silver City, now serve as the core of his professional life in firefighting.

Reflecting on his academic years, Evans emphasized that the integrated community identity at WNMU was instrumental in preparing him for the complexities of emergency response. Unlike traditional institutional models, WNMU operates seamlessly within the local fabric, allowing Evans to develop a deep appreciation for the community he now protects. 

"At WNMU, I wasn't just building a resume; I was building the mental and emotional discipline required for the field," Evans remarked. "The university provided a space where leadership wasn't just a concept, but a practice. The ability to stay calm, communicate clearly under pressure and put the community first are skills I honed on that campus."

WNMU vs. ENMU 2024SILVER CITY, N.M. — Roll out the red carpet—Western New Mexico University is bringing silver-screen glamour to campus the week of October 5–10 for "Hollywood Homecoming 2026," anchored by the marquee matchup Chile Bowl rivalry clash between WNMU football and Eastern New Mexico University.

The weeklong production blends cinematic spirit festivities with long-standing university traditions, leading up to the feature-presentation—one of the greatest rival matches in New Mexico, on Saturday, October 10, Ben Altamirano Field at WNMU.

Homecoming festivities include: 

Substantial improvements to the WNMU Graham Gym made possible through GO Bond fundingSILVER CITY, NM — A historic campus landmark has received a vital transformation to serve future generations. Western New Mexico University has completed a comprehensive restoration and modernization of Graham Gymnasium, blending 21st-century infrastructure with classic Southwestern architectural heritage.

Originally constructed in 1936, Graham Gymnasium was designed by John Gaw Meem, widely considered New Mexico's most influential 20th-century architect and the master of Southwestern regional architecture. Valued for its historic and architectural significance, the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on Sepember. 22, 1988.

President Jose E. Coll addresses faculty, staff and leadership at his inaugural WNMU convocationSILVER CITY, NM — Western New Mexico University welcomed faculty, staff and leadership to campus for its annual Fall Convocation, framing the start of the academic year around collaborative vision, strategic transformation and collective impact. 

President Jose E. Coll spoke to the assembly roughly 30 days into his tenure. Recognizing the rapid transition into the term, he emphasized that his immediate priority was establishing a dialogue across campus rather than delivering a standard administrative briefing.

Silver City, NM – Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) is proud to announce a new partnership with Meals on Wheels New Mexico (MOWNM), bringing medically supportive meals to residents throughout Hidalgo and Grant Counties. The partnership is designed to improve access to nutritious food while supporting individuals living with chronic health conditions through ongoing engagement with healthcare services.

Through this innovative collaboration, HMS will provide eligible patients with access to five frozen and prepared meals per week, distributed monthly at no cost to participants. Meal options are available to support a variety of health needs, including general wellness, diabetes management, and renal health, with specialized texture modifications available when needed.