Community News

#1 Ranked Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in New Mexico for 2027:

https://mastersincounseling.org/degrees/clinical-mental-health/new-mexico/#show 

Clinical mental health counselors work directly with people navigating some of life's most difficult challenges. The education and training behind those professionals matters, which is why we believe programs preparing them deserve recognition as well.

MastersinCounseling's annual rankings highlight counseling programs across the country and help bring attention to the educational opportunities available to future professionals in the field.

WNMU Junior, Crystal Goodyear, was recently featured in "Influential Women" magazineSILVER CITY, NM — For Western New Mexico University junior Crystal Goodyear, leadership isn't about knowing all the answers—it is about being present with grit, grace and a lifelong commitment to raising others along the way. A business management major and local entrepreneur, Goodyear has turned a lifetime of extraordinary personal resilience into a driving force for student advocacy, peer support and community building on the Silver City campus, recently earning her national recognition as a featured entrepreneur in "Influential Women" magazine. 

Goodyear's history with WNMU runs deep. Growing up as the child of a staff member on campus, she explored nearly every corner of the university during summer breaks long before returning as an adult learner in 2023. Her path to higher education, however, was shaped by tremendous personal challenges. 

SILVER CITY, NM — Enrollment at the Western New Mexico University School of Business reached an all-time high this semester with 348 declared majors. The historic record comes alongside new national distinctions recognizing the WNMU business programs among the state's best.

Research.com recently ranked the WNMU Bachelor of Business Administration among the top 10 business degree programs in New Mexico. In contrast, the university's online Master of Business Administration program earned a top five ranking statewide.

The record total of 348 declared majors represents a 9% overall increase from fall 2025 and a 4% increase over two years, building on steady multi-year momentum. The school recorded notable year-over-year gains across multiple degree tracks, including a 47% increase in Associate of Science in Business Administration students, a 25% increase in M.B.A. candidates, and a 23% jump in B.B.A. marketing majors.

WNMU international nursing student, Ricardo Mancinas, from Chihuahua, Mexico, was recently awarded 2026 Health Care Scholars United scholarshipSILVER CITY, NM — With a scholarship from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and support with the application from External Affairs at WNMU, student Ricardo Mancinas was recently awarded the 2026 Health Care Scholars United. Mancinas is a WNMU international nursing student; the scholarship is crucial for turning his lifelong passion for healing into extraordinary academic achievement. 

For Mancinas, the path to Western New Mexico University was paved by family footsteps and a strong, lifelong desire to care for people. Following his older brother to Silver City—who is currently pursuing a master's degree in business management at the university—Mancinas arrived in the United States just a year ago to begin his undergraduate education. Moving to a new country brought immediate hurdles, notably navigating an unfamiliar academic environment while overcoming an initial language barrier. 

Yet, by leaning into his strengths and with support from the campus community, Mancinas soon adapted. Today, he balances his demanding coursework in the university's competitive nursing program with vital leadership responsibilities as a resident assistant in Centennial Hall on the Silver City campus. 

To qualify for the competitive scholarship, applicants must maintain a high-grade point average as a junior and submit a personal essay detailing their background, academic focus and reasons for pursuing their field. Students interested in similar institutional and external scholarship opportunities can apply by working closely with the WNMU financial aid office, using the campus scholarship portal and consulting academic advisors to track deadlines and criteria.

Some of you may have noticed prominent white signs appearing in the Silver City area along Highway 90 and Highway 180. These signs display some of the brands of the Grant County ranches, a community of ranchers who have cultivated and supplied beef to the United States consumers for several centuries. The outline of Grant County, depicted in the center of the sign, represents a mining and ranching community.

We are very appreciative to Freeport - McMoran, Grant County Cattle Growers, Farm Bureau, Pat Bearup of Big Bear and the local ranches, who made this all possible. A special thanks to Brent and Amanda Welch of Exquisite Kustomz Welding of Silver City.

Back in 1939, some ranch women in Cochise County, Arizona, got together to help boost the beef industry and spread the word about it. They decided to call themselves the "CowBells."

Terry Anderson receives New Mexico Child Care Associationn Legacy Award

The New Mexico Child Care Association, during its annual Convention in Albuquerque, honored life-long Silver City resident Terry Andersonwith its Legacy Award for her many years of exceptional and innovative leadership. A sixteen-minute video presentation introduced Terry's many accomplishments and contributions. "Terry Anderson: a History of Love Leadership and Learning. A legacy that lives on." Also included in the presentation were former students and co-workers who shared personal accounts of how they had been impacted by their mentor, friend, and teacher. Their comments included gratitude for her leadership and example of being accepting, respectful, of seeing each person's abilities, her inclusionary method of teaching and developing programs, as well as her ongoing love and friendship.

SILVER CITY, NM — The Center for Student Success at Western New Mexico University is expanding its academic support model. Located on the second floor of the J. Cloyd Miller Library, the center offers drop-in peer assistance, 24/7 digital tutoring, and targeted skill-building events designed to help students start strong and stay strong.

Student Services Coordinator Kimberly Woodard stresses that the center intends to eliminate the common misconception that tutoring is only for students in academic crisis. "Many students feel that asking for help means they are falling behind or failing," says Woodard. "We want to reframe tutoring as a normal, proactive tool for every student. It's free, it builds extended academic resilience, and doing periodic, regular sessions—even to bounce ideas off someone—sets you up for higher GPAs and professional success down the road."

WNMU nursing students receive their purple coatsSILVER CITY, NM — Nursing students marked the official start of their professional healthcare journeys in a special ceremony on campus recently, receiving their purple coats before family members, faculty and peers.

The celebration of scholastic excellence comes as the institution builds momentum across programs, highlighted by the nursing program's recent recognition in the Research.com 2027 Best Nursing Degree Programs Ranking in New Mexico in August. The ranking follows an evaluation by Research.com assessing performance metrics, including student satisfaction and program standards, reflecting the institution's focus on nursing education.