Other NM universities announcements

New Mexico State University's Office of Health Promotion will host its second annual Out of Darkness Campus Walk Saturday, April 26, joining hundreds of other college campuses across the United States in shining a light on a suicide awareness and prevention.

The two-mile walk around NMSU's Las Cruces campus starts at 10 a.m. It is free and open to participants of all ages, including community members. Check-in begins at 9 a.m.

The walk is part of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's student fundraising series, designed to engage youth and young adults in the fight to prevent suicide, the third-leading cause of death among individuals 15 to 24 years old.

Portales, NM – April 17, 2025 – The Eastern New Mexico University system announced today that it received $22.6 million in capital outlay funding from the New Mexico State Legislature for the 25-26 fiscal year. ENMU-Portales received $11.483 million, ENMU-Roswell received $7.39 million, and ENMU-Ruidoso received $3.68 million.

"This total represents a continued investment by the state in the important work of ENMU," said James Johnston, ENMU Chancellor. "I appreciate the efforts of all involved in this process, system-wide, our area legislators, the Legislature as a whole, and the Governor for their continued support of higher education and the work of the ENMU System."

New Mexico State University will celebrate its newly achieved Carnegie R1 institution status during its annual Research and Creativity Week, which kicks off Wednesday, April 23.

This year's Research and Creativity Week will take place through April 29 and feature more than 25 events on and off campus, including thesis exhibitions, film screenings, concerts and a metal-pouring demonstration. More than 500 people are expected to participate in this year's events and activities, which offer an increased focus on the arts and celebrating the contributions of undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate researchers, all organized around the main theme of Ascent to R1.

The Institute for Applied Practice in AI and Machine Learning is among the projects to be featured during the New Mexico State University Foundation's 1888 Minutes of Giving campaign, which spans NMSU Founders Day from 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, to 4:28 p.m. Wednesday, April 23.

"In the last 10 years, we have witnessed a quantum leap in this technology," said Enrico Pontelli, dean of NMSU's College of Arts and Sciences and senior adviser to the provost for AI. "The mission of the AI Institute is to bring together AI researchers, educators and practitioners at NMSU and lead the region and the state in the application of AI models and technologies to practical solutions that address real-world challenges relevant to New Mexico."

The New Mexico State University Department of Art and the University Art Museum will present two culminating student exhibitions this spring, showcasing the creative achievements of both Master of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts students. 

Opening on April 25, the concurrent shows, "Stone, Glass, Light, Silk: 2025 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition" and "ROOTED: 2025 Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition," will feature work from emerging NMSU student artists across diverse disciplines and backgrounds. 

A cohort of New Mexico State University students, including civil engineering and other majors, successfully completed the Construction Side Hustle course, a five-week program designed to help participants launch viable construction-focused businesses alongside their academic pursuits.

The course is one of the featured activities within the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints, a specialized program under NMSU's Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship. The Hunt Center is a flagship initiative that drives regional entrepreneurship by empowering diverse communities, equipping students in the Borderplex region with tools to bring innovative products and services to market, and expanding access to early-stage investment. Through the construction sprints, students gain practical experience in business development while applying their expertise in construction.

Students in New Mexico State University's Fashion Merchandising and Design program are ready to rock their 2025 sustainable fashion designs on the runway for their fifth annual fashion show.

The event will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the heart of NMSU's Las Cruces campus, the Aggie Lounge at Corbett Center Student Union. 

"Our annual Sustainability Fashion Show brings together our design and merchandising students in so many ways," said Kelley Cleary Coffeen, associate professor in Fashion Merchandising and Design and co-adviser of Aggie Fashion Club. "Our event team and marketing team plan and promote the event, while our designers, directed by Insook Ahn, focus on the creative side. This year, we are adding a 'styled' collection with upcycled pieces to reflect the value of repurposing clothing." 

New Mexico State University senior art major Kayla Blundell put her sculpture skills to the test, weaving together astronomy and artwork through a partnership with NMSU astronomy assistant professor Juie Shetye. The result is an artist's vision of a total solar eclipse based on research. A total eclipse is when the moon blocks the sun, revealing only a glowing halo of light.

Shetye made the project possible with funds from a National Science Foundation grant that allowed her to engage students in the arts for a public outreach project. The result of their collaboration is Blundell's artistic expression integrating the beauty of the sun, the moon and a total eclipse with an understanding of the science behind it.