Other NM universities announcements

New Mexico State University celebrated the achievements of its first Leadership Empowerment & Academic Development, or LEAD, cohort during a graduation ceremony held April 30, marking the culmination of a semester-long professional development series for graduate students. 

The event recognized participants' growth in leadership, communication and professional skills, while highlighting their impact within the graduate community. 

Launched this spring by NMSU's Student Involvement and Leadership Programs in partnership with the Graduate Wellness Initiative, LEAD is designed to support graduate students as confident, effective and well-rounded leaders in academic and professional settings. The program included workshops on communication, conflict resolution, delegation, innovation and professional presence, along with opportunities to network with campus and community leaders 

As animal fats become increasingly popular alternatives to seed oils, a research team at New Mexico State University is working to improve how beef tallow performs under the pressures of fast-food restaurants.

The project is a collaboration between Francine Mezzomo Giotto and Gonzalo Miyagusuku-Cruzado, and one of several interdisciplinary studies supported by NMSU's Agricultural Experiment Station and Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems.

"Beef tallow is in high demand right now," said Mezzomo Giotto, an assistant professor of meat science. "It's not only popular for cooking purposes, but also in the beauty industry."

A cohort of students from New Mexico State University and the University of Texas at El Paso successfully completed the 2026 Fourth Industrial Revolution Economy Venture Fellows program, finishing a competitive, one-semester fellowship in venture capital education and applied investment experience. Participants will now begin summer internships at venture capital and partner firms across the region.

The FIRE Venture Fellows program is housed within the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at NMSU's Arrowhead Center. The program prepares undergraduate and graduate students from the Borderplex region for careers in venture capital, startups and innovation-driven organizations by addressing long-standing gaps in representation across the investment landscape, expanding access to early-stage capital, and creating experiential learning opportunities connected to real-world investment activity.

From 3D printing to virtual reality, today's world is full of new tools and technologies to explore. The STEM Achievers program at New Mexico State University gives middle school students from local communities the chance to build new skillsets and gain more access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

"Young minds at any age benefit greatly from discovery and exposure," said Katie Calabrese, senior director of the STEM Achievers program. "Statistically, students learn and retain new information through hands-on discovery, which is why the STEM Achievers program is entirely hands-on learning, exposing students to STEM through their own learning paths and self-discovery."

The New Mexico State University Foundation has surpassed $500 million in assets under management for the first time in its history, marking a significant milestone that strengthens its ability to invest in, grow and support the long-term success of New Mexico State University.

Foundation leaders, who celebrated the milestone at their April Board of Directors meeting in Houston, Texas, said the achievement reflects decades of generosity from alumni, donors, and friends of the university, combined with disciplined investment stewardship by the Foundation. This continual growth reflects strong investment oversight, increased donor engagement and a clear focus on long-term sustainability.

When Kassandra Dominguez enrolled at Doña Ana Community College to study graphic design, she already had a destination in mind: a bachelor's degree in agricultural communications from New Mexico State University. 

What she didn't expect was how seamless and affordable that journey would be.

"It's definitely made college a lot easier for me in the whole transition to the main campus," said Dominguez, who graduated from DACC earlier this month. "It also gave me the option to study online and do my courses at my own pace, which was definitely helpful. It's made the experience a lot less intimidating."

As a freshman majoring in sociology at New Mexico State University, Karim Martinez followed her mother's advice. In the fall of 1996, Maria S. Martinez was finishing her degree in family and consumer sciences when she suggested that her daughter enroll in one of the department's courses.

"Through her encouragement, I started taking classes in FCS, and I really enjoyed it. I thought it meshed very well with sociology," Martinez said. "I was learning about societies, cultures and families, and with family and consumer sciences, I was learning practical skills for family well-being. Everything that you learn in FCS, you can apply directly to your own life. I loved it so much, I ended up double-majoring." 

As a farmer in the Navajo Nation since 2009, Gary Clark believes he has a responsibility to the land and its future. 

"The farm has been here since before I got it. It was there before the farmer that was here before me," Clark said. "The dirt is always going to be there; it's just the people that are coming in. I try to make it better for them, and better than it was before I got it. We have to be good stewards of the land." 

On his 15-acre farm near Shiprock, New Mexico, Clark grows mostly alfalfa, corn and hay grazer. He is a client of the Navajo Sustainable Agriculture Project, a New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service initiative that helps Navajo farmers and ranchers in northwest New Mexico.