Other NM universities announcements

In honor of Black History Month, New Mexico State University's Black Programs and the Black Student Association invite the campus community to participate in a series of special events throughout February.

Aaliyah Walker, the president of the Black Student Association, said the 14 events aim to raise awareness about Black culture. While the activities are open to all Aggies, many are tailored toward student involvement, Walker added.

"We have planned and prepared many events for students by students, which will help educate, appreciate and support Black culture and traditions in many ways," Walker said. "From cultural food to art, it is important that all students have the opportunity to experience parts of Black culture."

Eight students from a solar physics research group led by Juie Shetye, New Mexico State University astronomy assistant professor, were selected to present their work at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting last December in New Orleans, Louisiana.

"I believe this is a landmark moment for our department," Shetye said. "To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a team of undergraduate students from the Department of Astronomy have been selected to present their work at AGU."

With over 25,000 attendees from more than 100 countries, AGU is the largest conference for Earth and space science in the world. It brings together scientists, educators, students, policymakers, journalists and communicators to share their research and network. Every student in Shetye's group that submitted an abstract to the conference was selected, with seven students presenting a poster and one student giving an oral presentation.

New Mexico State University is fast-tracking its artificial intelligence efforts by expanding development of AI programs in several directions through collaborations with all NMSU colleges and NMSU's system of community colleges.

In spring 2025, strongly supported by $500,000 from NMSU President Valerio Ferme's office and $2 million from the State of New Mexico, the university launched the Institute for Applied Practice in AI and Machine Learning.

New Mexico State University Police have solved a case involving a number of burglaries and vandalism at multiple facilities on campus during the winter break thanks to Crime Stoppers of New Mexico.

Four suspects, all juveniles who live in Las Cruces, have been identified and NMSU Police investigators are collaborating with the New Mexico Juvenile Probation Office to move forward with criminal charges.

Surveillance cameras captured the suspects entering several buildings including the Pan American Center, Fulton Center, Old Field House and Hall of Legends causing an estimated $3,000 in damages. Tips provided through Crime Stoppers identified the suspects.

New Mexico State University has once again earned the Carnegie Community Engagement Designation, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that highlights an institution's commitment to community engagement.

NMSU was first awarded the designation in 2015, and at the time was one of 47 public institutions receiving it for the first time and one of 361 colleges and universities nationwide to carry the classification. With its 2026 designation, NMSU is among approximately 277 U.S. colleges and universities receiving this acknowledgment of the faculty, staff, students and others who are involved in programs and partnerships that benefit the communities they serve.

New Mexico State University Global Campus has partnered with the City of Las Cruces to expand education and career advancement opportunities for city employees while supporting long-term workforce readiness across municipal operations.

The collaboration is designed to support city employees in building skills aligned with public service, leadership, technology and business operations through flexible, online education. By leveraging NMSU Global Campus programs, the City of Las Cruces is investing in its workforce readiness to better meet the evolving needs of the community it serves.

As a teenager, Ida Angelina Lopez often rode her bay quarter horse, Lady, for miles across the Mesilla Valley, seeking solace and space to grieve. Two weeks before high school graduation, her father, Victor, was just 43 years old when he was killed by his own brother in a family feud. 

"I told Lady everything," Lopez said. "If it wasn't for my horses and our arena, Lopez Arena, I wouldn't have made it."

The tragedy fractured her once tight-knit family. Uncertain about the future, Lopez turned to her mother for guidance. 

A day before New Mexico State University welcomed students back to campus, staff and faculty came together for NMSU's spring 2026 convocation.

Nearly 200 Aggies gathered in Atkinson Recital Hall to kick off the new semester and celebrate a group of staff and faculty who received some of the university's highest awards. Before the awards presentation, President Valerio Ferme greeted all those watching the ceremony, either in person or remotely, via a video message.