Other NM universities announcements

New Mexico State University has been recognized among the nation's top institutions in the newly released 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings, with several programs earning national distinction across a wide range of disciplines. 

Among the university's highest-ranked programs, NMSU earned placements in nursing-anesthesia (78 tied), social work (95 tied) and speech-language pathology (104 tied). Other programs receiving national recognition include fine arts (106 tied), physics (113 tied), English (120 tied), earth sciences (123 tied), mathematics (125 tied) and economics (126 tied). 

New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences drives community and economic development across New Mexico through its academic, research and outreach programs. 

Community members are invited to learn more about the college's impact and meet the dedicated staff, faculty and students who drive its mission at the 2026 ACES Open House. The free event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25, at various buildings and facilities on NMSU's Las Cruces campus. 

"This is our seventh open house, where the community has the opportunity to learn more about the importance and impact of the College of ACES in New Mexico," College of ACES Dean Rolando A. Flores Galarza said. 

The New Mexico State University Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the spring 2026 Outstanding Graduate Award, honoring seven exceptional students whose academic achievement, leadership and service exemplify the best of the Aggie spirit.

Selected from across the university, this year's honorees include one student from each academic college and two from the Graduate School:

Jonathon A. Valencia, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

Isaac Cramer, College of Arts and Sciences

The Las Cruces International Festival is back for its 11th year with more than 160 films ranging from short to feature-length and music videos to animation from the U.S. and around the world. The festival begins at 7 p.m. with the Opening Night Film "She Dances." Five days of  films, celebrity events, workshops, panels, public talks and award ceremonies April 8-12.

The LCIFF is presented by New Mexico State University and Visit Las Cruces. The number of sponsors for the event continues to grow each year. VIP passes are $200, All-Access Passes are $100, Day Passes are $35 and admission to celebrity screenings is $35. Tickets are available now at www.lascrucesfilmfest.com. 

Leaders in Las Cruces and New Mexico issued proclamations this week recognizing graduate students at New Mexico State University for their scholarly achievements and contributions to communities across the state. 

The proclamations coincide with Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, which celebrates the impact and value of graduate and professional students on campuses throughout the United States. 

The City of Las Cruces issued a proclamation Monday, April 6, recognizing the invaluable contributions of NMSU graduate and professional students to the city, state and beyond. It highlights the impact of NMSU graduate students and their diverse talents, perspectives and contributions to a dynamic and inclusive society. 

Aman Priyadarshi Kumar, a second-year astronomy Ph.D. student at New Mexico State University, has received a NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science (FINESST) Award. This prestigious grant funds graduate student-designed and performed research projects that contribute to NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Kumar's project focuses on solar tornadoes. These massive, swirling pillars of plasma in the sun's atmosphere can rotate at 186,000 miles per hour, whereas the most intense tornadoes on Earth hit their maximum rotational speed at about 300 miles per hour. His project, titled "Solar Tornadoes Unleashed: The Twisting Forces Behind Plasma Transport" aims to understand how these tornadoes form, evolve and transport mass and magnetic energy throughout the solar atmosphere, and what that movement means for other systems and features on the sun.

This year's J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium is titled: "Ni Una Más: Standing Together Against Feminicides and Gender-Based Violence." The two-day event offers various panels, talks and films. The symposium is free and open to the public.

Scholars, educators, journalists and advocates join members of the public, students and participants

8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 7

 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 8

New Mexico State University Corbett Center Student Union, Corbett Center Outdoor Stage

New Mexico State University's College of Business is strengthening how students learn entrepreneurship through a growing collaboration with Arrowhead Center's Studio G, bringing hands-on workshops and industry connections directly into the classroom. 

The partnership, led by Rebecca Franklin, associate professor of management, and Carlos Cuesta Albornoz, director of the Studio G program, integrates Studio G's entrepreneurship education programming into Franklin's courses. The collaboration gives students the opportunity to earn Studio G's entrepreneurship education certification without leaving their scheduled class time.