Other NM universities announcements

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. 

New Mexico State University has received a pair of top military friendly school designations by Viqtory Media, publishers of G.I. Jobs. NMSU received a gold designation on the Military Friendly Schools list and a designation on the Military Spouse Friendly Schools list for 2026-27 in the tier 1 research institution category.

"The Military Friendly School Gold and Spouse Friendly designations, awarded by Viqtory, reflect our continued commitment to supporting military service members, veterans and their families," said Erika Zaragoza, Military and Veterans Programs TA/VA school certifying official. "At New Mexico State University, our faculty and staff are proud to support our military-affiliated students every step of the way as they pursue their educational goals."

New Mexico State University President Valerio Ferme today announced the selection of Joseph Bull, Ph.D., as the university's next provost and vice president for academic affairs, pending approval from the NMSU Board of Regents. Bull currently serves as the H. Chik M. Erzurumlu Dean of the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University, where he has led one of the most dynamic engineering colleges in the Pacific Northwest since 2022.

"Dr. Bull is exactly the kind of leader this moment calls for," Ferme said. "He brings a depth of experience, a collaborative spirit and a set of values that I believe will make him a transformative partner in the work ahead. I am confident that under his academic leadership, NMSU will continue to grow in research distinction, student outcomes and national prominence."