Other NM universities announcements

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."

New Mexico State University graduate student Roshira Premadasa, winner of NMSU's Three Minute Thesis competition, will represent the university at the regional 3MT competition at the 68th annual Western Association of Graduate Schools conference on the first weekend of April. 

Premadasa earned first place in NMSU's Three Minute Thesis competition, presenting his research on smart material systems and their potential to transform real-world infrastructure. 

The competition, hosted by the NMSU Graduate School, was held in February and challenges students to present the key findings of their research in just three minutes to a general audience, strengthening their scientific communication skills while competing for funding to support their scholarly work. 

Educators, adult learners, and businesses across Southern New Mexico have expanded access to flexible online courses through a collaboration between New Mexico State University Global Campus and The Bridge of Southern New Mexico, supporting the region's broader effort to strengthen education-to-career pathways. As workforce demands continue to evolve, accessible online learning opportunities are playing an increasingly important role in helping individuals and organizations build new skills.

The courses are available through The Bridge's learning website and provide accessible professional development for K–12 educators and staff, adult learners, and organizations seeking to strengthen their workforce. Designed to address regional education and workforce needs, the courses help participants build practical skills that support career advancement and organizational growth. 

In an upcoming public reading at New Mexico State University, Tim Z. Hernandez will share his investigation into the histories and shared stories from the families of the 28 Mexicans killed in the 1948 plane wreck at Los Gatos Canyons. He will read from his investigative documentary novel "They Call You Back: A Lost History, a Search, a Memoir" which begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 10 at NMSU's CMI Theater in Milton Hall, Room 171.

Hernandez's presentation is part of the Nelson-Boswell Reading Series hosted by La Sociedad para las Artes. The reading is free and open the public and copies of his novel will be available for purchase.