New Mexico

NMSU Board of Regents select five finalists for next university president

Published

2 years ago

February 3, 2024

NMSU Board of Regents select five finalists for next university president

New Mexico State University is a step closer to selecting its next president who will serve as head of the university system.

In a virtual meeting held on Feb. 2, the Board of Regents selected five finalists for the position who all come from prior academic and university leadership backgrounds. The board commissioned a campus search committee along with a search firm to identify potential candidates in July 2023. None of the candidates are local or were picked from New Mexico.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the search committee for their efforts over the past few months. To bring us this slate of candidates for consideration,” Chair of the Regents Amu Devasthali said during the meeting.

“I would like to thank the search committee chair, Mr. Ben Woods, for his efforts to lead this large and diverse committee through one of the most important processes that our institution undertakes. The committee has shown through Aggie spirit by so selflessly committing themselves to serving the board through a careful review of the candidate pool and advising the board through this process,” Devasthali continued.

The board unanimously voted to approve the five candidates for consideration. Campus visits and public forums are expected in the coming weeks.

Here’s who made the list, a recap of why the university is searching for a new leader and when we could expect to see a final selection.

Who are the finalists for NMSU president?

Regents approved five candidates from Texas, New Hampshire, Illinois, Maine and Utah. They are listed, in particular order, as follows:

Michael Galyean, Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor in the Department of Veterinary Sciences and former Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Texas Tech University
Wayne Jones, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of New Hampshire
Austin Lane, Chancellor of Southern Illinois University
John Volin, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of the University of Maine
Richard Williams, Former Presidentof Utah Tech University

More: New Mexico State University could have a new president by early 2024

Why is NMSU looking for a new president?

In the 2022-2023 academic year, the university’s leadership structure changed when Dan Arvizu, former system chancellor, and John Floros, former Las Cruces campus president, left amid their own professional and personal scandals.

Faculty senate and the student government passed resolutions of no confidence which prompted widespread calls for leadership change and accountability. Some of the claims stated in those resolutions were aimed at Floros and former Provost Carol Parker. The claims alleged both leaders had misappropriated funds, had dismissed faculty concerns over the merger of colleges and had condoned questionable hiring and promotion practices.

More: NMSU Regents search for new president

An internal audit found those claims to be unsubstantiated. However, Parker, in an on-going lawsuit against the university, is suing for damages to her reputation where she states in the complaint that Floros andArvizu instructed her to carry out duties that led to the no confidence votes and public outcry as a result.

Floros resigned in January 2022 going on sabbatical which left Arvizu as the sole university leader, but not for long.

Arvizu would also step down a year later during his own public leadership challenges. That year students from NMSU and the University of New Mexico were involved in a shooting incident in Albuquerque, a basketball hazing incident and continuous opposition from graduate student workers resulting in the creation of a union. Arvizu’s spouse was arrested in May 2022 for battery against him.

In a July 2023 meeting, Regents parted way with previous president/chancellor structure and commissioned its own search committee to hire one system-wide president. In the meantime, an interim president, Jay Gogue, who was previously NMSU’s president from 2000-2003, heads the university.

Regents also delegated some leadership duties to a new chancellor position responsible for leading NMSU’s community colleges. Doña Ana Community College President Monica Torres was chosen for that role.

When will NMSU’s next president be chosen?

A finalist will be chosen in the coming weeks after future public forums and campus visits are completed. A full timeline is provided on the president search website.

“We look forward to getting to know each of the candidates and learning how they fit our vision for the next leader of the NMSU system. I hope that you will join us for those candidate forums, whether in person or online, and share your thoughts as we make this incredibly important decision,” Devasthali said.

Ernesto Cisneros is a reporting fellow with the UNM/NM Local News Fund program. He covers education for the Sun-News and can be reached at ECisneros@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter at @_ernestcisneros.

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New Mexico

The Roundhouse Report: Bernie Sanders praises New Mexico

Published

7 hours ago

January 4, 2026

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The Roundhouse Report: Bernie Sanders praises New Mexico

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New Mexico

Blizzard warnings and winter storm warnings in effect for parts of New Mexico

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

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Blizzard warnings and winter storm warnings in effect for parts of New Mexico

Southeastern New Mexico will see some snow while other places will generally see cooler, more winter-like temperatures. See the latest conditions at KOB.com/Weather.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some notable cities in New Mexico could see multiple inches of snow, along with possible wind and cooler temperatures Sunday into Monday.

There is going to be snow across the southeast. A winter storm advisory is in effect all throughout areas like Ruidoso and out toward the Texas state line. A winter storm warning for Carlsbad and even a blizzard warning for the Guadalupe Mountains. These advisories and warnings indicate it’s going to continue until Monday at 6 p.m.

How much snow might there be? Ruidoso could see a few inches, along with other higher-elevation areas. Carlsbad might even see as much as two inches and Roswell has a very good chance of snow.

Wind gusts ranged from 23 mph for Hobbs and Clovis, 25 in Santa Rosa and similar readings in other places. Temperatures could hit sub-freezing temperatures in places like Ruidoso, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs. Meanwhile, Gallup and Grants could get into the single-digits. Plus, places like Albuquerque and Santa Fe will be in the 20s but the big “winner” is Alamosa, Colorado, with 2 degrees.

Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.

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New Mexico

New Mexico Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Day results for Dec. 27, 2025

Published

7 days ago

December 28, 2025

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The New Mexico Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 27, 2025, results for each game:

Powerball

05-20-34-39-62, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Day: 4-1-4

Evening: 3-8-4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Lotto America

08-10-20-47-50, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Evening: 6-9-5-0

Day: 4-9-4-3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Roadrunner Cash

03-21-24-33-37

Check Roadrunner Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Powerball Double Play

13-22-33-61-62, Powerball: 20

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Las Cruces Sun-News editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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