Leadership Crisis at Western New Mexico State University Newslooks Washington DC Mary Sidiqi Evening Edition New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has called for the resignation of regents at Western New Mexico State University following revelations of financial mismanagement and wasteful spending. The turmoil stems from a state audit uncovering fiduciary failures under outgoing President Joseph Shepard, whose resignation package has drawn sharp criticism. Faculty have issued a no-confidence vote, urging state officials to intervene as the university faces a leadership overhaul.

Western New Mexico State University Leadership Crisis: Quick Looks

• Governor’s Action: Gov. Lujan Grisham calls for a clean slate by urging regent resignations.
• Audit Revelations: A state investigation revealed wasteful spending, including luxury travel and purchases.
• Controversial Exit Package: Outgoing President Shepard secured a $1.9M payout and a faculty job.
• Faculty Backlash: Faculty issued a no-confidence vote, demanding intervention and leadership changes.
• Historic University: Established in the 1890s, the university faces one of its most turbulent periods.

Deep Look

The leadership crisis at Western New Mexico State University (WNMU) in Silver City has intensified after Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called for the immediate resignation of its board of regents. The call comes in response to a state audit that revealed significant financial mismanagement and governance failures under outgoing President Joseph Shepard. The unfolding scandal has sparked investigations, faculty backlash, and heightened scrutiny of fiduciary responsibilities at public institutions.

Governor’s Directive for Change

In a strongly worded year-end letter, Gov. Lujan Grisham urged the university’s five-member board of regents to step down to facilitate a leadership overhaul. The governor emphasized the need for new leadership to restore stability and ensure the institution prioritizes its mission of serving students.

Her statement described the need for a “clean slate” to help the university regain its equilibrium. The board’s chairwoman resigned earlier in the week, and faculty senate president Phillip Schoenberg reported that the remaining regents are expected to resign before Friday.

“This is a decisive moment for the future of Western New Mexico State University,” the governor said in her letter. “We must ensure that accountability, transparency, and student welfare take precedence in all decision-making.”

Revelations of Financial Mismanagement

The crisis stems from a state auditor’s investigation into financial practices at WNMU, which uncovered alarming examples of wasteful spending and fiduciary failures, including:

• Excessive Spending by Leadership: Former President Joseph Shepard faced scrutiny for lavish spending on international travel and luxury furniture purchases.
• Improper Use of University Credit Cards: Shepard’s wife, Valerie Plame—a former CIA operations officer and 2020 congressional candidate—was found to have used a university credit card, raising questions about oversight and governance.

The findings paint a picture of systemic financial mismanagement that eroded trust in the institution’s leadership. Lawmakers began raising questions in 2023, prompting the audit and subsequent investigations.

Controversial Resignation Package

Shepard announced his resignation following the audit, but the terms of his departure have only deepened the controversy. The outgoing president’s agreement includes:

• A guaranteed faculty position.
• A six-figure annual salary.
• A one-time payment of $1.9 million.

This exit package has drawn sharp criticism from faculty, state officials, and ethics watchdogs. The State Ethics Commission and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez are investigating whether the board of regents violated their fiduciary duties by approving the agreement.

Critics argue that such a generous payout, given the findings of financial misconduct, sets a dangerous precedent and undermines accountability. Shepard and the regents have defended their actions, asserting that the agreement was made in the best interest of the university.

Faculty No-Confidence Vote

The revelations have spurred outrage among WNMU faculty. On Thursday, the faculty senate issued a no-confidence vote against the board of regents and called for state officials to intervene.

Faculty senate president Phillip Schoenberg described the vote as a necessary step to send a strong message about the university’s need for competent and accountable leadership. “This is about restoring integrity to our institution,” Schoenberg said. “We need leaders who prioritize the interests of students and faculty above all else.”

The faculty also urged state authorities to rescind Shepard’s resignation package, describing it as excessive and unwarranted given the circumstances.

University’s Historical Significance

WNMU, founded in the 1890s before New Mexico achieved statehood, has a long and storied history. Over the years, the institution has undergone several transformations, including name changes and shifts in leadership. However, this financial scandal marks one of the most challenging periods in its existence.

Despite its struggles, WNMU has been an integral part of higher education in New Mexico, serving thousands of students annually. The current crisis threatens to overshadow its legacy and disrupt its mission of providing accessible education to residents of the region.

Investigations and Accountability

The fallout from the audit has prompted multiple investigations:

• State Ethics Commission: Examining whether the regents acted appropriately in approving Shepard’s resignation package.
• Attorney General’s Inquiry: Evaluating whether the board violated its fiduciary duties in overseeing the university’s finances.

Gov. Lujan Grisham’s demand for resignations aligns with these inquiries, signaling a broader effort to rebuild trust in WNMU’s governance.

Broader Implications for Public Universities

The WNMU scandal highlights systemic challenges faced by public universities, including oversight of leadership spending, transparency in financial practices, and maintaining accountability to stakeholders.

Experts suggest that stricter state-level regulations and increased monitoring of university boards could help prevent similar crises in the future. The controversy also underscores the importance of fostering a culture of transparency within public institutions.

Next Steps for WNMU

The resignations of the regents, combined with ongoing investigations, are expected to pave the way for significant changes at WNMU. Faculty and state officials hope that new leadership will prioritize:

• Restoring financial stability.
• Rebuilding trust with students, faculty, and the public.
• Ensuring that governance practices align with the university’s mission and ethical standards.

For the university to move forward, stakeholders agree that swift and decisive action is necessary.

Outlook for Recovery

While the path ahead is uncertain, the actions taken by the governor and state authorities represent an important step toward addressing the issues that have plagued WNMU. As the investigation continues and new leadership is installed, the focus will remain on rebuilding an institution that can uphold its values and serve its students effectively.

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Leadership Crisis

New Mexico is the easy decision.

Where in New Mexico is the hard one.

The Land of Enchantment scores 10 out of 10 for art, culture, history, cuisine, nature and the outdoors, national parks and historic sites. Tack on the nation’s greatest festivals to boot.

The state puts on a show during the winter holidays as well, presenting visitors countless no-lose choices.

Albuquerque

Travelers arriving to New Mexico by air typically do so via the state’s largest city, Albuquerque. The understandable impulse is racing to rental cars and making haste to Santa Fe, Taos, Ghost Ranch, White Sands, Zuni Pueblo or whichever destination serves as your trip’s focal point. Fight this urge. Albuquerque offers worthy rewards of its own.

Stopping at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center feels compulsory when visiting New Mexico where Indigenous culture stands more forward than anywhere else in America. Just a 15-minute drive from Albuquerque’s Sunport airport, an introduction to the state’s 19 Pueblos and their history, culture, and people takes shape through artworks, exhibitions, and events.

Dances are held in IPCC’s mural-ringed Avanyu Plaza Saturdays and Sundays year-round from noon to 1 PM. Make every effort to attend one. Pueblo artists sell their handiwork daily in the courtyard, and the center’s gift shop displays authentic Pueblo jewelry, pottery, clothing and textiles, fetishes, and more. During December, the Center hosts a Pueblo Gingerbread House Contest.

The tastiest treats, however, come from the onsite Indian Pueblo Kitchen. Show up early–like, when it opens at 9:00 AM early–to guarantee a portion of homemade bread. Homemade pies last longer. Native Superfoods waffles or griddle cakes made with blue corn, quinoa, currants, piñon, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and triple berries are available all day.

Four miles from IPCC, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm could be the best smelling hotel in America. “Hotel” only in that guests can spend the night in one of fewer than 50 casita-style accommodations spread across the 25-acre property. The privilege of doing so isn’t cheap. Think $500 a night.

Fortunately, Los Poblanos’ olfactory delights have less expensive price points, and what delights they are!

Finley split pinon kindling burns in fire pits across the property. The same is available in guest rooms along with newspaper and thick kitchen matches for fire starting. Essential oils are distilled on site, resulting in handmade, small batch lavender-peppermint hand soap and lotion. Lavendar fields to the right greet visitors arriving through an alley of monumental cottonwood trees. Sage and rosemary are used in landscaping. Garlic grows on the farm. Lemongrass, lemon verbena, and basil grows in greenhouses.

Los Poblanos began producing its own gin in 2022. A selection of craft gin cocktails from Los Poblanos’ CAMPO restaurant deliver a strong whiff of juniper.

For a spot of its caliber, reservation-only CAMPO is surprisingly “affordable.” A couple can enjoy two drinks, two appetizers–for sure the fresh bread board with selections including a green chile cheddar sourdough made in the on-site bakery with red chile Manteca butter–and two entrees with tip for about $150. Meals are cooked over a live fire. Most of what diners will enjoy is sourced either on the farm or locally. Tortillas, pasta and hominy are made on site.

CAMPO offers breakfast as well, even more reasonably priced. Judge for yourself if CAMPO’s blue corn Sonora white wheat pancakes with organic maple syrup and blackberry meringue are superior to those at IPCC. CAMPO’s earthy, herbal house bacon and sausage will make you wonder if you’ve ever really had pork before.

The property’s brown sugar and sage sausage is sold in the Farm Shop next door to CAMPO. So is a spicy chorizo, the pancake mix, the soap and lotion, the gin, and fresh baked bread daily. Browsing the Farm Shop makes for an even lower entry point to Los Poblanos with wonderful gift opportunities.

Unfortunately, farm tours are only available for overnight guests and visitors enjoying afternoon tea, but others are welcome to look around. Keep an eye out for the peacocks. Enjoy a drink in the stunning library. Say “hello” to the sheep and alpaca and Mouse, the orange cat snoozing in the lobby.

Winter makes for a great time to visit with the burning pinion fires–and pinion coffee–but so does spring when the fruit trees are blooming, or late July and August when the lavender blooms. You’d expect to drive an hour into the countryside for an agritourism experience that feels this removed from urban life; Los Poblanos pulls off the trick amidst a city of nearly one million.

Taos Pueblo

“YouTube or it didn’t happen.”

Not at Taos Pueblo.

Cameras, cell phones, and electronic devices are not allowed at Taos Pueblo during ceremonial events, so while there’s no YouTube video of the Christmas Eve bonfires or Christmas Day Deer Dance, both most certainly happen. More extraordinary holiday celebrations do not exist anywhere in the nation.

Taos Pueblo in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. The name of those mountains–Blood of Christ–a reminder of present-day New Mexico’s Spanish occupation during the 1600 and 1700s. So too are the Christmas Eve bonfires at Taos Pueblo.

A remnant of the residents’ forced conversion to Catholicism–Taos Pueblo remains Catholic–every Christmas Eve tribal members erect more than 20 split firewood stacks throughout the Pueblo’s plaza, ranging in height from 3-feet to more than 15. At sundown, they are lit from the top down. Shortly after, a procession of riflemen and a statue of the Virgin Mary are paraded from San Geronimo de Taos church in front of more than 1,000 onlookers.

The public is welcome (just not welcome to record). Parking is free and the Pueblo doesn’t charge admission.

By nightfall, a glowing ring of fire surrounds the Pueblo’s courtyard. Guests are silhouetted against the flames, none of them competing with the electronic illumination of screens.

As a visitor, you’re there, you’re not online. The experience belongs to travelers, not influencers. Guests stare at fires, not phones. Freedom comes without the pressure of capturing every visual and then immediately sharing it.

The largest conflagrations put off an intense heat, unbearable from even 50-feet away. Cheers and embers erupt as the giant pyres collapse. Swirling smoke cyclones spin off from the strongest flames, blown in the direction of the wind. Regard the inky black sky, a combination of smoke and the absence of light pollution. There is no electricity at Taos Pueblo. Still. As the smoke wanes, the stars emerge.

Arrive by 4:00 to guarantee a portion of frybread and a parking spot up close. Late arrivals may end up walking over a mile in temperatures that can drop into the 20s. Browse the numerous shops set up in homes for heirloom treasures and souvenirs alike. Learn about Taos Pueblo’s sparkling, golden brown micaceous pottery.

Unbelievably, the following day’s activities are even more remarkable–if the Deer Dance is held.

On December 25 at Taos Pueblo, tribal members will perform either Los Matachines dance, a social dance derived from the Spanish, or the Deer Dance, a deeply spiritual ceremony all their own. Which dance is not widely known or publicized in advance. The start time for either is unspecific. These are not made-for-TV events aligned with network programming schedules. Guests should arrive around 1:00.

During the Deer Dance, what you see, you may not believe. Tribal members dressed in their finest regalia–silver, turquoise, coral, shell, feathers–shake gourd rattles in a ring enclosing the Deer Dancers and two Deer Maidens. A drum beat pulses throughout.

As snow began falling during the 2024 ceremony, not a single dancer–not the shirtless men or the sleeveless women–missed the rhythm.

Don’t quiz tribal members about what unfolds. It’s no business of outsiders. The Deer Dance will not be explained. It should not be questioned. All willing to respect it are welcome, free of charge.

For those who can’t get enough, each December 26 at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo 45 miles south of Taos on the main road to Santa Fe, a day-long ceremonial Turtle Dance is held. Recording is likewise prohibited, and the event is similarly free and open to the public.

Arrive in late morning and watch for hours as approximately 100 male tribal members form a line throughout the Pueblo’s main dirt streets. They dance, chant, and shake gourd rattles with their torsos covered in clay. Admire their turtle shell leggings. The jingles. Their feathered, half-gourd headpieces. The fantastic yellow moccasins.

Keep an eye out for the jolly, white-and-black striped Koshare and the frightening fully masked figures lashing the legs of male tribal members.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe’s handful of world-class art museums have a tendency of being overlooked in favor of its hundreds of world class art galleries. Big mistake. Presently, the International Folk Art Museum presents a suite of special exhibitions unsurpassed anywhere in America.

Apartheid South Africa, America’s criminal punishment system, and Ukraine post-Russian invasion don’t seem to have much in common at first glance. Given more thought, they emerge as kinfolk. The vulnerable being abused by the powerful. Human beings tormented.

Their artists are similarly bonded. Creating from what is available under conditions of extreme trauma. Creating as a life affirming shriek for their degraded dignity.

“iNgqikithi yokuPhica/Weaving Meanings: Telephone Wire Art from South Africa” (through November 17, 2025) shares the histories of wire as an artistic medium in South Africa, the first major presentation of this artform at any North American museum. Picking up in the 1980s as telephone service–and along with it, an abundance of discarded, often colorful, telephone wire–became commonplace in South Africa, the nation’s indigenous Zulu weavers turned to the material. From this detritus, they fashioned spectacularly vivid and intricate geometric, and then increasingly complex figurative designs, into sculptures, vessels, plates, pots, and lids.

“Between the Lines: Prison Art & Advocacy” (through September 2, 2025) exposes visitors to the cruelty of America’s runaway prison system, by far the largest of any democracy on earth, and the artwork produced inside. Artwork produced from toilet paper, chewing gum wrappers, paper scraps, matchbooks, and handkerchiefs, a fascinating subgenre of prison art known as paño arte.

“Amidst Cries from the Rubble: Art of Loss and Resilience from Ukraine” (through April 20, 2025) displays photography and artwork fashioned from shell casings, missile fragments, and ammunition boxes to demonstrate humanity’s uncrushable creative impulse.

Artists making due.

Artists proving no tyranny, no matter how evil or total, can extinguish our desire for self-expression.

Heavy stuff.

Visitors will not be faulted for following up their time at the International Folk Art Museum with a tequila or mezcal flight at the Anasazi Bar & Lounge inside the spectacular Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi hotel in Santa Fe to take the edge off. Participants sit at a dedicated tequila table where one of the bar’s spirits experts guides imbibers through the origins, history, and nuanced flavors of tequila.

No salt or lime here. This is sipping tequila. The best in the world with hundreds of bottles to choose from.

Flights for parties up to six should be scheduled 48 hours in advance and begin at $100 per person. As everyone loosens up, ask to try the Convite Coyote Mezcal Joven which puts the smell and taste of that Taos Pueblo bonfire into the bottle.

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What is the legislative session?

New Mexico lawmakers will address various issues important to New Mexicans, including budgets, education reforms, healthcare policies and infrastructure developments during the 2025 legislative session in Santa Fe.

The session will be historic; women will hold the majority of seats in the New Mexico Legislature, making it the largest female legislative majority in U.S. history.

When is the New Mexico legislative session?

• Jan. 2 – Jan. 17: Legislation may be prefiled
• Jan. 21: Opening day (noon)
• Feb. 20: Deadline for introduction
• March 22: Session ends (noon)
• April 11: Legislation not acted upon by governor is pocket vetoed
• June 20: Effective date of legislation not a general appropriation bill or a bill carrying an emergency clause or other specified date

More: Las Cruces councilors approve legislative priorities ahead of 60-day session

How to connect with your legislators

New Mexicans are encouraged to engage with the legislative process by following bill progress, attending public hearings and communicating with their elected representatives to ensure their voices are heard in the state’s lawmaking process.

• Phone calls: A direct way to voice your concerns. 
• Email: A good option for providing detailed information. 
• Letters: Can be impactful, especially when sent as part of a larger campaign. 
• In-person meetings: Best for building a personal connection. 
• Public testimony: Share your perspective at legislative hearings. 

Use the New Mexico Legislature’s “Find My Legislator” tool online at https://www.nmlegis.gov/Members/Find_My_Legislator.

What are the Legislative priorities for the 2025 session in New Mexico?

Budget requests

Governor Lujan Grisham released the 2026 fiscal year budget recommendation of $10.9 billion in recurring spending — an increase of 5.3% over current year spending. The budget contains an additional $172 million for state employee pay raises, which includes additional compensation for New Mexico educators, according to the Office of the Governor.

“This fiscally sound budget proposal prioritizes early childhood education, clean energy, infrastructure, affordable housing and expanded healthcare access to build a stronger foundation for New Mexicans,” said Grisham. “My administration looks forward to discussing these proposals with state lawmakers and reaching consensus on the priorities that matter most to our state.”

Public safety

Improvement to public records requests: The New Mexico Counties (NMC) Board of Directors is seeking to amend the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA). This would bar certain requests made to “compromise and obstruct critical local government services,” according to NMC.

Reckless driving: Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and Police Department Chief Harold Medina are pushing for increased penalties for reckless driving, aiming to make the consequences as severe as those for homicide. This includes penalties for street racing and driving that result in death or serious injury.

Felons with firearms: Keller and Medina are also advocating for stricter laws against felons caught with firearms, seeking harsher penalties to enhance public safety​, alongside Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story.

“We cannot do this alone,” Keller said. “The challenges facing Albuquerque, New Mexico, are a combination of homegrown and national, and they’re big, and we will keep fighting in every single way, every single day to push back against crime, against housing challenges around homelessness.”

Corrections and detention

Detention workforce: Funding the Corrections Workforce Capacity Building Fund will address staffing shortages in county detention centers. Legislators are focusing on recruitment and retention of detention officers​.

Detention Reimbursement Fund: Fully funding the County Detention Facility Reimbursment Act Fund would reimburse counties for the costs associated with housing state inmates. The current fund is $5 million and legislators are looking to increase it by $3.2 million.

Healthcare and family support

Paid family and medical leave (PFML): AARP New Mexico is prioritizing legislation for paid family and medical leave, reflecting broader efforts to support families and workers across the state​.

“We will be putting a lot of time and effort into getting PFML passed this time,” AARP New Mexico Associate State Director for Advocacy Othiamba Umi said.

Infrastructure and economic development

Courthouse funding: Investment in the construction and renovation of state district courthouses would ensure they meet modern standards of security and functionality​, according to the NMC.

Municipal revenue sources: The New Mexico Municipal League will address the financial impacts of state policy changes on municipal revenues.

Community services and quality of life

Affordable housing: Priorities in Las Cruces include funding for affordable housing projects like Paseos Verdes and Amador Crossing, which aim to provide housing for veterans, low-income families and the elderly​.

Public transportation: Investment in infrastructure would support electric bus charging stations and enhancements to public transit facilities​.

Firefighter and EMS recruitment

Funding for emergency services: Legislators are looking for continued funding for the operational costs of 700 MHz radios and recruitment funds to ensure adequate staffing and resources for firefighters and EMS personnel, according to NMC.

Border-Related Humanitarian and Crime Efforts

Funding for border security: Legislators are seeking $5 million to go to counties for state and federal resources to combat drug and human trafficking networks, according to a release from NMC.

U.S. Representatives Gabe Vasquez and Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico have comprehensive lists of priorities published on their sites that will be discussed during the 2025 Legislative Session.