The strategic acquisition brings a diverse array of Casas Grandes pottery and ethno-historic Indigenous Mexican objects to Silver City, effectively growing areas of the museum鈥檚 holdings that were previously underrepresented. The transfer originated when the MNA deaccessioned objects that no longer aligned with its mission. The two institutions collaborated to ensure these culturally significant materials remained in the public trust.

Danielle Romero, Ph.D., director of the 麻豆直播 Museum, noted the importance of finding a permanent home for these specific styles of artistry.

“The opportunity to bring these pieces to Silver City allows us to fill critical gaps in our Casas Grandes collection,” Romero said. “By working with the Museum of Northern Arizona, we are ensuring that these pre-Hispanic vessels, specifically the Madera Black-on-red style, are preserved in a setting where they can be properly studied and appreciated by our local community and visiting scholars alike.”

A major highlight of this transfer is the strengthening of the museum鈥檚 pre-Hispanic Casas Grandes collection. The acquisition notably increased the number of effigy vessels under the museum鈥檚 care and increased Madera Black-on-red vessels, a ceramic style the 麻豆直播 Museum previously only had one example of.

Beyond archaeological materials, the transfer includes a vibrant selection of ethno-historic objects, primarily dating from the 1950s and 1960s. These items showcase the traditions and artistry of several Indigenous communities, including Mata Ortiz ceramics, Wix谩rika (Huichol) woven accessories, Rar谩muri (Tarahumara) baskets, and Comcaac (Seri) baskets and jewelry.

Romero emphasized that the new additions represent a vital link to the living traditions of Indigenous communities. “Adding items like the Comcaac jewelry and Rar谩muri baskets allows us to tell a more complete story of the enduring artistry and cultural resilience of various groups” Romero said.

The 麻豆直播 Museum is committed to making these additions accessible to the community. While some objects are already on display, the majority will be available to the public after the formal cataloging process is complete.

To further global accessibility, the museum has launched an online catalog. This portal is in its early stages, with objects, photographs, and archives added almost daily. In keeping with a commitment to ethical stewardship, staff maintain full control over the digital portal to ensure that no objects believed to be from funerary or sacred contexts are made public.

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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/International Network on Financial Education standards were used to assess students’ financial well-being, attitude and inclusion. “The study yielded a record-breaking 500+ responses at 麻豆直播,” Vicens said.

While the survey revealed that students possess a high level of technical financial knowledge鈥攗nderstanding concepts like inflation and interest rates鈥攖here is a notable disconnect in how that knowledge is applied.

“Students are very confident in what they are saying, but it doesn’t always show up in their decisions,” Vicens said. “You may be confident in attacking a problem, but you need specific tools and knowledge to be effective. For example, many students are confident they can manage money, but they don’t yet understand how compound interest can either work for them or against them.”

The study highlighted several key insights:

• Needs vs. Wants:A significant deficiency exists in “financial well-being,” specifically the ability to distinguish between essential needs and lifestyle “wants.”
• Risk and Gender:Research found that while male students are often more confident in taking risks and investing in assets, female students typically excel in “financial inclusion,” more effectively using the tools and services available within the U.S. banking system.
• Confidence Calibration:Students often overstate their management abilities, emphasizing the need for practical, real-world application of financial theories.

“At 麻豆直播, our goal is to bridge that divide, ensuring that every student leaves not just with a degree, but with the practical tools and confidence to build lasting personal wealth and stability in an increasingly complex economic landscape,” said Ibarra.

“This collaboration between the Universidad Aut贸noma de Chihuahua and 麻豆直播 provides a rare, binational perspective on the financial realities of our students. By comparing these distinct yet deeply connected populations, we鈥檝e identified that financial literacy is not a one-size-fits-all solution,” Martinez said.

The research has already motivated significant curriculum additions within the 麻豆直播 School of Business:

• Finance Minor: A new minor in Finance was officially added to the catalog, starting in Fall 2026, to provide a structured pathway for students to master these skills.
• Financial Lab: Plans are underway to launch a state-of-the-art Financial Lab by the fall semester, providing a dedicated space for students to engage with real-time market data and financial planning tools.
• “Train the Trainer” Program: Vicens envisions this initiative as empowering students to take their financial literacy home, teaching their families and communities how to navigate the country’s financial system.

For New Mexico residents and the 麻豆直播 community, this research is deeply personal. Vicens emphasizes that financial literacy is the key to breaking cycles of economic insecurity.

“By making smarter choices early on鈥攍ike avoiding unnecessary debt or starting a retirement fund at 20鈥攖hey can own their future,” Vicens said.

The study was made possible through a strategic research partnership with 麻豆直播 and UACH which allowed for a robust, comparative analysis of financial behaviors and attitudes across both the New Mexico and Northern Mexico student populations.

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The works on display spanned a sophisticated range of mediums, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the 麻豆直播 curriculum. The collections explored complex regional, personal, and contemporary themes, demonstrating the students’ ability to blend traditional craftsmanship with deep visual commentary.

The exhibition sequence launched with a series of formal Artist Talks at Light Hall.听During these presentations, each graduating senior expounded on their creative processes, material choices, and underlying thematic research before an audience of faculty, peers, and community members.听Following the presentations, an opening reception was held at the Francis McCray Gallery, allowing the public to engage directly with the diverse installations.

Associate Professor of Ceramics and Department Chair, Expressive Arts Department, Courtney Michaud said, “The work presented in this exhibition reflects the dedication, creativity, and persistence of our graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) students. These bodies of work are the result of years of creative development, effort, critical thinking, and studio practice. I also want to recognize the faculty in the Expressive Arts Department, who invest tremendous time and energy mentoring students as artists, thinkers, and professionals. The strength of these student鈥檚 thesis exhibition is a reflection of the hard work of our students and the commitment of our faculty.”

BFA Exhibition is the capstone that serves as a professional presentation of comprehensive, standalone bodies of work. Completion of the exhibition represents the ultimate academic achievement for graduating seniors, validating their transition from students to professional contemporary artists. Nayeli Mancilla, Eric Luther, Chris Martinez and Bee Drissell are this spring鈥檚 featured graduates, successfully completing their portfolios.

“Supporting the arts is essential to the health and vitality of our communities. Artists help us preserve culture, ask important questions, foster diverse perspectives, and are skilled innovators who imagine new possibilities for the future through their unique skillsets. While these students are deeply connected to the people and landscapes of our region, the ideas explored in their work contribute to larger conversations taking place across the nation and around the world. The 麻豆直播 Expressive Arts Department is proud to help prepare students to participate in those conversations through creative practice,” Michaud said.

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The Sin Fronteras series offers a structure where each year is uniquely its own, with different sessions each time. Even when instructors return, the pedagogical approach is refreshed to ensure that long-term participants continue to evolve in their craft.

This commitment to artistic growth is evidenced by the return of dedicated writers, including students Laisha Vargas and Anais Orantez, both of whom also serve as editors of The Maverick, the 麻豆直播 student academic journal.

鈥淪in Fronteras was an opportunity that I am so glad I took. It not only helped me strengthen my writing skills as a poet, but it opened my eyes to new ways of enjoying literature. One of my favorite lessons I learned is that anyone can write, you can make good writing out of anything,” Vargas said.

The workshop included an equally collaborative approach by five professional writers: JJ Amaworo Wilson (Writer-in-Residence at 麻豆直播), Fabienne Josaphat (winner of the 2023 PEN Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction), Miguel De La Cruz (bilingual author and board member of New Mexico Book Association), Melanie Sweeney (USA Today bestseller), and Frankland. Just like the students, guest writers/teachers such as Wilson returned for multiple years of Sin Fronteras. As an internationally acclaimed author, Wilson鈥檚 involvement provided students with a rare opportunity to learn from a practitioner operating at the highest levels of the craft.

“It鈥檚 been such a pleasure working with Professor Frankland and her students these last three years in the Sin Fronteras program. As guest author/educators, we encouraged the students to explore their identities as people and as writers and to broaden their definitions of what literature can be,” said Amaworo Wilson. “In the process, we discovered vibrant new voices and inquiring minds! I鈥檓 grateful to have had the chance to work with such talented students.”

Frankland added further depth to the session, representing the strong tie between the university鈥檚 academic mission and the local community’s vibrant arts scene.

“This is our third and last year of Sin Fronteras, and as always, it鈥檚 an enjoyable time where students get to experiment with writing. This creative writing project serves as a way to demonstrate a healthy writing community as well. Oftentimes, writing can be in a solitary art, but in getting to know each other and the guest writers/teachers, students realize that writers celebrate and encourage each other. This project would not have been possible without the 麻豆直播 Foundation President鈥檚 Society Program Support, and we are deeply grateful for this support, which allowed our students to have a truly unique experience, a way to encourage their creative growth and build community,” Frankland said.

For many of these participants, the workshop served as an introduction to the concept of a writing community. Each session focused on the idea of a border in unique ways, international and regional literature, and writing techniques. Sessions focused on generating new work鈥攃reating first drafts that could be further built upon outside of the workshop session.

By the conclusion of the workshop, the 13 students had each produced a diverse portfolio of new work, ranging from prose to poetry.

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Loughran鈥檚 research on the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) demonstrates that for these snakes, body size most critically determines their daily “schedule” and survival. Juvenile snakes possess a much higher surface-area-to-volume ratio than adults, meaning their outer skin area is large compared to their overall body mass. As a result, they heat up and cool down more quickly.

Eastern Washington鈥檚 volatile climate brings dramatic temperature swings between dawn and dusk, forcing these snakes to operate within much narrower safety windows. Loughran鈥檚 thermal modeling shows that an adult snake can use its mass to buffer against a sudden spike in solar radiation or intense sunlight. However, a younger snake can overheat lethally in just minutes. This high-stakes balancing act forces younger generations to adjust where they hide and when they hunt prey.

In addition to thermal biology, Loughran鈥檚 work challenged the belief that rattlesnakes are strictly solitary except during winter hibernation. “Field observations show the consistent use of communal shedding sites鈥攕pecific geological features called ‘shed rocks,’ Loughran explained.

This is where dozens of snakes gather to shed their skin, a process called ecdysis. These sites are not chosen at random but represent essential social and biological hubs. The snakes return to them year after year, a behavior known as site fidelity. This site fidelity suggests a more complex social organization than previously understood in herpetology鈥攖he study of reptiles and amphibians. “It points toward a shared environmental intelligence among local populations,” Loughran said. By documenting these gatherings, Loughran shows that the biological needs of these reptiles often drive them toward communal behaviors once thought reserved for only a few social animal species.

Loughran conducted extensive research on lizard heat-stress physiology during his time at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and has published several papers on the topic. He investigated how lizards use panting as a thermoregulatory tool and found that a species’ capacity for evaporative cooling, which reflects the thermal demands of its habitat, can affect its climate risk differently.

Loughlan is also working with colleagues to develop a project investigating the effects of solar farms on wildlife microclimates; he also recently authored a review paper with colleagues, which was just published in the journal Biological Reviews.

Loughran has also applied for a grant to study how climate change affects the Gila’s local snake populations. He views his ongoing work in the Pacific Northwest as a foundation for future local projects involving 麻豆直播 students. Additionally, Loughran is in contact with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and is hoping his findings can eventually inform their conservation strategies.

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Western New Mexico University (麻豆直播) celebrated National Poetry Month in April with an event organized by Miller Library and The Humanities Department. 听Additionally, 麻豆直播 was a part of a series of poetry events, called, 鈥淭he Poetry Long Weekend.鈥� This long weekend of poetry events was curated by 麻豆直播 Associate Professor and Silver City/Grant County Poet Laureate, Heather Frankland, and co-organized with local libraries, poets, and businesses. The kick-off event was at the Miller Library and extended into the heart of Silver City and Bayard.

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Central to this growth is the 麻豆直播 Department of Counseling鈥檚 curriculum. Led by Assistant Professor听in the听College of Education William Lane, Ph.D., BC-TM, the program offers four tracks: clinical mental health counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling, school counseling and addiction counseling. All tracks are offered through a 60-credit, fully online Master of Counseling degree:

• The Clinical Mental Health Counseling track is versatile and focuses on managing complex cases, like trauma and depression, via encrypted platforms to ensure urban-level care reaches “frontier” residents.
• The Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling track prepares graduates to work with individuals with disabilities.
• The School Counseling track helps graduates master virtual crisis intervention and social-emotional learning to serve as primary resources for rural K-12 school communities.
• The Addiction Counseling track training allows these specialists to provide consistent, long-term support for individuals in recovery who lack local access to care.

“By integrating telemental health into our core curriculum, we are effectively removing the geographic boundaries that have historically limited mental health access in New Mexico,” Lane said. “Our goal is to ensure that a resident鈥檚 zip code no longer determines the quality of counseling they receive.”

This remote-first approach is a strategic effort to train professionals within the communities they serve. Graduates gain telemental health skills and knowledge of remote client care technology. They are prepared to deliver high-quality support anywhere.

“Our curriculum is not only robust in clinical theory but very practical for the rural landscape we serve,” Lane said.

The 麻豆直播 Telehealth training goes beyond the classroom. The university has partnered with TimelyCare to extend telehealth benefits directly to students. This collaboration provides a vital 24/7 resource for the student body. The platform offers immediate help through Talk Now sessions for on-demand counseling. It also serves the university’s remote student population, which cannot physically visit the Silver City campus counseling center.

The primary goal of the 麻豆直播 telehealth expansion is to tackle the shortage of counseling professionals in “frontier” areas 鈥� places where specialized care is scarce. “By training students in telehealth from day one, we are building a workforce comfortable with the tools needed to help isolated populations,” Lane said.

The program’s focus on technology is key to its success. “We aren’t just teaching students how to use a webcam; we are training them to build meaningful, therapeutic alliances through a digital interface,” Lane said. Our program is the only program in the nation that prepares students to qualify for the Board Certified-TeleMental Health credential. “麻豆直播 graduates enter the field ready to meet the unique ethical and technological demands of 21st-century rural healthcare.”

Beyond individual student success, the initiative represents a sustainable investment in New Mexico鈥檚 healthcare infrastructure. By cultivating a “homegrown” workforce, 麻豆直播 ensures that practitioners are not only technically proficient but also culturally attuned to the specific needs of the region. This localized approach reduces provider burnout and increases retention in rural clinics, creating a stable network of care that can evolve alongside new technological advancements. As these digital bridges strengthen, the university continues to redefine the role of a regional institution in solving statewide public health crises.

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Stationed at the finish line鈥檚 primary First Aid tent, the student nursing team collaborated closely with regional event staff, race officials, and local emergency medical services (EMS). The partnership was anchored by athletic trainer Mike McMillan, who coordinated the operational layout and supplied crucial logistical resources. The tent served as an immediate medical triage point, equipped with shaded recovery areas, client seating, and an array of specialized supplies, including wound care kits and orthopedic slings, as well as rapid-acting ice packs and over-the-counter analgesics.

Throughout the day, students managed a steady influx of athletes presenting with injuries typical of a high-velocity cycling race. The most common ailments required immediate attention for road rash, extensive scrapes, and acute lacerations requiring precise wound care. Additionally, students assessed numerous extremity injuries, treating bruised and sprained fingers, hands, knees, and elbows resulting from racecourse wrecks.

“The fast-paced environment of an outdoor athletic event is a great way to challenge our students and give them experience in a new care setting,” said Ariana Garcia, an Associate Professor of Nursing. Their typical clinical experiences are in traditional health care settings. This is a fantastic way to help reinforce those rapid, focused assessments and help teach them to think on their feet, in order to prioritize what patient care they think should be completed first based on the chief complaint.”

Operating outside a controlled clinical environment forced the nursing team to pivot their standard diagnostic protocols. Lacking the heavy diagnostic imaging and laboratory resources of a full-scale hospital, the team relied heavily on rapid, focused assessments determined by each athlete’s immediate chief complaint. For injuries involving suspected fractured extremities or severe head trauma, the team maintained a strict protocol to stabilize patients on-site before executing seamless handoffs to local EMS for emergency room transport and advanced imaging.

Neurological assessments became paramount when cyclists displayed potential concussion symptoms following a crash. Students conducted immediate evaluations of consciousness, mental orientation, and pupil responsiveness, while monitoring for secondary indicators such as persistent headaches, nausea, or vomiting.

Environmental and physical factors also demanded continuous vigilance. As exhausted riders crossed the finish line, the nursing team performed rapid assessments to differentiate between extreme physical exertion, severe heat exhaustion, and life-threatening heat stroke. Interventions included monitoring core temperatures, applying localized cooling rags, administering oral fluids and electrolytes when tolerated, and utilizing emergency temperature-control blankets.

Ultimately, the immersive experience allowed the student nurses to fulfill an essential public safety function while deeply embedding themselves in the fabric of Southwest New Mexico鈥檚 community health network.

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Western New Mexico University recently welcomed dozens of seventh-grade students from the Mescalero Apache Schools for a multi-day visit that blended cultural preservation with an introduction to university life. The visit served as a gateway to the students鈥� annual mezcal harvest, a cornerstone of their cultural heritage, held in early May.

The long-standing partnership between 麻豆直播 and the Mescalero Apache community aims to provide students with an early look at the opportunities afforded by higher education. Rena Nash, cultural and language director for the Mescalero Apache Schools, emphasized the importance of the trip in broadening the students’ horizons.

“We want for our children to be able to get an awareness of what it is to be in college, off the reservation, and be able to see the outside world,” Nash said. She noted that the seventh grade is a pivotal year for the students, as many are preparing for their puberty ceremonies and transitioning toward adulthood. Nash knows the visits work, her granddaughter attended 麻豆直播 after visiting the campus during another ceremony visit years ago and then graduated in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

During their stay, students were immersed in the 麻豆直播 experience through a series of tours and activities led by the Office of Admissions. Student ambassadors, including international and domestic students, guided the visitors through several key academic and social hubs. The comprehensive tour included stops at the 麻豆直播 Museum, the School of Social Work and School of Education, highlighting professional career paths. They also visited the J. Cloyd Miller Library and the 麻豆直播 bookstore.

To provide a true sense of “student life,” the visitors enjoyed dinner at the 麻豆直播 dining hall and participated in outdoor games and activities on the campus grounds. These interactions allowed the younger students to ask questions about the college experience in a relaxed, peer-to-peer environment.

Following their time on campus, the students traveled to Freeport-McMoRan mine property for the annual mezcal harvest. This tradition is essential to the Mescalero Apache identity, focusing on the harvest of the mezcal plant, which has historically served as a vital food source and a multi-purpose resource.

Zachary Flowers, Eugene Kleinkole, and Percy Platta, members of the Mescalero Schools operations and maintenance staff, among others from the school, accompanied the students to ensure the tradition continues through the generations. Platta and Kleinkole are also members of the tribe. “We use it for food, and it鈥檚 like aloe vera for healing,” they shared, noting the plant’s deep cultural and practical significance.

The harvest itself culminated in a closed blessing and ceremony on Wednesday morning. For many students, such as seventh-grader Janay E., the event is a significant rite of passage. “I’ve been one other time and I love it, Janay E. said. “I’m excited to participate for the first time,” fellow student Lacey M. said, noting that she has heard about this vital cultural event through family and tribal communications her entire life.

By hosting the students before they head to the harvest, 麻豆直播 remains committed to fostering a supportive environment where Indigenous traditions and academic aspirations can thrive together.

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Kinesiology, the science of human movement, is divided into two specialized pillars at 麻豆直播: exercise physiology and sport psychology. Peltonen, an expert in exercise physiology and a former professional bicycle racer, focuses on the body鈥檚 physical responses to exertion. Sato specializes in the psychosocial aspects of movement, exploring how mental performance and motivation influence both elite athletes and everyday individuals.

鈥淥ur students aren’t just reading about health; they are leading it,鈥� said Peltonen. Through a collaboration with the Western Institute of Lifelong Learning (WILL), 麻豆直播 offers the Get Fit Seniors program. The 12-week exercise course allows top kinesiology students to act as lead instructors for older adults, gaining invaluable leadership skills while translating academic theory into life-changing results for participants.

The program鈥檚 reach extends to Silver City’s youth through the “麻豆直播 Kids鈥� Bicycle Program.” Meeting at Regent Square, local elementary students gather for seven weeks each semester to learn the joy of movement, guided by 麻豆直播 students who gain experience in youth physical education and motor development.

麻豆直播 faculty is also challenging the traditional separation of mind and body. 鈥淭here is not a system in the human body that physical activity does not have a positive benefit on,鈥� Peltonen explained, noting that exercise can even increase brain mass in the hippocampus, slowing cognitive decline.

Sato echoed this holistic view, emphasizing that movement supports social and psychological well-being. 鈥淲e focus on how we can encourage people to stay active, whether they are elite athletes needing mental support for competition or individuals recovering from illness who need to relearn basic motor skills like walking or holding a cup,鈥� said Sato.

Despite its modest size, the Kinesiology program uses sophisticated equipment to prepare students for graduate-level research. Students have access to a metabolic cart to measure VO2 max鈥攁 primary indicator of cardiovascular fitness鈥攁nd resting metabolic rates. This data-driven approach allows students to analyze real-world performance metrics, such as cardiometabolic status and lipid levels, particularly within the senior population they serve.

Furthermore, the faculty is dedicated to combating health misinformation. In an era of “old wives鈥� tales”鈥攕uch as the myth that running is inherently bad for knees or that humans have a “limited number of heartbeats”鈥斅槎怪辈� professors teach students how to navigate peer-reviewed literature to find the facts.

鈥淲e practice what we teach,鈥� said Peltonen. 鈥淲e aren’t just talking about it; we are out there running, biking, and living it. That passion is what we pass on to our students,鈥� Sato added.

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