Student Research Archives - Western New Mexico University

�鶹ֱ�� Student Bridges Borders and Business at National Conference

Lorraine Montez — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:00:31 +0000

Western New Mexico University (�鶹ֱ��) student Kevin Perez Marquez attends �鶹ֱ�� as part of a collaborative double-degree program with the Universidad de Sonora in the capital city of Hermosillo, in Mexico. This partnership allows students to navigate two different academic systems simultaneously, broadening their worldview.

In the fall of 2025, Perez traveled to Aurora, Colorado, to represent �鶹ֱ�� at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Annual Conference. The event, a premier gathering for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI), attracted nearly 1,000 attendees. For Perez, the experience confirmed that his �鶹ֱ�� education is equipping him to compete in international business arenas.

“The conference had workshops, speakers, networking—it was a big conference,” Perez said. “I considered meeting high-level people a challenge… but at the same time, it was inspiring because it’s something I strive for.”

The standout moment for Perez was a serendipitous encounter during a workshop hosted by Aramark, the university’s food services management partner. Aramark provides services to universities, hospitals, and other large organizations throughout North America and 14 countries. While listening to a presentation on corporate leadership at the conference, he learned that a Senior Human Resources Manager at the multinational corporation was an alum of �鶹ֱ��. The realization that a fellow Mustang had climbed the ranks of such a major company was pivotal.

“I was elated to hear this,” Perez said. He approached the representative, sparking a conversation that bridged the gap between student and executive. “He offered to introduce me to several people at Aramark. It was one of the best things I could take from that conference—that I met someone who graduated from Western. It helped me realize that if they can make it, I can too.”

Looking ahead, Perez has a clear, ambitious roadmap following his graduation from �鶹ֱ��. Perez was formally accepted to Queen Mary University of London to pursue a master’s degree in marketing and digital analytics. Eventually, his goal is to obtain a Ph.D. and work in data consulting for international businesses. Perez also recognizes that his unique ability to bridge cultural and educational divides will be one of his most significant professional assets.

Perez is particularly passionate about the intersection of humanity and technology. “It’s a field that AI cannot easily control, but it’s crucial to attain business growth,” he explained, advocating for more and stronger integration of supply chain tech, blockchain, and data analytics into �鶹ֱ�� business curricula. “Embracing 21st-century technology…will help students be more competitive.”

Perez encourages incoming international students to embrace culture shock with an open mind, emphasizing that the region’s scenic beauty and the bonds formed at �鶹ֱ�� make the journey worthwhile.

“The only thing I knew about New Mexico was Breaking Bad, and Silver City is nothing like that,” he joked. “Looking back over the year, I can see that things are better because I embraced the unknown.”

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�鶹ֱ�� School of Business Students Again Outperform Peers on National Exam

Lorraine Montez — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:00:15 +0000

Students in the Western New Mexico University (�鶹ֱ��) School of Business are continuing to outpace their peers at other institutions, including those at AACSB-accredited schools, according to the results of Fall 2025 standardized testing.

Students in the bachelor’s degree program in Business Administration take an examination administered by Peregrine Global Services that assesses their understanding of a variety of business subjects, including economics, marketing, human resource management, and business ethics. Their knowledge of these topics is tested first when they begin their academic study and again when they complete the program.

The results of the Fall 2025 Standardized Test, administered to senior students in their capstone class, show that �鶹ֱ�� students once again outperformed Region 6 and other comparison groups by an overall average of 15%. Notably, these results surpassed those of students at AACSB-accredited schools.

According to Associate Dean of the School of Business Miguel Vicens Feliberty, the data serves as validation of the university’s academic rigor.

“These consistent outcomes, year after year, prove the success of the School of Business degrees at �鶹ֱ��,” said Vicens. “It is proof that our faculty remain top professors for instruction in the country, ensuring our students receive an education that rivals any institution.”

In recent years, the School of Business has expanded its assessment efforts to include the MBA program. The most recent results show that �鶹ֱ�� MBA students scored 18% higher overall than the Region 6 comparison group and 20% higher than the average of all four comparison groups.

Vicens noted that these scores translate directly to value for the students after graduation.

“The Fall 2025 results demonstrate that �鶹ֱ�� students are highly competitive in the workforce,” Vicens said. “We are proud of the work our faculty and students have done—and continue to do—to achieve such outstanding results.”

To accurately measure student growth over time, the school has also instituted entrance exams in Introduction to Business classes. This data contributes to a Pairwise Report (2020-2025), which compares student improvement across 14 subjects from their incoming assessment to their performance upon completing their bachelor’s degree.

This “closing of the loop” demonstrates significant academic growth and is used for Quality Assurance Reports submitted to the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) every two years to improve Program Learning Outcomes.

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�鶹ֱ�� Nursing Students Take Advocacy from Bedside to Capitol

Lorraine Montez — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:49:28 +0000

Western New Mexico University (�鶹ֱ��) nursing students from the Silver City and Deming campuses recently stepped away from the classroom to engage with state lawmakers in Santa Fe. The visit provided these aspiring healthcare professionals with a firsthand look at the legislative process, emphasizing the critical role nurses play in shaping healthcare policy and extending their advocacy beyond immediate patient care.

The excursion was designed to immerse students in the complexities of drafting, debating, and passing bills. Attendees described the event as both interesting and valuable, particularly in demystifying the often-intimidating legislative procedures that govern the medical field.

During the session, students delved into the financial realities of the healthcare industry. Discussions centered on state budgeting and the escalating costs of medications—issues that directly impact patient outcomes. One student remarked on the eye-opening realization of the sheer effort required to lobby for change, noting that effective advocacy requires persistence and strategic communication.

A highlight of the visit was a participatory mock trial, which allowed students to experience the judicial process. The trial was based on a real-life scenario regarding scope-of-practice issues, specifically involving radiology nurses who were restricted from using ultrasound machines. Through this simulation, �鶹ֱ�� students observed how lobbyists influence legislative decisions and how legal rulings shape medical staff’s daily responsibilities.

The event also served as a networking opportunity, allowing �鶹ֱ�� students to interact with nursing peers from other higher education institutions across New Mexico. These interactions highlighted a distinct pedagogical difference in the teaching of nursing ethics. For instance, while students from other universities reported they are required to memorize the Nursing Code of Ethics, �鶹ֱ�� students noted that their curriculum focuses on application. Students from both the Deming and Silver City campuses explained that at �鶹ֱ��, the Code of Ethics is “worked” and lived through practical application in cohorts and practicums. This distinct approach underscores the university’s commitment to producing nurses who internalize ethical standards.

Silver City nursing student Keana Huerta, who is also student member of the �鶹ֱ�� Board of Regents, noted the vast implications of the visit. Huerta stated that she realized the “depth and scope of policymaking, and how it affects everything, not just patient care.”

Another Silver City student added that the experience broadened her professional horizon. “It made me realize that advocacy goes beyond bedside care,” she said, highlighting the necessity for nurses to be vocal in the legislative chambers as well as the hospital room.

For students from the Deming campus, the connection between law and medicine was equally profound. One student noted it was “eye-opening” to see the direct integration between legislative decisions and his future career in healthcare. Another student emphasized the collective power of the profession, noting that the session made her more aware of the “team mindset,” describing the lobbying effort as “thousands of voices working together.”

Not all students were able to make the trip to Santa Fe, but the learning objectives remained the same. Students who remained on campus engaged in a comprehensive module on conducting effective letter-writing campaigns. By researching their specific representatives and lobbyists, these students learned to craft strong, evidence-based arguments. This exercise honed their critical thinking skills and ensured that all �鶹ֱ�� nursing students, regardless of their physical location, are equipped with the tools to effect political change.

The trip and letter writing campaign left a lasting impression, helping �鶹ֱ�� students realize that being a healthcare professional requires championing change beyond the bedside.

Pictured: Students from Silver City and Deming who are enrolled in the �鶹ֱ�� nursing program attend legislative session in Santa Fe.

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�鶹ֱ�� Student Gabriel Farley Shares Insights from Prestigious Art Residency

Lorraine Montez — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 15:00:35 +0000

From the quiet mountains of New Mexico to the bustling streets of New York City, Western New Mexico University student Gabriel Farley embarked on a transformative journey this past summer, immersing himself in the prestigious Summer Undergraduate Residency Program at the New York Academy of Art. A junior in the university’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program, Farley’s art and perspective was profoundly shaped by the month-long experience.

Farley’s path to the residency began at �鶹ֱ��, where he found a key mentor in painting professor Matthew Drissell, who received his master’s from the New York Academy of Art. Drissell encouraged Farley to apply for the program while Farley was simultaneously applying for the BFA program at �鶹ֱ��. The young artist submitted his portfolio and was amazed to receive an acceptance email months later. “I didn’t think I would get it,” Farley admits. “I basically just completed my spring semester at �鶹ֱ�� and went to New York in June.”

The New York Academy of Art is renowned for its focus on classical figurative realism, a discipline that is increasingly rare in modern art schools. Farley spent his time in an intensive studio environment, painting, drawing, and sculpting human figures. He said the experience was a crash course in “how to render human features,” a skill he believes is fundamental for artists. “Our brains are designed to recognize people’s features,” Farley explained.

Beyond the technical skills, the residency provided a personal breakthrough for Farley. For the first time, he felt a deep sense of validation. “It was enlightening to feel like other artists understood me,” he said. Farley realized that the creative voice he was developing was resonating with people in the art world. “The art world was getting me,” he said. “It validated my feelings that my work is headed in the right direction, especially in New York!”

While he was impressed by the city’s art museums and galleries, Farley found the cultural energy of New York itself to be a powerful influence. Adapting to the city’s fast pace was a challenge, but one he ultimately embraced.

Looking ahead, Farley’s experience has solidified his artistic goals. He found that the artists in New York were not the typical “Bohemian Soho types” he anticipated, but rather genuine, deeply skilled individuals dedicated to their craft. Farley elaborated, “I realized, ‘Oh man, these guys are doing it. I want to get this good at painting.”

Farley’s advice to art students is to have the courage to be themselves. He encourages them to communicate the “beautiful parts” of their genuine selves through their art. He emphasizes that great art schools like �鶹ֱ�� and teachers, like professor Drissell, help students discover this authenticity. Farley believes that is the key to forging a profound connection with others through their work.

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Graduate student earns fellowship to bolster local news in New Mexico

sanchezm — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:00:39 +0000

Western New Mexico University graduate student Regina Barnett (BS ’23) has been selected for a prestigious New Mexico Local News Fund [NMLN] Fellowship. The fellowship provides Barnett with a salaried position at Soccoro’s El Defensor Chieftain newspaper while she continues her coursework toward a graduate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

The NMLN Fund is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to expanding and strengthening local news coverage in New Mexico. Through its fellowship and internship program, the organization “recruits and selects emerging journalists and matches them with mentors in local newsrooms,” according to the organization’s website.

Barnett said that she was surprised to learn she was awarded the fellowship. “I honestly did not even expect a call back,” said Barnett. “With my crazy schedule because of my son, I thought I would be passed over for a younger applicant with less baggage. When I received the call, I was happy to even be considered, and when I found out I was awarded the fellowship, I was very excited but also nervous.” Barnett explained that the nerves were due to the fact that she has not worked an office job for about eight years because she has been caring for her young son, who has autism, and attending �鶹ֱ�� remotely.

Barnett, who has been writing for the Sierra County Sentinel, explained that her attraction to journalism was spurred in part by studying history at �鶹ֱ��. “Having been a history major, I know how important local papers are for the preservation of history in a community,” she stated. “I meet so many amazing people in my community and elsewhere, and I want their stories to be told not just for right now but for future generations who may be looking up that information in archives the way I have for so many assignments.”

The opportunity to connect with people in her community and learn of their diverse experiences also draws Barnett to journalism. “I have gone to events where I was able to participate in a ghost hunter investigation in Kingston, NM, an old mining ghost town, and once I was able to go on a canoe tour on Caballo Lake where I was able to listen to the stories of the stars from a Navajo medicine man,” she said. “These experiences make the job really fun, but I mostly just enjoy hearing about people’s lives and giving small community people and businesses the recognition they deserve. They are always very grateful, and it makes me feel good.”

At El Defensor Chieftain, Barnett will have an opportunity to expand the kinds of stories she writes. “I will be working on the police blotter, some human-interest stories, and also learning to cover county and other government meetings,” she said.

Barnett said that both her undergraduate studies and her master’s program at �鶹ֱ�� have helped prepare her for the work she will be doing under the NMLN Fellowship. “The program at �鶹ֱ�� has helped me in terms of my writing skills and time management since I mainly work on my own schedule with deadlines,” she said. “I have also learned many research skills, [and] �鶹ֱ��’s focus on the humanities has made me a better person in the way that I am able to understand several people’s points of view, and I am also more resilient to criticism.”

�鶹ֱ�� Professor of English Heather Steinmann, who has taught Barnett at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, said that she was not at all surprised to learn that Barnett was awarded the prestigious NMLN Fellowship. Barnett is “a model writer and graduate student,” said Steinmann. “She understands and completes complex tasks with ease and is a great communicator. This is why she landed work as a writer and tutor, and why she’ll excel in her fellowship position.”

[Photo courtesy of the El Defensor Chieftain.]

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Summer Research Helps Prepare �鶹ֱ�� Alum for New Teaching Position

Linda Brown — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:47:24 +0000

SILVER CITY, NM—When Nick Rummell first began his graduate studies at �鶹ֱ��, he expected to be working toward a master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. “I already had a master’s in history, and I had been teaching at the community college level for about ten years,” he explained. After two semesters at �鶹ֱ��, though, a new position teaching at a community college in Tennessee sent him in a new direction. “They offered free tuition at an in-state school, so I left [�鶹ֱ��] and went to the University of Memphis, and I completed my doctorate of liberal studies there,” said Rummell.

This past January, though, Rummell decided to return to �鶹ֱ�� for a graduate certificate in Political Science. Working with Associate Professor Joel Blaxland, Rummell not only completed the needed coursework but also had a chance to engage in an in-depth research project, thanks to a research assistantship funded by a Student Research and Professional Development grant.

“We were examining why Afghan civilians either do or do not protest against the Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal,” said Rummell of the research. Blaxland, he explained “realized that most of the rural population would not rebel against the Taliban, whereas the urban population would. We were trying to key in on some of the reasons why.”

“Our tentative conclusion is that basically the Taliban leaves the rural people to do their own thing,” explained Rummell. “The urban population is the group more affected by the U.S. intervention, by foreign aid, and the rural people really did not get a lot of that. The rural Afghans are very pragmatic. As long as they are allowed to work their fields and grow their crops, they don’t really care who is in charge.”

Rummell said that he expects his coursework at �鶹ֱ�� and his research with Blaxland to have a strong impact on his new role as an Assistant Professor of History and Political Science at Illinois Central College, a position he accepted this summer. “I have taught history for 16 years, but this is my first time teaching political science,” he said.

Rummell added that the research assistantship not only provided him with examples to use in his teaching but also gave him a more thorough appreciation of how data is used by political scientists. “Getting to see how the data is used and how it can be interpreted really was helpful,” he said.

The mentorship Blaxland has provided has been invaluable, said Rummell. “He has been one of the most helpful professors I have ever had. … When I started taking his classes five years ago, he knew that I had already been teaching for ten years, and he definitely treated me like a colleague.”

That collegial relationship is one that Rummell plans to sustain as he launches into the next phase of his career.

“While the assistantship was just for the summer,” he said, “we will probably keep working on this project for another year. … I look forward to hopefully getting a publication out of it, which would be my first political science publication as a coauthor.”

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