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Making History at ENMU

Dr. Caldwell Takes on a New Challenge

This spring, Eastern New Mexico University entered a new era with a familiar face at the helm, as the Board of Regents appointed Dr. Patrice Caldwell as interim chancellor and president.

Dr. Caldwell is more than an experienced administrator, she is also the first woman to hold the president’s post in the school’s 85-year history.

“Eastern has been my life for so many years. I look forward to the next eight months and for a continued relationship with Greyhound Nation,” explained Dr. Caldwell. “ENMU is and forever will be my family.”

Dr. Patrice Caldwell (left) stands with Dr. Jack Williamson (MA 57, BA 57) at the 2004 dedication of a bust in his honor outside of the Jack Williamson Liberal Arts Building. Dr. Caldwell counts her collaboration with Dr. Williamson among her happiest teaching memories at ENMU.

Dr. Caldwell began her academic career at ENMU in 1980, serving as assistant professor and the director of freshman composition from 1980–84. As a faculty member, Dr. Caldwell happily taught grammar, composition, literature, women’s studies, and her favorite, Victorian literature, to ENMU students.

From 1984–88, she chaired the Department of Languages and Literature. Dr. Caldwell received the Presidential Award for Teaching Exellence in 1986. Her happiest teaching memories are team-teaching creative writing and science fiction with worldrenowned science fiction writer Dr. Jack Williamson (MA 57, BA 57).

On behalf of ENMU’s Student Government Association (SGA), we are excited and eager to work with Dr. Caldwell in her new position as interim chancellor and president. Dr. Caldwell’s leadership, commitment and involvement with ENMU’s student body and SGA has been tremendous.

-- Hannah Stout, President ENMU Student Government Association

After a national search in 1988, Dr. Caldwell became dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her efforts to advance ENMU’s services for students didn’t stop there. When ENMU received the prestigious Pew Leadership Award for Institutional Renewal in 1997, she became the director of that grant, which launched ENMU’s Freshman Seminar initiative and substantially enhanced campus technology.

The next year, Dr. Caldwell moved to the Office of Planning and Analysis, where she continued her work with grants, strategic planning and institutional management. In the summer of 2018, she was promoted to vice president for planning, analysis and governmental relations and ENMU chief of staff.

Dr. Caldwell has been a board member of the ENMU Friends of Music since 1997 and has served as their president for the past 18 years. She actively supports the arts on campus and is a loyal attendee during ENMU Athletics and student activities.

Brian Stein (BS 05) Alumni Association President (left) and board member Nikki Kull (BS 69) (right) presented Dr. Caldwell with the Honorary Lifetime Award during Homecoming 2018.

In her new role as interim chancellor of the ENMU System and interim president for ENMU-Portales during this challenging time, Dr. Caldwell said the focus is – and always has been – about the students’ educational experience.

“We have to keep our eyes on what’s best for students. We’re using as much information as we can to determine how we can provide the best and safest experience for our students,” Dr. Caldwell said. “We’re also approaching this with a lot of optimism.”

As COVID-19 has caused a disruption in so many lives, Dr. Caldwell hopes many can look to the University as an economic engine for the future.

“There are a number of programs that speak to what we have learned from the pandemic. ENMU’s nursing and teacher education programs are strengths of the University. Now more than ever, we all keenly appreciate how important nurses and educators are to our community,” Dr. Caldwell said. “A college education allows someone to do more than earn a living; it can teach them to lift the community. The future of New Mexico, our nation and the world depends on the success of our students. We are in this for the long haul.”

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