NMSU Panorama-Fall 2021

PANORAMA New Mexico State University Alumni & Friends Magazine

Volume 78 Fall 2021 • FREE

A festive

return

NMSU celebrates Homecoming on campus

+ALSO INSIDE: New developments in the works

NMSU is home In fall 2021, NMSU resumed in-person classes and hosted athletic home events with fans in the stands for fall sports such as football, soccer and volleyball. One of Ken Barrick’s murals, “NMSU is Home” in Corbett Center, is the perfect illustration to celebrate the return to campus. Barrick was an influential artist on campus for more than 30 years. He joined the NMSU art department faculty in 1949. Barrick, who passed away in 2007, painted more than a dozen legendary murals on campus including inside Hadley Hall.

PHOTO BY JOSH BACHMAN

Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

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Hello, Aggies!

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t an event earlier this year, I mentioned that while the roadrunner is the state bird of New Mexico, you can expect to see a lot more cranes at our locations around the NMSU system over the coming months. Construction cranes, that is.

The groundbreaking ceremony for our Agricultural Modernization & Educational Facilities took place in fall 2021 at our College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences on the Las Cruces campus. As you’ll see later in this magazine, these facilities are crucial for our education and research missions and will fuel economic development in our region.

We also recently held ribbon cuttings for our Aggie Power solar array project with El Paso Electric at Arrowhead Park, and for our indoor agriculture facility, a collaboration with Tri-State Generation and Transmission and Electric Power Research Institute, at our NMSU Grants campus. Both of these projects address our state’s critical infrastructure needs, relating to food, water, energy and health.

Work also continues on our wind farm project at NMSU’s Corona Ranch with Pattern Energy and our new gateway to campus, as part of the I-25/University Avenue project. Each of these projects is exciting for what they will provide for our students, and the communities we serve across the region. It’s certainly a great time to be part of NMSU. Go Aggies!

This issue of Panorama is produced by the office of Marketing and Communications, New Mexico State University, 575-646-3221.

Correspondences may be sent to Marketing and Communications, MSC 3K, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM 88003-3590 or panorama@nmsu.edu.

Panorama is published two times annually.

ISSN 2470-0649 New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and educator.

The magazine can be found online at panorama.nmsu.edu.

Editor Tiffany Acosta Assistant Editor Adriana M. Chávez ’19 Art Director Gerald Rel Contributors Amanda Adame ’19, Vladimir Avina ’18, Josh Bachman ’07, Elijah Banegas, Minerva Baumann ’13, Linda Fresques, Charlie Hurley, Andrés Leighton, Carlos Andres López ’10, Cassie McClure ’06 ’08, Darren Phillips, James Staley ’02 Chancellor Dan Arvizu ’73 President John Floros

Dan Arvizu, Ph.D. ’73 NMSU Chancellor

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reetings from the NMSU Foundation. The end of the fall 2021 semester is quickly approaching. As the first semester of reconvening in-person on campus since the COVID-19 pandemic began, I have come to appreciate just how special it is to once again be able to gather in person. Of course, we can all appreciate the weekly Zoom calls that made our work, and our livelihood, possible. Yet, listening this fall to the marching band practice outside our windows at Dove Hall, passing students making their way around the Horseshoe on the way to class, or enjoying the company of friends at tailgates and games, made this fall seem almost normal.

We now see the world through a slightly different prism than before, and we have a newfound appreciation for once again being able to gather with those we care about. Never has that been truer than gathering in person this fall with alumni and donors who mean so much to us. In spite of COVID, NMSU is enjoying a record fundraising year due to the dedication and transformational giving of our donors and friends. Your continued support represents the margin of excellence that continues to make such a difference at NMSU.

As we approach the end of the year, I have learned to appreciate the power of sharing a hug, a handshake or fist bump or a big grin visible behind a mask. While I know that our pandemic woes may not yet be fully in the rearview mirror, I am hopeful we have all gleaned some powerful lessons from it. For me, one of the greatest lessons learned is this – the power and healing nature of gathering in person is quite simply a gift, and one that I will never take for granted again.

We at the Foundation wish you a wonderful holiday season, and hope that you will be able to gather with those you love. Thanks for all you do and go Aggies!

Derek Dictson ’98 President, NMSU Foundation Vice President, University Advancement 2 Panorama | New Mexico State University | Fall 2021

President, NMSU Foundation Derek Dictson ’98 Senior Associate Vice President External Relations Lynn Schlemeyer Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications Justin Bannister ’03 ’13 Executive Director of Marketing, Web and Brand Management Melissa Chavira ’03 ’05 ’11 Director of Communications and Media Relations Amanda Bradford ’03 ’21 NMSU Alumni Association Board of Directors Executive Council President Michael Law ’05 President-Elect Paulo Tomasovich ’02 Secretary/Treasurer Kim Archuleta ’96 ’03 Past President Carol Smallwood ’83 NMSU Alumni Association International Board of Directors Executive Council Chair Bobby Lutz ’73 Vice Chair Kyle Louvar ’98 Treasurer Eric Powell ’80 Secretary Frank Seidel ’81 2021© New Mexico State University POSTMASTER: Send address change notifications to Panorama, MSC 3590, New Mexico State University, P.O. Box 30001, Las Cruces, NM, 88003-88001

ALUMNI

CONTENTS

Volume 78 Fall 2021

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NEW DEVELOPMENTS

Building modernization plans convey NMSU’s unique identity

PANORAMA New Mexico State University Alumni & Friends Magazine

Volume 78 Fall 2021 • FREE

14 CALL OF DUTY

NMSU Fire Department marks 100 years of service

A

festive return NMSU celebrates Homecoming on campus

+ALSO INSIDE: New developments in the works

COVER IMAGE BY JOSH BACHMAN

24 BRIGHT FUTURE

New NMSU college creates limitless opportunities for students

16 26 THE NEXT FRONTIER PIN PALS NMSU graduates aid commercial space travel advancements

22 HOMECOMING & AG DAY 2021

Aggies are back in action

NMSU students exchange art in isolation

28 A GATHERING PLACE

ALSO INSIDE 4...............Around Aggieland 30......... Alumni Connections 35......... Pete's Corner 36.........Aggie Pride

Award-winning Pete’s Patio offers cantina-style oasis on campus

Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

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AROUND AGGIELAND

National Association of Hispanic Journalists recognizes students

JOSH BACHMAN

Best in class COURTESY PHOTO

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JOSH BACHMAN

NMSU’s fall 2021 convocation marked the start of a new academic year – and a new tradition to align faculty awards with NMSU LEADS 2025. Award recipients who attended the ceremony were Martha Desmond (from left), Regents professor of fishery and wildlife sciences, Donald C. Roush Award for Teaching Excellence honoree; Steven Sandoval, assistant professor of electrical engineering, Christmore Award for Teaching Excellence honoree; Mary Ballyk, professor of mathematical sciences, Robert L. Westhafer Award honoree, which recognizes work enhancing student success and social mobility – the first goal in LEADS 2025; Avis James, college associate professor of biology, Donald C. Roush Award for Teaching Excellence honoree; and Anne Semrau, assistant professor of biology at NMSU Grants, Donald C. Roush Award for Teaching Excellence honoree.

COURTESY PHOTO

Students from Aggies Without Limits accepted the first-ever Extension, Outreach and Community Engagement Award, which recognizes work amplifying extension and outreach – the third goal in LEADS 2025. AWL brings together students, faculty and community members to assist with the development of local and international communities.

Student receives ‘golden ticket’ on American Idol

“You’re going to Hollywood!” were words Dzaki Sukarno only dreamed of hearing since he started his musical journey. In March 2021, his dreams came true. Sukarno auditioned for American Idol, where he earned his golden ticket to Hollywood. The Las Cruces native sang Kane Brown’s “Good as You.” Sukarno is an agricultural business major and a member of NMSU’s Air Force ROTC.

Sukarno advanced to the next few rounds of the competition before heading home.

“Although I did not move forward, everyone keeps asking me, what’s next?” Sukarno says.

“What’s next is making sure that I keep pushing my dreams of music.”

As he takes those next steps, Sukarno is grateful his fellow Aggies are cheering him on.

“The NMSU community has been super supportive on my journey through American Idol,” Sukarno says. “Without the support of the community, I would not be in the position I am today.”

Amanda Adame ’19 4 Panorama | New Mexico State University | Fall 2021

COURTESY PHOTO

osemary Montañez and Dayana Villanueva were among 36 journalism students in the country awarded scholarships from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. The scholarships honor the life’s work of two prominent Latino journalists.

Montañez received the $2,000 Rubén Salazar Scholarship, and Villanueva received the $2,000 Luis Gomez Scholarship as seniors graduating in December 2021.

“Going to NMSU has been the best choice I ever made in life,” Villanueva says. “It’s been Montañez a dream come true and keeps getting better and better with opportunities like these.”

As active members of News22, the live student-run newscast, and Noticias22, the Spanish digital student-run newscast, Montañez and Villanueva gained valuable hands-on experience as anchors and reporters.

With experience working regular broadcast newscasts, and Villanueva support from the journalism and media studies department, Villanueva and Montañez believe they are well-prepared for careers in journalism.

“Students who graduate from this department are ready to face the world boldly and are fully equipped to do so,” Montañez says.

Amanda Adame ’19

Chick-fil-A cookie fundraiser helps NMSU students

Matt Carper (front far left), owner of two Chick-fil-A locations in Las Cruces, presents a check to NMSU representatives on behalf of the Chick-fil-A locations in Las Cruces and El Paso that participated in a monthlong cookie fundraiser to benefit the NMSU Student Emergency Fund. Vanessa Perez (front from left), Nevaeh Fierro, Mathew Madrid, Derek Dictson, Justin Bannister (back from left), Will Waller and Ann Goodman also attended the presentation.

COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO

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racey Miller-Tomlinson, an associate professor of English at NMSU, has been named Faculty Fellow for the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, housed at NMSU’s William Conroy Honors College.

As Faculty Fellow, Miller-Tomlinson will help develop the newly created center and promote undergraduate student engagement with the research and creative activities of the university.

Along with her experience in teaching and advising, Miller-Tomlinson has worked with student researchers across the university as a former Honors College associate dean and university fellowships adviser. She served as director of undergraduate studies in Miller-Tomlinson NMSU’s Department of English for two years, and director of graduate studies for nine years.

“NMSU’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity will serve as a resource for students as they apply their learning through independent research and creative arts, and for the dedicated faculty researchers who collaborate with and advocate for them,” Miller-Tomlinson says.

Adriana M. Chávez ’19

Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

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EMILY COATES

English professor named Honors College faculty fellow

CMI duo boost career opportunities with fellowships

Animation junior Brandon Trevizo and film production graduate Dominic Vincent ’21 were among 30 students in the country selected to join the 2021 Television Academy Fellowship program.

“These fellowships provide opportunities for the students involved to connect with leaders in their field of study, develop relationships with potential professional mentors, learn how the industry works from a unique angle and help Trevizo them jump some of the entry-level steps as they seek employment in the entertainment industry,” says Amy Lanasa, professor and head of NMSU’s Creative Media Institute.

Trevizo grew up in Albuquerque and is working with animation and visual effects. Trevizo plans to graduate in May 2022. Vincent is from Carlsbad and graduated in May 2021 with a focus on visual elements of filmmaking like cinematography and editing.

Vincent

The pair hopes the Television Academy contacts will help them to find career opportunities in the television and film industry.

Minerva Baumann ’13

JOSH BACHMAN

C

hick-fil-A locations in Las Cruces and El Paso partnered with NMSU in spring 2021 and pledged to donate a portion of cookie sales to benefit NMSU students experiencing hardship.

The locations – including the restaurants on East University Avenue and East Lohman Avenue in Las Cruces – sold approximately 26,000 cookies during April 2021.

Matt Carper, who owns the two participating Las Cruces locations, presented a check for $6,107.80 to the NMSU Foundation in July 2021. The funds benefited the NMSU Student Emergency Fund, which aids students in times of crisis. Every donation helps students maintain critical resources such as utilities, food, housing and the necessary technology to complete their studies.

Carper says he wanted to help NMSU because many of his employees are college students who struggled financially over the past year.

“Chick-fil-A’s generous gift to the NMSU Student Emergency Fund will ensure that our hard-working Aggies can get back to the classroom and remain focused on pursuing their academic goals,” NMSU Foundation President Derek Dictson ’98 says.

Carlos Andres López ’10

AROUND AGGIELAND

Scholz named first-ever vice president for equity, inclusion and diversity JOSH BACHMAN

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Scholz

s a first-generation American citizen and a first-generation college student, Teresa Maria Linda Scholz can relate to many NMSU students.

Raised in Guatemala and the United States, Scholz joined NMSU in August 2021 as the first-ever vice president for equity, inclusion and diversity.

She most recently served as associate vice chancellor and chief diversity officer at the University of California Santa Cruz. A critical Latina/Latin American transnational feminist scholar in communication studies, Scholz’s scholarly focus is on understanding culturally situated theories that challenge systematic and structural inequities.

“This past year has challenged us all to think proactively, strategically and creatively to address systemic inequities by forging a sense of community and belonging between us all,” Scholz says.

“As a practitioner, Dr. Scholz has worked to foster a healthy campus climate where students, staff and faculty are seen, valued and respected and where their voices, ideas, research and innovations contribute to transforming the academic, co-curricular and non-academic functions of a university,” NMSU President John Floros says.

Scholz earned her Ph.D. in communication studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in speech communication and a master’s certificate in women’s studies from Colorado State University.

Justin Bannister ’03 ’13

Campbell returns to provide faculty administration support COURTESY PHOTO

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Campbell

6 Panorama | New Mexico State University | Fall 2021

ebecca Campbell ’88 likes to call herself an “Aggie squared,” with two bachelor’s degrees, one in chemistry, the other in secondary education, from NMSU.

As of spring 2021, she is leading NMSU’s faculty success efforts as associate provost for academic administration, providing leadership and development in support of faculty administrators such as deans, directors and department heads, as well as continuous process improvement efforts through refinement of policies and procedures based on best practices.

In addition to working closely with the deans, associate deans and department heads, she is collaborating with the leadership of many offices and units, including the Faculty Senate; Policy Office; Human Resource Services; Employee and Labor Relations; Equity, Inclusion and Diversity; Institutional Equity; and the General Counsel.

Campbell has more than 25 years of experience in higher education.

She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, and has focused her research on the first-year experience, student success courses and pedagogy in gateway courses.

“I am thrilled to have come home to Las Cruces and NMSU to give back to the community that facilitated my own professional growth. I am particularly excited to work at an institution that has the vision to see that fostering student success and faculty research are complementary goals,” Campbell says.

Adriana M. Chávez ’19

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to develop this rare opportunity for her students to work at one of the top museums in the world.

“Museum conservation program students need to gain as much experience as possible in museums and collections to be accepted into graduate conservation programs or museum jobs,” she says.

Marinas-Feliner has worked with the museum in the past, placing several NMSU students into other Marinas-Feliner internships at the Smithsonian.

Although many more students were interested in internships, they could not afford the cost. Now that this new program includes funding, more students will have the opportunity to attend the internship program.

“This is an absolutely unique experience and it will be a privilege for the museum conservation students to be able to go to the museums of the Smithsonian Institute to gain experience in the museum world,” she says.

Amanda Adame ’19

DARREN PHILLIPS

MSU’s Museum Conservation Program is the first in the country to partner with the Smithsonian Latino Center to provide students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to intern at the center in Washington, D.C. Since 1997, the Smithsonian Latino Center has successfully ensured that the contributions of the Latino community are celebrated and represented throughout the Smithsonian.

The center received funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support four NMSU students per year with up to six-month internships over the next five years, including transportation, housing and a stipend.

“The Smithsonian Latino Program and NMSU Museum Conservation Program created this internship to give our museum conservation students an opportunity to learn how one of the main institutions in the world applies preventive conservation, collections care and art conservation,” says Silvia Marinas-Feliner, program director.

NMSU, which started its program in 2005, is one of only two universities nationwide that prepares students to be art conservators with hands-on experience.

As program director at NMSU, a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Marinas-Feliner worked closely with the Smithsonian

DARREN PHILLIPS

NMSU to partner with Smithsonian Latino Center for internships

As a graduate student, Gina Utman (left) worked with Silvia Marinas-Feliner, program director, to restore an antique retablo in the art conservation lab.

Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

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AROUND AGGIELAND

Arrowhead Center receives $1 million for clean energy tech development

ANDRÉS LEIGHTON

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Arrowhead Center was one of 10 incubators and accelerators in the country to receive United States Department of Energy funding to encourage development and commercialization of new high-tech clean technologies. Kathryn Hansen, Arrowhead Center director and CEO, leads the collaboration with the New Mexico Economic Development Department, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

8 Panorama | New Mexico State University | Fall 2021

$1 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy will help NMSU’s Arrowhead Center promote the development and commercialization of high-tech clean technologies in New Mexico.

The project, an expansion of the New Mexico Clean Energy Resilience and Growth, or NM CERG, cluster at Arrowhead Center, is in collaboration with the New Mexico Economic Development Department, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

The funding builds on work to develop the initial NM CERG cluster and run a hybrid accelerator for New Mexico clean-tech businesses, EnergySprint + Small Business Innovation Research. The accelerator is funded through a $50,000 competition prize the DOE’s Energy Program for Innovation Clusters, or EPIC, awarded to Arrowhead Center in 2020.

“We are proud of this important effort, working alongside the state’s national laboratories and other collaborators, to ensure New Mexico is positioned to be a leader in high-tech job growth,” says NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu. “NMSU’s Arrowhead Center is a proven catalyst for economic development and a true asset to the entire state.”

Arrowhead Center provides education and support to startup businesses, while NMEDD supports cluster expansion and promotions. Los Alamos and Sandia provide NM CERG participants with access to lab expertise, facilities and technical programming.

Arrowhead Center is NMSU’s technology transfer office, entrepreneurship center and economic development engine, providing services across New Mexico. Arrowhead’s offerings include startup accelerators, mentor networks, and funding and technical assistance programs.

“Sandia is proud to be a part of this important work,” says David Kistin, manager of technology and economic development at Sandia National Labs.

“We look forward to expanding opportunities for New Mexico businesses and entrepreneurs alongside Arrowhead Center, Los Alamos and NMEDD.”

EPIC is a $10 million funding opportunity created by the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions to underscore the importance of regional clusters, which increase productivity of area companies, drive the direction and pace of innovation, and stimulate the formation of new businesses, further reinforcing the cluster itself.

Adriana M. Chávez ’19

AGGIE

Milestones 115 years

The Old Seed House, the oldest building on campus, hosted the Carnival Ball in February 1906. While the building’s construction date is unknown, it predates the university itself. It was a popular gathering place for many student events, and still stands on the east end of College Avenue. It is the only building from the 1800s that remains at NMSU.

100 years The Old Seed House

The Aggie Fight Song first appeared in its present-day form in the Round-Up in October 1921. One of the song’s most colorful lines about buying “a keg of booze” was actually illegal at the time because of Prohibition and the 18th Amendment. While variations were made to the song’s lyrics through the 1930s and early 1940s, the version Aggie fans sing today features the same words printed more than 90 years ago.

95 years

Paul W. Klipsch graduated from the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1926. He continued his research into audio frequency, efficiency and speakers, and eventually obtained numerous audio speaker-related patents. His Heritage Line of speakers are still known worldwide for their quality and accuracy. Klipsch received an honorary doctorate from NMSU in 1981. The Paul W. Klipsch Lecture Hall, the Paul W. Klipsch Department of Electrical Engineering and the Klipsch School of Electrical Klipsch

Engineering are all named in his honor.

75 years

Robert L. Westhafer began his career at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1946 as a professor in the Department of Mathematics. Today, the Westhafer Award is presented to faculty members for excellence in teaching, research and creative activity.

55 years

Lou Henson coached his first game as the Aggie men’s basketball head coach Dec. 1, 1966.

He went on to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament in six of his first nine seasons, Henson

including a Final Four appearance in 1970.

Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

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AROUND AGGIELAND

AGGIE BRAGGING

rights

NMSU among top graduate schools

TOP TIER

National top tier ranking continues

NMSU has been recognized as a top tier university for the ninth time in the last 10 years in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges for 2022 National Universities rankings. NMSU improved in several ranking categories this year. NMSU is tied for 227 for national universities, tied for 112 in top public schools and tied for 100 for top performers on social mobility. The rankings are based on outcomes, faculty resources, expert opinion, financial resources, student excellence and alumni giving.

10 Panorama | New Mexico State University | Fall 2021

NMSU was named one of Abound’s 2021 Top Grad School Programs. NMSU qualified based on factors that focus on the needs of non-traditional students such as flexible classes and services, affordable courses, a range of quality programs, and degrees that help students advance in their field. Abound selects the top 15 percent of institutions according to its holistic grading criteria and adjusts the cohort to have a more representative distribution of school locations, school sizes, religious affiliations, public schools, private schools and historically Black colleges and universities.

DACC student takes second at nationals

Doña Ana Community College student Ta’Juana Williams garnered a silver medal in extemporaneous speaking at the SkillsUSA Championships in June 2021. Held virtually this year, SkillsUSA Championships are a competitive event that showcases the best career and technical education students in the country. Williams, an education major, was one of five DACC students to compete at the state competition, which she won. Established in 1965, SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of education and industry to strengthen the country’s skilled workforce. The SkillsUSA Championships showcased thousands of students competing in more than 100 occupational and leadership skill areas.

Engineering team earns recognition for Smart Robot Bed prototype

A team of NMSU engineering students won accolades for their design and prototype of the Smart Robot Bed, a device that can help elderly and bedridden people regain some sense of independence and help caregivers. Led by Electrical Engineering Associate Professor Wei Tang, team members Leonardo Escamilla, mechanical and electrical engineering dual major; Andrea Baca and Elayne Petrie, electrical engineering; Rogelio Hernandez, Connor Sitz and Maria Reynoso, mechanical and aerospace engineering; won third place in best engineering design, along with the teamwork award in the 2021 Excellence Engineering Capstone Showcase Competition. The virtual contest held in May 2021 was sponsored by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Head Association.

Faculty

Dehghan-Niri receives NSF CAREER award

Researching an unusual primate from Madagascar landed Ehsan Dehghan-Niri, civil engineering assistant professor, the 2021 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development award. The $579,236 CAREER award will be distributed over the course of five years.

“It’s an honor that stays with you your entire career,” Niri says. “It’s one of the most prestigious funding awards faculty members can receive in the United States. (The committee) recognizes that your research is going to be very important and have a significant scientific impact in that particular field in the future.”

Niri is studying the aye-aye lemur, a small primate with elongated fingers and phenomenal hearing capabilities. The ayeaye uses these morphological features along with its remarkable near-field acoustic-based sensing to find food and survive in the Madagascan rain forests.

Niri’s research aims to closely study these morphological features to improve and revolutionize non-destructive testing methods.

Non-destructive testing and non-destructive evaluation methods are used to test critical components in airplanes, pipelines, railroads, bridges and building structures.

Vladimir Avina ’18

JOSH BACHMAN

NSF, NASA award supports theoretical planet formation research collaboration

Wladimir Lyra, astronomy assistant professor, is helping to create a roadmap of planet formation using supercomputers thanks to a three-year program at NMSU, funded through the National Science Foundation and NASA.

The collaboration includes the University of Arizona; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Iowa State University; and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute.

Ultimately, they will combine their research to come up with a unified theory.

“This investigation will use powerful computers to produce simulations of planet formation and compare the results with modern observations,” Lyra says. “This research will be able to decide which models are more likely to account for planet formation.”

The project also has an educational component focused on underserved teenagers in the region, with a goal to inspire them to pursue higher education. In three years, Lyra believes he can reach a significant percentage of Las Cruces’ Hispanic teens living below the poverty line.

Minerva Baumann ’13

NIH grant funds study to understand heart attacks

JOSH BACHMAN

VLADIMIR AVINA

Successes

Research underway at NMSU seeks to advance the understanding of what causes heart attacks and differentiate between heart attack types at a molecular level.

Patrick Trainor (left), assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, leads a research team working on an in-depth study of blood samples from heart attack patients.

In February 2021, Trainor’s team received an $888,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund the project for four years. Trainor’s team includes Tanner Schaub (right), director of the NMSU Research Cores Program, NMSU postdoctoral researcher Maha Abutokaikah (center), and NMSU graduate students Hossein Mousavi and Alanna Cover ’18.

The team has since started to analyze blood samples from about 225 patients using a high-resolution mass spectrometry instrumentation platform housed in the NMSU Chemical Analysis and Instrumentation Laboratory. The process will take about two years to complete.

“Once we’ve measured all these thousands of molecules in these different blood samples,” Trainor says, “we’ll use advanced bioinformatics and statistics to try and figure out what is different between these different samples and start building a model that can differentiate the heart attack types.”

Carlos Andres López ’10

Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

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COURTESY PHOTO

ilm and television proThe AT&T Foundation has funded $10,000 in creative media ductions have ramped scholarships to help NMSU Grants students. Shawnea up in New Mexico, Delgarito is one of the fall 2021 scholarships recipients. and the growing digital media job market provides new opportunities for students across the state. According to the New Mexico Film Office website, 18 projects were in production in late August 2021. The projects range from feature films to TV series.

To help NMSU Grants students earn creative media technology associate degrees and gain workforce development, the AT&T Foundation has funded $10,000 in creative media scholarships.

“In addition to supporting 10 students in attaining their creative media technology degrees, the AT&T Foundation scholarships at NMSU Grants can potentially impact a unique, diverse student population,” says Marlene Chavez-Toivanen, vice president for academic affairs and associate campus director at NMSU Grants.

Grants has approximately 9,000 residents with a diverse population.

Thirty-nine percent of residents identify as Native American. Grants is home to members of four tribal nations – Laguna, Acoma, Zuni Pueblos and Navajo Nation – and 38 percent of residents identify as Hispanic.

“Many of these jobs are now available remotely, which increases the chances that NMSU Grants students can gain employment in this field,” ChavezToivanen says. “While we are able to bring this technology and training to our students, Cibola County students are often reluctant to attend college full time because they need to work full time.”

Trujillo

As the lone higher education institution in the county, NMSU Grants offers a Creative Media Technology program with courses in Adobe software programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Dreamweaver along with classes in game design using software programs such as 3D Studio Max and Epic Unreal Engine.

The AT&T Foundation scholarships have the potential to increase student workforce opportunities, which are vital to area residents. Recipients of the fall 2021 scholarships are Georgia Trujillo and Shawnea Delgarito.

“The rural isolation of Cibola County increases the obstacles to completing education and moving into the workforce at every level, pre-K through college,” Chavez-Toivanen says. “The AT&T Foundation scholarships help these students attend college full time so that they can complete creative media technology degrees within two years.”

Tiffany Acosta

12 Panorama | New Mexico State University | Fall 2021

JOSH BACHMAN

Scholarships at NMSU Grants offer training, degree completion assistance

ELIJAH BANEGAS

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alk into Zuhl Library and the eyecatching, vibrant geological specimens on display are likely to grab your attention.

“The geological specimens add a different dynamic to the environment that you don’t typically think of. It expands the mind and expands the horizon of what is attainable and what is reachable,” says Kate Terpis, interim Library Dean. “The community and our students, faculty and staff get a treat every time they come in to the Library to the stunning display of geology.”

The displays are from the personal collection of Herb and Joan Zuhl. With a passion for beautiful art pieces, the couple – who weren’t NMSU graduates or from the state – moved to Las Cruces in 1998, and began a more than 20-year relationship with NMSU with the first of many donations to the Library.

An avid collector, Herb Zuhl continually acquired and donated specimens to NMSU. A collection of Joan Zuhl’s paintings is on display in Zuhl Library. In 2000, the Zuhls announced plans to provide an estimated $3 million to NMSU from their estate.

Four years later, thanks to the couple, the Zuhl Museum: Home of the Zuhl Collection was established to display the more than 1,800 pieces of petrified wood, fossils and minerals that they donated to NMSU. The Zuhl Museum was enhanced with an expansion that opened in 2017 following a

generous contribution from the Zuhls.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Herb Zuhl said, “I want to thank everyone who helped with the museum. I know the museum will continue in perpetuity and will be a permanent collection to be used for education and research for generations to come.”

“Herb really wanted to find a home for his geological collection and what a wonderful home it has been,” Terpis says.

Additionally, the Zuhls created scholarships and endowments in the Library and departments across campus. Library Dean Emerita Elizabeth A. Titus, who began her NMSU tenure in 2000, met Herb and Joan Zuhl for the first time at the Zuhl Library naming ceremony that year.

“It was the beginning of a deep friendship over the next 20 years, filled with memories of Herb visiting with me to work on displaying new pieces of his geological collections in Zuhl Library, him personally touring guests, and his just dropping by or phoning me to say hello,” Titus says.

In 2011, NMSU awarded the couple an honorary Doctor of Letters. The Zuhls lived in Las Cruces for the rest of their lives; Joan passed away in February 2016 and Herb in February 2021.

“We are forever grateful for the support of Herb and Joan and will be deeply appreciative and mindful of how we thoughtfully work through utilizing the endowment funds,” Terpis says.

Tiffany Acosta

DARREN PHILIPS

Sharing a passion, Zuhls leave lasting legacy

Top: Avid collector Herb Zuhl donated several geological specimens to NMSU, several of which are on display inside the Zuhl Museum.

Bottom: Herb Zuhl (left) and his wife, Joan Zuhl, received an honorary Doctor of Letters from NMSU in 2011. The couple established a more than 20-year relationship with NMSU, marked by several generous gifts to the university. Joan Zuhl passed away in 2016, and Herb Zuhl in 2021.

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CALL of DUTY NMSU Fire Department marks 100 years of service Compiled by Carlos Andres López ’10

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illie N. Preciado and other volunteer firefighters came together a century ago to lay the foundation for the NMSU Fire Department. What started as an all-volunteer fire brigade is now a full-service fire department providing emergency response to NMSU’s Las Cruces campus and Doña Ana Community College as well as mutual aid throughout Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. It also boasts a firefighter training program for full-time students attending NMSU and DACC. The department celebrates 100 years of service in 2021.

An all-volunteer staff establishes the NMSU Fire Department.

Willie N. Preciado, a physical plant employee at NMSU, becomes the department’s first fire chief.

NMSU FIRE DEPARTMENT

1921

1947 NMSU buys its first fire truck, allowing volunteer firefighters to respond to calls by vehicle for the first time.

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The New Mexico Department of Insurance issues a mandate ordering the department to staff at least 10 volunteer firefighters at all times and reclassifies its ISO rating to Class 8.

1958

NMSU builds a fire station equipped with state-of-theart communications capabilities at 1510 Wells St. to house the department and still uses the facility today.

1964 Department starts student program and begins hiring students to serve alongside the volunteer firefighters.

1965

1991 Department expands capabilities to include emergency medical services.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS Chief Johnny Carrillo

NMSU Fire Department Years of service at NMSU: 2009 to present

Battalion Chief Ben Ojinaga ’98 ’00

Greeley, Colorado Fire Department Years of service at NMSU: 1993 to 1997

“One of my proudest moments was when we improved our Public Protection Classification rating to 2/2X in 2018 – a ranking that put us in the top three percent of all fire departments in the nation.

This is a true testament to NMSU’s commitment to safety and risk reduction. During my time at NMSU, we’ve also upgraded our water distribution system and emergency communications system and improved our response capabilities and training. We could not have achieved this without our dedicated staff and support from NMSU’s administration and our Facilities and Services team.”

2002 NMSU expands the fire station by adding a truck bay, administrative offices and a classroom.

Lucas Cadena ’20

NASA Fire Department, Las Cruces Years of service at NMSU: 2018 to 2021

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“Some of my favorite memories were during our community outreach events. Just watching kids get so excited about what we do and talking to them about fire safety would constantly remind me that I had the best job in the world.”

Department receives its first out-fire apparatus, a Pierce Contender Class A Pumper with a 1,250-gallon pump and 500 gallons.

Department hires its first two career firefighters and deputy fire chief.

2011

2013 HARRISON BROOKS

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“We had a house fire at a family housing apartment, and that was one of the first fires I had to attack from the interior. That one kind of sticks out in my mind because that came out in the newspaper.

Of all things we did with that fire, they featured this little cat we rescued. A bigger fire that sticks out in my head was the Foster Hall fire in 1994. That was a significant incident, and it burned up a lab. By the luck of the draw, the fire didn’t extend beyond the lab because it melted through a PVC water pipe, and that PVC water pipe was able to keep the fire in check while we were able to get in there and put it out.”

2018

2021

Fire Chief Johnny Carrillo announces the department earned an upgraded ISO rating of 2/2X, ranking in the top three percent of all fire departments in the nation.

Department celebrates its 100 years of service.

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SPACEPORT AMERICA

Owned and operated by the State of New Mexico, Spaceport America is the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. It has been launching vehicles to space since 2006.

The

NEXT FRONTIER NMSU graduates aid commercial space travel advancements

By Tiffany Acosta

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COURTESY PHOTO

Adam Flores attended the launch of Virgin Galactic’s first commercial passenger spaceflight, Unity 22, in July 2021 from Spaceport America. Flores is an associate structural design engineer at Virgin Galactic.

VIRGIN GALACTIC

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ess than 60 miles from NMSU’s Las Cruces campus, the next phase of the commercial space race accomplished a major feat, and numerous Aggie graduates played a role.

Spaceport America, which is owned and operated by the State of New Mexico, hosted Virgin Galactic’s first commercial passenger spaceflight with Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson on board Unity 22 in July 2021.

As Virgin Galactic is slated to begin regular passenger spaceflights in 2022, Spaceport America Executive Director Scott McLaughlin ’89 says he is excited to watch the space tourism industry grow.

“Las Cruces, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and New Mexico State University are directly involved in the infancy of space tourism,” McLaughlin says. “I hope we find ways to make the most of it, such as new businesses that cater to space tourists, like 3D immersion screens and even things like a centrifuge or large immersion water tanks.”

The world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, Spaceport America has been launching vehicles into space since 2006. Spaceport America also is home to tenants such AeroVironment/HAPSMobile, UP Aerospace and SpinLaunch. Boeing, Swift Engineering, Stratodynamics, C6 Launch Systems, and White Sands Research and Developers are among the many customers. Spaceport America offers access to 6,000 square miles of restricted airspace, and can provide services such as telemetry, radar, optical tracking and weather forecasting.

McLaughlin believes the current environment provides significant opportunities for the NMSU community.

“Rarely when a new technology and industry grow do you find yourself right there at the ground floor with literally, and figuratively, the sky as the limit,” McLaughlin says. “All of us, and especially NMSU’s students and faculty, need to put our entrepreneurial thinking hats on, and realize we are an epicenter for not just space tourism, but for aerospace, too, especially when you think about the entire aerospace ecosystem present in the greater area. This is our moment, and we need to make the most of it. If we do not, other sites and other states will.”

As the anchor tenant at Spaceport America with two locations in Las Cruces, Virgin Galactic employs many NMSU graduates, including Adam Flores ’21, an associate structural design engineer.

“Space is a place only few have ever experienced; to become one of those few would be a dream come true,” Flores says.

“Uncharted places come with unencountered challenges. I find it fulfilling to chase the challenges that no one or only few have ever been asked to solve.

“As we work to solve many of those problems to make spaceflight safe and reliable for the average person, it’s just a matter of time before you and I have the chance at becoming astronauts,” Flores says.

With the recent advances, McLaughlin says it’s not unthinkable for average New Mexicans to travel to space via Spaceport America in the next two decades.

“I think within 20 years, many will get a ride to space to work regular jobs like space agriculture, drug manufacturing, energy generation, and other industry processes that can only be done in a near weightless environment,” McLaughlin says.

The Virgin Galactic Spaceflight System is shown in front of Spaceport America. As the anchor tenant at Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic has two locations in Las Cruces.

Many NMSU graduates work for the company.

“Space is a place only few have ever experienced; to become one of those few would be a dream come true.”

–ADAM FLORES

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JOSH BACHMAN

NEW

developments

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Building modernization plans convey NMSU’s unique identity

By Amanda Bradford ’03 ’21

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NMSU administration, Board of Regents and College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences officials help break ground on the new Agricultural Modernization Education Facilities project on the Las Cruces campus August 2021.

JOSH BACHMAN

isitors to NMSU’s Las Cruces campus this year have probably noticed the sounds of cranes, earthmovers, and other construction equipment rolling through an obstacle course of orange barrels and detour signs.

To University Architect Heather Watenpaugh and NMSU’s team of project designers and engineers, the rumbles and beeps of those vehicles are the sound of progress, growth and modernization.

Most recently, NMSU celebrated the groundbreaking for its Agricultural Modernization Educational Facilities project, a two-phase, general obligation bond-funded project that got underway in June 2021. The first phase of the project includes the construction and modernization of facilities that support human health and biomedical research, student learning and public outreach, and food security and animal production efficiency.

The improvements to NMSU's Agricultural District are needed to bring the facilities in line with the needs of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and the academic advancement trajectory of NMSU as a whole.

“These new facilities will lead to growth in research, teaching, outreach and service that will benefit all New Mexicans, and allow us to continue the outstanding NMSU tradition of the land-grant mission exemplified by the work of Fabian Garcia early last century,” College of ACES Dean Rolando Flores Galarza said at the groundbreaking ceremony in August 2021.

The project is part of a long-term facilities master plan for all of NMSU’s

NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu speaks at the groundbreaking celebration held in August 2021 for the new Agricultural Modernization Educational Facilities project.

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An architectural rendering of the biomedical research building in the agricultural district on the Las Cruces campus.

“These new facilities will lead to growth in research, teaching, outreach and service that will benefit all New Mexicans...”

–ROLANDO FLORES GALARZA

FBT ARCHITECTS

An architectural rendering of the food science building in the agricultural district on the Las Cruces campus.

FBT ARCHITECTS

campuses and sites statewide that aims to repurpose or replace older buildings with structures that meet the current and future needs of the university’s landgrant mission.

“The average age of our buildings on the Las Cruces campus is 56 years old, and some of them have the original mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems,” Watenpaugh says. “We’re working to align with the university system’s LEADS 2025 strategic plan, so we work closely with units to figure out what the academic plans and needs are, and develop plans to meet those from a facility standpoint.”

Following the approval of $43 million for the agricultural modernization project, which was green-lit by voters in two phases through the 2018 and 2020 GO bond elections, university planning efforts have identified Thomas and Brown Hall, part of the complex of buildings that make up the College of Engineering, as the flagship project for the 2022 election cycle.

Voters in 2020 also approved funding for upgrades to NMSU’s Information and Communication Technology infrastructure and repairs at Agricultural Science Center sites around the state. Watenpaugh says these infrastructure, repair and maintenance projects are vitally important.

“Deferred maintenance over the years at some of these sites has left some of our science centers and other facilities in need of repairs in order to continue to operate and serve their mission,” Watenpaugh says.

Through an ongoing facilities assessment project, planners are identifying additional needs and prioritizing those projects in alignment with the strategic plan.

Looking beyond the replacement of Thomas and Brown Hall, Watenpaugh says the next major project in the facilities master plan that NMSU will bring to New Mexico voters for approval will be a renovation and repurposing of Milton Hall, one of the Las Cruces campus’s older buildings. Milton Hall was originally the student union building and has been reinvented and added to several times over the years, creating a space where some internal areas don’t connect – but the building has historical value that is worth preserving, she says.

“When you step on a college campus years later, you want it to feel like the same campus,” Watenpaugh says. “You don’t want all of the buildings to be gone. You

COURTESY PHOTO

Thomas and Brown Hall: Rebuilding the past to create a better future

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want to reinvent them.

“Milton Hall has its struggles, so we’re in the process of evaluating the physical structure and determining how we can repurpose it for an Admissions and Enrollment Management Center, along with a new gateway plaza for the center of campus.”

For all of these projects, the design and planning include not just the buildings, but the outdoor spaces that surround and connect them.

“We’re very interested, from a master planning standpoint, in place-making – creating useful places out of the spaces in between the buildings for students. Especially in our climate, it’s just as important as the building itself,” Watenpaugh says.

From the Ag District at the west end of campus to the design collaboration with the

New Mexico Department of Transportation on the new Interstate 25/University Avenue interchange in the eastern part of campus, with its traffic circle monument structures and concrete artwork designed by Las Cruces artist Collette Marie ’01 (read more about the project on page 33), new projects are being designed to create a sense of place for the campus – picturesque, welcoming and unique to NMSU.

“We’re really looking at our Aggie identity,” Watenpaugh says, “and how we present ourselves to those who are visiting, alumni who are returning, and, most importantly, students who are considering making this their home for the next four years.”

Contributions to this initiative may be directed to Kassie Ckodre, College of ACES development officer, at kherna@nmsu.edu or 575-646-6495.

JOSH BACHMAN

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lans are progressing to replace the nearly 50-year-old Thomas and Brown Hall. The new facility opens up possibilities to reconfigure the College of Engineering complex. The new building will continue to be home to the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. It also will be home to engineering hightech research laboratories; the Aggie Innovation Space, which will give students access to state-ofthe art resources; and the Eloy Torrez Family Engineering Learning Communities that will provide tutoring and mentoring resources to students. At the same time, it will provide welcomed changes to nurture cross-disciplinary, collaborative and distance learning that promote student success to engineering students and all NMSU students.

The guiding principles for the need and design of this facility are to support and expand the student-centric culture in the College of Engineering.

It all began in the early 20th century with Ralph Willis Goddard, pioneer of radio transmission.

Goddard started the student-centric DNA of this college that has persisted for more than a century, with the same underlying themes and challenges. This new facility has been planned to be a beacon for those values across the NMSU campus.

Contributions and ideas supporting this initiative may be directed to Adrian Bautista, College of Engineering development officer, at fadrianb@nmsu.edu or 575-646-2552.

Linda Fresques

Rolando Flores Galarza, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, prepares for the new Agricultural Modernization Educational Facilities project groundbreaking August 2021.

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HOMECO

“Aggies are ba

& AG DA

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COMING

back in action”

AY 2021

PHOTOS BY JOSH BACHMAN

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JOSH BACHMAN

Bright future

New NMSU college creates limitless opportunities for students

By Adriana M. Chávez ’19

Henrietta Pichon is the interim dean of NMSU's new College of Health, Education and Social Transformation. Pichon has been tasked with helping guide the new college's transition as a committee searches for a permanent dean.

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JOSH BACHMAN

combined health and education in one college include Utah State University, University of Arkansas, University of Idaho and Montana State University, which are all land-grant universities like NMSU.

Now that the new college is in place, NMSU can create a focal point for the university’s social mobility, social justice and social transformation programs.

“The opportunities are limitless,” Pichon says, adding that the new collaborations formed within the new college will potentially create new majors. “This is what we hope to do: supplement some of the areas that have become overspecialized and create more inter- and trans-disciplinary programs that better address current and future needs for our community, state and country. Additionally, we hope to focus on global demands and how to work strategically with our bordering countries and beyond.”

Over summer 2021, NMSU launched a committee to recruit a permanent dean for the new college.

Parker says she believes many strong candidates will be interested in this position because of the unique opportunity they will have to shape the new transdisciplinary college.

Until then, Pichon has been busy listening to input from students, faculty and staff; overseeing consolidation of the dean’s offices; merging budgets and research enterprises; and gathering information regarding a space study on options to expand the School of Nursing, kinesiology and STEM Outreach Center offices, among other physical offices.

Pichon says the college also has been able to hire additional faculty and staff in critical areas to assist with matriculation.

For more information about the new college’s proposal, including frequently asked questions and an archive of the town hall sessions, visit provost. nmsu.edu/provost-office-projects/hes/ index.html.

NMSU nursing student Eriell Wallace administered a COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-through vaccination clinic in April 2021. Wallace was one of 80 nursing students who volunteered more than 1,000 hours in spring 2021 to assist with the vaccination effort. The School of Nursing is now part of the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation.

JOSH BACHMAN

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hen NMSU’s Board of Regents unanimously voted in May 2021 to approve a proposal to combine the College of Education, the College of Health and Social Services and the Department of Sociology into new college named the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation, many students expressed concern about how the change would affect their studies.

Administrators continue to seek feedback on the transition, which took effect July 1, 2021, but say the new college will attract new opportunities for students, faculty and staff with increased collaboration for research, teaching and service.

“At this time, students have realized that the merger has not directly impacted their studies,” says College of HEST interim Dean Henrietta Pichon, formerly the interim dean of the College of Education. “Moving forward, we plan to host additional listening sessions that specifically allow for more of an exchange with undergraduate and graduate students to explore who we are, what we want to do, how we want to do it and why.”

The proposal was first introduced in fall 2020. After NMSU Provost Carol Parker met with college personnel in the impacted areas, she convened an advisory task force, which hosted listening sessions and wrote recommendations. The deans from the two colleges also met with alumni and community advisory groups.

Regents voted to approve the proposal, and stipulated that an advisory committee be created, consisting of administrators, students, staff and faculty, to create an organizational chart for the new college and create a job description for the college’s dean. The board will receive regular updates on the progress made in implementing the new college.

Other universities that have

Margo Treviño-Torres (left) academic success coordinator in the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation, chats with Elsa Arroyos, interim head of the counseling and educational psychology department, during an outdoor ice cream social hosted by the college in September 2021.

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JOSH BACHMAN

PIN

PA L S

Several pins made by NMSU student artists involved in "Pin Pals," an art project and exchange between students at four universities. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent isolation inspired the students to create a new tradition, sharing their art with other student artists elsewhere.

NMSU students exchange art in isolation By Amanda Adame ’19

26 Panorama | New Mexico State University | Fall 2021

JOSH BACHMAN

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he forced isolation of the pandemic inspired a group of NMSU art students to link a timeworn tradition involving the mail with a clever turn of phrase to create a shared experience with distant student artists. Instead of letters, students created and exchanged metal brooches with students from three universities. They showcased their work in an exhibit titled “Pin Pals” in spring 2021.

Metalworking and jewelry students from NMSU, University of Texas at El Paso, Stephen F. Austin State University and Dallas College partnered in a semester-long technical process to create and trade metal brooches.

Motoko Furuhashi, NMSU associate professor, speaks to her class as they work on "Pin Pals," an art project and exchange between students at four universities, including NMSU.

online with only some in-person meetings.

“Hybrid classes were challenging especially for casting which is a heavily technical process,” Furuhashi says.

With limited access to the studio, students were asked to work independently at their home studios and meet in-person for all scheduled activities.

“Many of us hadn’t made pins before so it was a completely new experience that required a lot of learning,” Bond says. “Motoko and graduate student Ger Xiong made videos for us to watch so we could learn the process and were always very helpful when we had questions.

“They are great teachers,” Bond says.

“Even though we were mostly online, my fellow classmates were always ready to help and give input, which I think helped build our sense of community as artists.”

Furuhashi and the professors from the other universities created project guidelines, technical tips and a “Pin Pals” Symposium, sharing their personal artwork to help their

students create their pins.

Despite never meeting her peers at the other universities in person, Bond still felt connected to them through their artwork.

“I think it is very exciting to share pins between schools because of the suspense of sending off these little pins you’ve worked so hard on and then the delight when the packages came in and you get to see the pins everyone else has made,” Bond says.

“I don’t think I’m alone in feeling like there is a connection with the students and instructors from these schools now,” Bond says. “Seeing their pins feels like seeing a part of them.”

Each school provided an exhibition space and kept the finished pin collection for their program’s permanent collection.

“In a time where we have not been able to travel and see one another, these tiny pins have traveled hundreds of miles in order to do what jewelry is often charged to do: bring joy and be a reminder of community,” Furuhashi says.

JOSH BACHMAN

JOSH BACHMAN

“I wanted to be a part of this project to let our students know there are communities outside of our university, especially with our current time of isolation,” says Motoko Furuhashi, art assistant professor in the NMSU College of Arts and Sciences.

The students created original designs by carving wax through the traditional process of lost wax casting. Each artist casted original forms in bronze and created rubber molds of the original.

“Getting the chance to collaborate with students from our school and the other colleges has been amazing. I have never done anything like this before,” says senior art student Tessa Bond. “Seeing the variety of different ways students approached making a pin gave me a deeper understanding of how metal casting works and the possibilities there are.”

Students made a brooch for all their classmates and mailed their brooches to the three participating universities. Due to the ongoing pandemic, classes were mostly

Left: Evelyn Padilla fires a pin for the "Pin Pals" art project and exchange between art students at four universities. Top: Ruben Reyes cools a group of metal pins in a bucket of water after firing them for the "Pin Pals" project, which involves sending and receiving handmade brooches to three other universities.

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A gathering

By Adriana M. Chávez ’19

Award-winning Pete’s Patio offers cantina-style oasis on campus

JOSH BACHMAN

Pete’s Patio inside Corbett Center Student Union offers a variety of eats and drinks, along with theme nights such as an open mic night every Wednesday evening. In 2021, Pete's Patio was named a winner of the National Association of College and University Food Services Loyal E. Horton bronze award for retail sales-single concept.

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The patio also hosts special theme nights, like an open mic night in partnership with campus radio station KRUX, and Trivia Tuesdays hosted

by The Round Up campus newspaper.

“Pete’s Patio’s popularity has reached a new level this semester,” Nanco says. “The addition of daily events and specials has really boosted attendance.”

The patio was proposed about three years before making its debut in 2019, with the goal of creating a space on campus that allowed for students, faculty and staff to come together in a relaxed, casual setting, Nanco says.

“Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, Pete’s Patio was closed for over a year and a half beginning in spring 2020,” Nanco says. “Our crew is thrilled to be back to work and taking care of all of our visitors.”

And to make up for lost time, Pete’s Patio has introduced a new menu, featuring customizable pizzas with a non-dairy cheese option, a variety of burgers and “nibbles” such as fried mini tacos, wings, nachos, fried mozzarella sticks and chile cheese fries.

Pete’s Patio has morphed into not just a gathering place for the campus community, but a gathering place for the Las Cruces and alumni communities as well.

“Our open mics seem to be bringing in a lot of our Las Cruces community, and bringing back alumni who haven’t visited campus in years,” Nanco says.

Along with open mic night and Trivia Tuesday, Pete’s Patio hosts Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football viewing parties, and $5 pizza nights every Friday.

Cute robots serve hungry campus community

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MSU’s Las Cruces campus has been swarmed by cute, fast and efficient robots promising delicious meals with the swipe of a phone app.

The Kiwibot food delivery service – featuring compact food storage compartments and expressive digital faces – launched in fall 2021 at NMSU. Kiwibots are a quick option to get fresh meals delivered from Sodexo-serviced locations on campus. Meals are ordered through the Sodexo Bite+ app and paid for as part of a meal plan subscription or a la carte.

While the service was developed with students’ needs in mind, it is also available to NMSU faculty and staff.

Meal options are limited to Sodexo offerings, but there are plans to expand to various campus eateries.

Kiwibots deliver food via a locked compartment that only the recipient can open through the Bite+ app. Each robot is thoroughly sanitized between deliveries. Average delivery time is 20 to 35 minutes, depending on distance and peak meal delivery times.

“We are excited to grow our robot food delivery service with Kiwibot and provide customers with a safe, convenient, contactless and innovative solution,” says Aurelia Valot, Sodexo vice president of Digital Transformation and Innovation.

Kiwibot, a company based in Berkeley, California, has been met with great success at the University of Denver, downtown San Jose, Calif., Medellín, Colombia, and Taipei, Taiwan.

David Rodriguez, director of strategy and business operations at Kiwibot, says Kiwibot launched in 2017 in Colombia. Kiwibot’s popularity grew when the COVID-19 pandemic created a demand for delivery services, and was also used to deliver food for food pantries at several locations.

Kiwibot delivery hours are dependent on regular Sodexo location business hours.

Adriana M. Chávez ’19 CHMAN JOSH BA

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efore COVID-19, Pete’s Patio inside Corbett Center Student Union was a popular place in the campus community, serving up delicious cold drinks and hot food.

Due to the outbreak of the pandemic, however, Pete’s Patio had to close its doors and, like many other bars and restaurants, faced an uncertain future.

But in fall 2021, patio staff reopened to much fanfare not only among the campus community, but nationally, as winners of the National Association of College and University Food Services Loyal E. Horton bronze award for retail sales-single concept.

“The staff at Pete’s Patio are ecstatic to be working at a location that has received such an esteemed award,” says Candice Nanco, director of marketing for NMSU Dining Services.

The Loyal E. Horton awards recognize retail locations at colleges and universities with exemplary menus, presentations, special event planning and new dining concepts.

Pete’s Patio can be described as a cantinastyle oasis nestled in the heart of Corbett Center, featuring outdoor seating, a fire pit and a bar area featuring drinks like Pistol Pete’s green chile martini, bourbon apple pie sweet tea and more.

The bar also serves the official Aggie Athletics Department collaborations including Bosque Brewing Co.’s Pistol Pete’s 1888 ale, Lescombes Family Vineyards’ Pistol Pete’s Crimson Legacy, Dry Point Distillers’ Pistol Pete’s Six-Shooter Whiskey and Cantera Negra tequila.

Pete's Patio, which opened its doors in 2019, received the 2021 Loyal E. Horton bronze award from the National Association of College and University Food Services for its unique concept -- a cantina-style oasis featuring cold drinks like the Pistol Pete's green chile martini (top right). Bottom right: Naomi Ramirez (left) and Jose Muñoz enjoy burgers at Pete's Patio.

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Alumni

Natasha Briones ’19

Natasha Briones, who will earn her second degree from NMSU in December 2021 upon completion of her master’s degree, received the Member of the Year Award at the Alpha Phi Sigma virtual international conference in April 2021.

Briones was selected from among nominees from more than 550 chapters of the criminal justice honor society across the United States and Canada. Alpha Phi Sigma’s history dates back nearly 80 years.

Briones, who joined NMSU’s Alpha Phi Sigma chapter in 2017 as an

undergraduate, was nominated for the international award to represent the organization’s goals of excellence in service, leadership, unity and academic excellence.

Briones is proud of what the NMSU Alpha Phi Sigma chapter achieved given the limitations of the pandemic. “Being part of NMSU’s Alpha Phi Sigma chapter has been the greatest honor,” she says. “This chapter is truly about unity and service because even with COVID-19 this chapter still found ways to serve the Las Cruces community.”

Amanda Adame ’19

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Successes

Greg Fant began his career at NMSU in the Department of Music, and after 30 years of service retired in 2020 as deputy provost. The New Mexico Music Educators Association named Fant to its 2021 Hall of Fame for his contributions to music education.

Fant joined NMSU as the associate director of bands in 1990 as a conductor, saxophonist and tenured professor in music. As associate director of bands, Fant was responsible for the Pride Marching Band and the Tournament of Bands Marching Festival.

Highlights of his work include updating the music education curriculum at NMSU, leading the music

Cassandra Suther ’17

One in 10 people in the United States is impacted by food allergies, but what if more exposure to food viruses in childhood could prevent it?

Cassandra Suther is studying the effect of norovirus on the development of severe food allergies thanks to a $180,000 predoctoral fellowship from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Suther will receive her Ph.D. in food science at the University of MassachusettsAmherst in 2022 and plans to continue allergy research there.

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“Food allergies are thought to be heavily linked to reduced diversity of the gut microbiome and its immune effects,” Suther says. “Based upon data that previously has been reported, we suspect infection with norovirus may actually have the potential to reduce the likelihood of someone developing food allergies.”

The USDA-NIFA initiative focuses on developing the next generation of research, education and Extension professionals in food and agricultural sciences.

Minerva Baumann ’13

department through a successful re-accreditation and directing the Pride Band in a performance for the Prince of Monaco.

Before serving as deputy provost from 2011 to 2020, he was interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences twice between 2007 and 2010 while moving the ASNMSU Center for the Arts project forward to its groundbreaking.

Minerva Baumann ’13

UMASS AMHERST

DARREN PHILLIPS

Greg Fant ’90

JOSH BACHMAN

Alma Chavez was awarded the Fulbright Fellowship to continue her studies in forensic anthropology at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom.

She was inspired to pursue her studies after growing up in Juárez, Mexico, and learning about the murders of women and girls there.

Crossing borders, El Paso native raised in Mexico inspired to study in UK

A

lma Chavez ’17 had a typical childhood growing up on the United States-Mexico border.

Born in El Paso, Chavez, the youngest of four children and the only girl, was raised in Juárez, Mexico.

Chavez also grew up at a time when it was dangerous to be a girl in Juárez.

According to Amnesty International, more than 370 women were killed in Juárez and in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico, between 1993 and 2005. Those murders, known as femicides, prevented Chavez from going anywhere without one of her brothers.

“Being the only girl and the youngest in my family, I was aware of the femicides happening in Juárez,” Chavez says. “I watched the news, and had a friend who one day didn’t show up to school.”

Chavez was inspired to pursue studies in forensic anthropology in hopes of one day bringing justice for the victims who have not been identified.

“Since 1994, there have been 2,754 femicides, but only 200 victims have been identified,” Chavez says. “Even though these murders are not in the news as much as they used to be, there

are families still waiting to have their loved ones identified.”

Chavez’s drive to help femicide victims led her to apply for the Fulbright Scholarship to continue her studies in forensic anthropology at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom. She was accepted in April 2021, and traveled to Kent in September 2021 to begin her studies. She will pursue research and development in forensic anthropology, focusing on generating more accurate identification methods to identify a diverse group of individuals, such as femicide victims and undocumented border crossers.

Chavez graduated from the Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, and after speaking with NMSU faculty, decided to attend the university and triple major in anthropology, psychology and Spanish. At NMSU, Chavez was a TRIO Student Support Services program participant, and was selected as the outstanding graduate for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Chavez is so passionate about forensic anthropology, she had planned to attend the University of Kent whether

or not she earned the Fulbright Scholarship. But with the help of her mentor, Andrea Orzoff, NMSU associate professor of history and director of NMSU’s Office of National Scholarships and International Education, she was successful in her Fulbright application.

“Dr. Orzoff explained to me what the interview would be like, and I felt pretty confident,” Chavez says. “Usually, a lot of things I feel confident about don’t work out, but I got the news pretty quickly that I was accepted.

When I told my parents, I started crying, my parents started crying. It was a big relief.”

Orzoff says the Fulbright Scholarship application process is very competitive, especially for an award in the United Kingdom.

“I think that says something about the kind of candidate Alma is, to be able to win a Fulbright at that level of competition,” Orzoff says. “She’s so smart, but also so kind and humble.

She’s very typical of our Fulbright applicants from New Mexico State.”

Adriana M. Chávez ’19 Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

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ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Campus executive at Sandia National Labs to help train the next generation

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SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES

S

cott Hutchinson ’88 ’89 ’93 accepted a new role at Sandia National Laboratories that will allow the Electrical Sciences Group senior manager to support the collaborative interests of NMSU and Sandia National Labs. As campus executive, Hutchinson will help guide the next generation of scientists and engineers. In this role, he will represent Sandia’s broad national security research interests and manage key interactions with NMSU representatives.

“Looking at the current and future challenges facing our nation, I believe we must have a creative and innovative workforce that understands and values the diverse contributions from all fields and individuals,” he says.

“Our greatest breakthroughs often occur when different ideas, different disciplines and different perspectives come together to take on a challenge.”

When he was studying electrical engineering, Hutchinson says the NMSU faculty truly believed in their students’ potential and helped prepare him for the workforce.

“The confidence they inspired in us, even as they challenged us day in and day out, gave me the confidence to come to a place like Sandia and work side-by-side with some of the most brilliant people in the world,” he says.

Hutchinson’s family has nearly a century of history at NMSU. His grandfather graduated in 1926 and his grandmother followed a year later.

“NMSU gave them the opportunity to learn, grow and ultimately expand their horizons in a time and in a state where such opportunities were rare,” he says. “The doors that an NMSU education opened for them has extended to me and my family as well.

“Sandia is an amazing place to have a career that matters,” Hutchinson continues, “and NMSU is an amazing university that helps prepare the finest scientists and engineers that make a difference at places like Sandia. I look forward to continuing to foster those connections and that legacy.”

Hutchinson joined Sandia in 1993 and worked as a staff member for more than 12 years in various high-performance computing and algorithmic development projects. He has been a member of the management team since 2005.

“We look forward to working with Dr. Hutchinson as part of the cross-disciplinary teams we have established in artificial intelligence with our College of Arts and Sciences, our College of Engineering, NMSU’s Vice President for Research office and our graduate programs,” says NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu. “NMSU places high strategic value on our relationship with Sandia National Labs, and we expect by placing our resources and capabilities into strategic alignment, we will realize the kinds of technical achievements that not only serve the nation’s interests but will also serve New Mexico in terms of filling an education pipeline with talented and highperforming individuals from underserved communities.”

Tiffany Acosta

Hutchinson

“The doors that an NMSU education opened for them has extended to me and my family as well.”

–SCOTT HUTCHINSON

KATIE MENA

Ask

Collette Marie ’01

What inspired your approach to the Interstate 25/University Avenue public art project? “

M

y intention is to share stories of our community and culture.

The design is a composition of oversized agricultural crops and desert plants in order to bring rural elements to an urban landscape. Part of the infrastructure is a new entry to the NMSU campus. Since NMSU is an agricultural university, I've used four of the New Mexico specialty crops, which include chile, cotton, pecans and onions.

The design as a whole is anchored by a repeating earth and seed pattern symbolic of our agricultural roots and academic growth. Other design elements include the ocotillo, which is an underappreciated Southwest plant and a personal favorite of mine; the whiptail lizard, which is New Mexico’s state reptile; sun disks and sunbursts representing the sunny weather in Las Cruces; and a song sparrow, which is a dedication to my grandmother, Alvita Trujillo Flores.

“The design implements larger-than-life imagery to create an immer-

sive art experience for the viewer. Commuters can get a feel for the culture and rural life in the Mesilla Valley. It’s an honor to have my work showcased at this scale in my hometown.”

Marie is a Latina artist and designer who grew up in Las Cruces and earned her bachelor of fine arts degree. In 2018, the New Mexico Department of Transportation selected Marie’s concept for a $3.3 million public art commission along the new interchange at I-25 and University Avenue. She titled the project “Cultivo y Cultura.” Marie’s work has been featured in a solo exhibit at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, published in New Mexico Magazine and in “Celebration Graphics Sourcebook: Festive Designs from All Cultures.”

Compiled by Minerva Baumann ’13

Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

33

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

I

COURTESY PHOTO

t’s a television showcase of music that spotlights New Mexico and some of the state’s emerging artists. In its soul, however, “Bands of Enchantment” is all about family.

For Ken C. Peterson ’03, the show’s creator and executive producer, “Bands of Enchantment” is a collaboration involving his family and closest colleagues, a group that includes some close NMSU friends.

Viewers, whether watching on PBS or streaming, picked up on that distinct familial beat, just as easily as they followed the strumming of Taos native Max Gomez, one of 12 bands featured in the show’s 30-minute The "Bands of Enchantment" crew created a television show that highlights not only musical talent in New Mexico but also the state. The series is available to stream on the PBS app. episodes. “Bands of Enchantment” debuted in June 2021 and aired on PBS stations across New Mexico and asked Jim Billings, Theatre Arts college professor, to serve as the Texas panhandle. The series is available to stream nation- set designer. Peterson also tapped versatile Santino Jiménez wide on the PBS app. ’02, a Los Angeles-based actor whose production experi “It turned out to be a family show,” says Vince T. ence and knack for creatively maximizing resources helped Chavez, Peterson’s stepbrother, fellow executive producer transform a Tucumcari train depot into a studio. and series director. “People tell us they are watching with

Peterson, an actor, musician and writer, lives in Califortheir tweens, sharing it nia. He works virtually with his Detroit-based stepbrother in with baby boomers. It’s their company Elkhorn Entertainment. All those miles away, cross-generational. We their fondness for New Mexico rings clear. Peterson calls the love that.” show a “celebration of our rich and culturally diverse state.”

Vince Chavez Sr., the

“We wanted to make a show that showcases New Mexfamily patriarch who runs ico as a place where great music happens and is a beautiful La Tewa Media, is also an place to visit,” says Vince T. Chavez, who studied at NMSU executive producer. in 1996. “We wanted to bring some of the best in music to

The show’s roots run merge with New Mexico talent on a big stage.” deep in New Mexico.

They’re working toward another season of “Bands of Peterson, who’s originally Enchantment.” Peterson, who curated the show’s acts, hopes from the Detroit area, to have a live audience and expand the show into a festival. spent his childhood amid

Another experience for the whole family. the echoes of Motown.

Learn more about “Bands of Enchantment” at But he “fell in love with bandsofenchantment.com. music in New Mexico,”

James Staley ’02 Billings when his new family moved to the area.

“It’s where I found my creativity,” says Peterson of New Mexico. “It has saved me many a time.”

Peterson sharpened those talents at NMSU’s Department of Theatre Arts. For “Bands of Enchantment,” he

34 Panorama | New Mexico State University | Fall 2021

BANDS OF ENCHANTMENT

‘Bands of Enchantment’ series celebrates New Mexico talent

PETE'S CORNER

TURNING A DREAM into a reality GETTY IMAGES

T

GETTY IMAGES

Sharp

NM STATE ATHLETICS

he 2016 Summer Olympics featured just one individual with athletic ties to NMSU. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed a year due to COVID-19, that number tripled.

Three athletes - an NMSU graduate, a freshman and a member of the Aggie women’s track and field staff - all reached the pinnacle of their respective sports by representing both NMSU as well as three different nations in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Taking part in her second-straight Summer Olympics, Alena Sharp ’03 represented Canada in the 60-woman field of women’s golf. Sharp concluded the four-day competition in Tokyo with a 49th-place finish, helping to extend her phenomenal career which was fast-tracked through her collegiate career as an Aggie from 1999-03. The Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, native generated an illustrious Aggie career as she won the 2000 Big West Championship as well as the 2002 and 2003 Sun Belt Championship.

During her time in Las Cruces, she helped lead the Aggies to two NCAA Championship appearances in 2000 and 2001. Sharp also posted a 13th-place finish at the 2000 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship.

Before she dove into the pool to begin her time as a student-athlete for the Aggie women’s swimming and diving team, Lina Khiyara already made a name for herself as an Olympian. Representing her home nation of Morocco at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Khiyara was one of 29 women from around the globe who made the cut for the women’s 200-meter freestyle event. Khiyara finished Khiyara fourth in her quarterfinal heat with a time of 2:08.80, but did not move on to the semifinals of the event.

Of the three female athletes with NMSU ties, Rachel Dincoff was the only one who competed for the United States. Dincoff, a women’s track and field All-American at Auburn University, made the cut for the U.S. Olympic Team in June 2021, when she put forth a clutch toss of 60.21 meters on her fifth of six throws to push herself into third place in the finals of the women’s discus event at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Once in Tokyo, Dincoff competed in the first of two heats in order to try and advance to the medal round. Though she put forth a throw of 56.22 meters in her qualifying heat, it was not enough to push her into the finals.

Each of the Aggies’ 2020 Olympians will have a chance to represent their home countries once again in 2024 when the Olympics are hosted in Paris, France.

Charlie Hurley

Dincoff

Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

35

AGGIE PRIDE

50 years in the making:

Las Cruces grandmother fulfills dream

Susan Stoltzfus graduated in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in history, completing the college education she started more than 50 years ago.

36 Panorama | New Mexico State University | Fall 2021

Taylor Gobble ’14 and Jessica Paxson ’14, earned NMSU degrees. Seager also served NMSU for 12 years, working as an accountant and later as the university controller.

Stoltzfus, who became a great-grandmother in summer 2021, took a break from school in fall 2021, but she may pursue an advanced degree program in public history at NMSU in the future.

“Right now, I am very proud of completing my bachelor’s degree,” she says. “I’m very thankful to my husband and my family for all their support. We are an NMSU family for four generations and counting.”

Carlos Andres López ’10 SARAH LOTUS

S

usan Stoltzfus ’21 accomplished a lifelong dream when she completed her college education, which she started more than 50 years ago at NMSU. The grandmother from Las Cruces celebrated her long-awaited graduation in May 2021, surrounded by family who gathered together to watch NMSU’s virtual commencement ceremony.

“I’ve done this for my children and my grandchildren. I want them to know they should pursue their dreams. I want them to reach for the stars,” says Stoltzfus, who earned a bachelor’s degree in history.

“Anything is possible if grandma can graduate at 72.”

Stoltzfus and her family have ties to NMSU that date back to the early 1940s. Her parents, Lonnie and Gerry Beyer, met in a chemistry class while attending NMSU. Stoltzfus first attended NMSU in the fall of 1967 to pursue a degree in education but stopped when her first child was born in the summer of 1968.

Stoltzfus decided to finish her college education in 2013 and first took classes at Doña Ana Community College. She transferred to NMSU’s Las Cruces campus in 2017 to study history.

“I was a little fearful,” she admits, “but one of the reasons I went back was because I believe if you don’t use your mind, you lose your mind.”

Stoltzfus looks back at her most recent time at NMSU with great affection and says she remains friends with many of her professors. She particularly enjoyed engaging with her classmates.

“One of the coolest things was the acceptance from students. I always felt like I fit in, and I have been treated graciously and respectfully by all students,” she says. “When they figured out that I made good grades, they wanted me on their teams.”

Stoltzfus now joins a long line of family members who are all Aggies. Her husband, Joel Stoltzfus ’78, three of her children, Lorin Seager ’89, Lani Hofacket ’02 and Ryan Stoltzfus ’05, and two of her grandchildren,

Fall 2021 | New Mexico State University | Panorama

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2021 Distinguished Alumni Congratulations to all of our Distinguished Alumni and our James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service and Young Alumni Service Award recipients. We’re proud of your outstanding achievements and service, and grateful for your commitment to NMSU. Jim Butler ’74 ’75, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Kit Milam-Elliott ’62 ’63, College of Arts and Sciences, Fine Arts and Humanities Sonya K. Chavez ’88, College of Arts and Sciences, Sciences and Social Sciences Sammy Chioda ’76, College of Business Shelly Smith-Acuña ’80 ’84, College of Education James C. Owen ’95, College of Engineering Travis C. Leyva ’04, College of Health and Social Services Richard L. Leza ’73, James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service Megin Nichols ’04, Young Alumni Service Award Learn more about the recipients at nmsualumni.org/awards-recognitions