Issuu

T H E

U N I V E R S I T Y

O F

N E W

M E X I C O

IT'S ALL P O S S I B L E

2023

I M P A C T R E P O R T

IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome From Dean Malat

Meet Dean Malat

Student Impacts

16 Local Impacts 22 World Impacts 32 Building the Future 34 Alumni Impacts 35 Acknowledgements

ARTSCI.UNM.EDU

FRONT COVER by Salome Borrego-Marsh, University College student and A&S Communications Assistant

Mesa Vista Hall was designed by Pueblo-revivalist, John Gaw Meem, and houses the College's Departments of Africana Studies, History, and Native American Studies.

WELCOME FROM DEAN MALAT

I am excited and honored to join The UNM College of Arts & Sciences as dean. I was drawn to this institution because so much of what I value—academic excellence, a highly productive research enterprise, and commitment to the community—is visible in all that the College does. As stewards of UNM’s mission to promote discovery and generate intellectual and cultural contributions, we are fulfilling our promise to shape knowledge and nurture future leaders. In my short time here, I have seen the outstanding opportunities the College provides for our students, faculty, and the state of New Mexico —a testament to the dynamic academic environment and institutional culture that defines UNM. In the following pages, you will learn more about the important contributions our students and faculty are making. From predicting pathogens and safeguarding rare languages to journalistic prowess and the discovery of new exoplanets, the College opens doors to what is possible. Looking ahead, the College will embark on two important efforts in the upcoming year. The first is the development of a new strategic plan which will align with the larger university’s strategic framework: UNM 2040: Opportunity Defined. I look forward to working with our Lobo community to capitalize on our strong foundation and envision our future. The second is continued advocacy for the construction of a new building for our humanities and social science departments (read more on page 32). Bringing these disciplines under one roof will undoubtedly create new interdisciplinary possibilities and space for innovation. Thank you for your continued support, passion, and commitment to the values that make UNM’s College of Arts & Sciences an exceptional place of learning and discovery. I look forward to our journey together. 3

Jennifer Malat, Ph.D. Dean 3

Meet Dean Jennifer Malat

" The College of Arts & Sciences is the heart of The University of New Mexico, which gives it a special place in the state as well. Our broad range of disciplines produce important scientific discoveries, insights into the human experience, and solutions to local and global problems. I’m enthusiastic about working together to identify and implement strategies to advance our many disciplines, the College, the University, and

the communities we serve

– Dean Jennifer Malat

On August 21, the College welcomed its 17th dean, Jennifer Malat, who came to campus prepared – and excited – to lead the largest and oldest academic unit at The University of New Mexico.

impacts the College’s faculty, staff, and students make on our campus and communities. These initial visits were especially enjoyable for Malat because, “they showed who we are as a college.”

Malat is no stranger to this type of leadership role, as she previously served as dean of Virginia Commonwealth University’s largest unit, the College of Humanities and Sciences.

As a result, Malat was inspired to develop four new funding initiatives that align with The University’s strategic plan, UNM 2040: Opportunity Defined. These initiatives support staff in their professional development; activities that expand diversity, equity, and inclusion; support students in reaching their educational goals; and raise the profile of the College through interdisciplinary activities.

She says, “As a dean, I consider how everything from the dean’s office to the history of universities influences the daily experiences of the people in our community. I lead with the future in mind.”    A native of Rochester, Minnesota, Malat moved to Cincinnati, Ohio after completing her Ph.D. in sociology. She was drawn to the field because, “it provides tools to understand the social world, particularly inequity. Influential sociology courses and books informed my understanding of how social forces shape experiences and supported my journey of thinking beyond my experience.” Malat spent the next 20 years at the University of Cincinnati, and the leadership experiences she gained while there prepared her for her time at VCU, and now, UNM. Malat was drawn to UNM because of its reputation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a strong commitment to its mission of research, service, and leadership. Throughout her listening tours during her first few months as dean, this commitment was exemplified repeatedly as she learned about the

These initiatives are also the beginning to her larger vision, of which she shares that, “As a leader, I strive to create an environment that facilitates faculty, staff, and students in achieving their goals. One of my professional aims is to foster higher education environments that reflect the diversity of our communities and provide spaces that are inclusive of everyone. In doing so, I hope that one of my legacies will be more diverse graduates and leaders who do not have to suppress their identities in order to succeed.” To achieve this, Malat's first major activity in the College will be the development of the College’s strategic plan. This collaborative effort with faculty, staff, students, and alumni will create a vision for how the College will serve as a model for other universities throughout the nation. Ultimately, Malat hopes that her leadership “opens doors for new practices that allow our entire community to flourish.”

S T U D E N T I M PAC T S 6

Southern White-crowned Shrike (Eurocephalus anguitimens) Image by Alexander Lees

Jenna McCullough Image by Stefan Wachs

New Bird Family Discovered by Ph.D. Candidate in Biology For nearly two centuries, researchers have speculated on the classification of two species of shrikes found in central and southern Africa. Now, because of the simple curiosity of one Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biology, the longstanding mystery surrounding these birds has finally been solved thanks to modern technology and the valuable information that museums provide. Jenna McCullough’s important discovery began like many other discoveries do: by accident. Her dissertation research actually focuses on kingfishers found in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific but it was a side project that inspired her to look more closely at white-crowned shrikes. McCullough and her advisor, Associate Professor of Biology Michael Andersen, were investigating the relationships within a large group of songbirds when they noticed a small but interesting result on the familial relationships of two species of African shrikes. Through this research, they collected a genomic dataset of thousands of gene regions that they used to investigate the relationships of these species to other closely related groups of birds. The Northern and Southern White-crowned Shrikes have long been considered to be part of the Laniidae, or shrike, family. From McCullough’s data, however, the genetic make-up of the two species of white-crowned shrikes was starkly different from other shrike species. The application of molecular data to study the evolutionary relationships of birds has revolutionized avian taxonomy. It was long considered that shrikes were not even closely related to the Corvidae, or the crow and jay, family. What she found is that the two species of whitecrowned shrikes have a more recent common ancestor with the crow family as compared to the shrike family. She also discovered that they are quite different genetically from the crow family. In addition to this data, there are key behavioral differences between the white-crowned shrikes and other species within the Laniidae and Corvidae families. From her findings, McCullough determined that the Northern and Southern white-crowned shrikes should be classified into their own family, called Eurocephalidae.

Her research supporting this assertion was published in Ornithology in a paper titled, “Ultraconserved elements support the elevation of a new avian family, Eurocephalidae, the whitecrowned shrikes.” There are only 253 families identified by experts within the field of ornithology, making McCullough’s discovery particularly significant. While technology was certainly a significant c ontributor to this discovery, McCullough credits the many people who have dedicated their lives to the collection and preservation of biodiversity specimens worldwide. This includes the Museum of Southwestern Biology at UNM. “I would not have been able to do this study, or any of my research really, without being loaned genetic material from museum collections. Museums are critically important for understanding the ecology and evolution of life because they truly are our libraries of biodiversity,” said McCullough. “Every specimen is like a book - and libraries collect books not knowing who will read them in the future. The zoologists who collected and preserved these birds could not have imagined that decades or even centuries later, ornithologists would still be using them in new and exciting ways like this.”

“ So much of our knowledge of

biodiversity stems from museum collections like those housed at the Museum of Southwestern Biology. We really rely on people who have done this work in the past – and present – so that we can continue to make significant discoveries about the world around us in the future.

”

- Jenna McCullough

School of Public Administration Launches Minor in Public Service The School of Public Administration (SPA) has launched its first-ever undergraduate minor in public service, which is also the first program of its kind in the State of New Mexico. The minor was created in collaboration with The Volcker Alliance and its Next Generation Service Corps for any student, of any major, to gain values, knowledge, and skills to pursue a career in government, nonprofits, tribal governance, or public-private enterprises. New Mexico has one of the highest percentages of government employees. In 2018, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported it had the third highest proportion of employees who work at some level of government in the country, next to healthcare and the state’s labs.

S T U D E N T I M PAC T S

Albuquerque Mayor, Tim Keller

Albuquerque Mayor, Tim Keller, served as the keynote speaker for the kick-off celebration for the new minor in public service. “UNM is constantly setting an example for higher education. These students are leaders now and will be even better when they enter the workforce,” he said. He pointed to the pipeline this minor will provide to already existing city programs, like the Mayor’s Select Internship Program. Keeping future leaders in New Mexico, to help the state they grew up in and love, is critical. Keller said, “This minor will expand and cultivate the applicant pool and keep talented students in state. We can't wait to see what students will learn in this program and what they will bring to the table.”

The Social Sciences building is home to the School of Public Administration and the Department of Sociology

Mario Atencio

Kyle Harvey

Navajo Nation

“I see that this program will help in my understanding how global climate change is going to affect the Navajo Nation and UNM will be critical for understanding and developing initiatives to start to address the myriad of impacts of global climate change.”

“This program will provide me with a foundation to better understand nation-building work within tribal communities. The faculty within this program have demonstrated that NAS scholarship transcends the boundaries of the academy and has real-world impact on the communities we are from."

Ruben Leyva

Nicole Swentzell

Chihene Nde Nation

Santo Domingo Pueblo

"As an elected member of the Tribal Council of the Chihene Nde Nation of New Mexico, a Doctor of Philosophy degree is essential to gaining knowledge and skills so that I can work on behalf of my people by documenting our history and advocating for our sovereignty."

“I had some amazing professors in this field, especially those that come from Indigenous communities, who know what it means to be an Indigenous scholar and are committed to their communities. It had a profound impact on me, and I hope to be a role model not only for the younger generations in my family but also to Native students."

Not pictured: Keioshiah Peters, Navajo Nation

Five doctoral students have begun their journey in the inaugural cohort for the Department of Native American Studies' (NAS) new Ph.D. program. The fourth program of its kind in the country, it offers a focus in Critical Indigenous Thought, Sustainable Community Building, and Comparative Studies in Indigenous Government, Policy, Identity, and Sustainability. The program places a strong emphasis on building the foundations necessary to become ethical leaders in tribal communities, with a focus on community-building and culturally-responsive research.

Meet Native American Studies' First PhD Students 9

S T U D E N T I M PAC T S

2023 Sevilleta REU Cohort

Where People and Ideas Come Together

GOAL FOUR: S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

Since 2006, 167 students from across the nation have had the opportunity to participate in a truly unique summer research program at the 8th largest wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states. Thanks to the Sevilleta Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, these students have had the opportunity to blend science and art into an independent research experience that has impacted their future careers. The four different biomes that converge at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge offer an ideal setting for research, including investigations into how climate variability and climate change affect plant and animal communities at biotic transition zones. The REU program attracts students from across the United States, and it is highly competitive to gain admission. With a strong track record of recruiting students from underrepresented groups in the sciences, many participants go on to pursue careers in research or environmental studies.

guidance from faculty, staff researchers, and other students in various fields. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and headed up by PI and Distinguished Professor of Biology, Scott Collins, the REU annually provides 12-15 students from across the country with the opportunity to bring their research interests to life. James Loomis from Pittsburgh State University was one of the students from this year’s cohort. His study while at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge centered around burrowing owls. He was able to observe and analyze these charismatic animals’ habitats, diets, and common success-supporting behaviors. “As I ... began to spend time with them in the field, I quickly learned of the important role they play in the ecosystem and how much we could learn from them that could help inform future conservations’ decisions."

Art students are funded through the Sevilleta LongTerm Ecological Research (LTER) program and The program’s often join ecology purpose aligns students in the with the refuge's field. They goals— to preserve occasionally "Light Translations: Details of and enhance the integrity of its provide lessons in photography, Plant-Environment Interfaces" ecosystems, managing them as painting, or other artistic By Sam Fertik closely to their natural state as specialties to enhance the possible. This involves the use of interdisciplinary nature of the management tools and techniques consistent with program, uniting science and the arts. maintaining natural ecological processes. Sam Fertik, an art student from the University of The 2023 summer program attracted students Vermont, says that, "ideas, especially ecological from California to Vermont, and everywhere in thinking, become more powerful when we involve between. Representing 11 states and 15 others and share ideas.” universities around the nation, this summer’s cohort brought together a range of majors The resident manager of the field station is Alesia including biology, ecology, zoology, environmental Hallmark, who runs all day-to-day operations of science, and fine arts. the REU site program. As she puts it, “students are immersed in their study ecosystem. Their study After being carefully matched with mentors in a site comes right up to their door!” variety of fields, students are given the opportunity to plan, conduct fieldwork, analyze Hallmark says, “It’s truly a place where people and data, and present their results publicly with ideas come together.”

Left page images by Alesia Hallmark 11

Connecti

Communication & Journalism Student Selected for New York Times Corps Elizabeth Secor, a junior in the Department of Communication & Journalism (C&J), has been chosen as one of the members of The New York Times' Times Corps. Secor is the editor for the New Mexico News Port, and also writes for the Daily Lobo. She will be paired with a New York Times advisor, who will work with her on career-building advice critical to a life in journalism for the rest of her time at UNM. In addition to training sessions and guest speakers, Secor will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York, which includes a tour of the New York Times. The Times Corps was designed for students from underrepresented groups in journalism, such as students of color and/or students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. "This program not only opens new doors for Elizabeth but also motivates all journalism students to strive for excellence in their craft,” said Department Chair Ilia Rodriguez Nazario.

Robert H. Mallory

“We are proud to provide UNM students with opportunities to learn from community partners and participate in community projects.” -- Maria Lane, P.h.D. Professor and Director, R.H. Mallory Center for Community Geography

The Communication & Journalism building

GOAL TWO: 12

STUDENT EXPERIENCE & E D U C AT I O N A L I N N O VAT I O N

In 2020, the R.H. Mallory Center for Community Geography was launched by the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies (GES) thanks to a generous gift from alumnus, Robert H. Mallory. The program engages with community groups, partnering in projects ranging from community mapping to environmental awareness. Mallory had his passion ignited when he enrolled in the Geography 101 course as a student. At the time, the course filled a gap in his schedule. What he found, however, is that geography is a powerful tool for connecting people and spaces. Since its establishment in fall 2020, the Center has developed three key engagement areas: service-learning in GES courses, community-engaged research and fellowships, and public events that bring university and community groups together to focus on human-environment topics. In a few short years, the Center has added seven UNM faculty affiliates, distributed thousands of dollars in funding to UNM students and faculty, supported the addition of two new interactive geography courses, and completed community-engaged projects across Bernalillo County. Through this network, students have worked with the Albuquerque City Nature Challenge (ABQ CNC) to develop data-driven infographics that have been shared through social media to spur participation in a community science effort. Student work helped contribute to Albuquerque placing 22nd in this year’s challenge out of 482 cities worldwide, raking in 16,012 observations across Sandoval, Bernalillo, and Valencia counties.

Yolanda Lin, assistant professor and instructor of the course says, “[The class] offers students the unique opportunity to build valuable skills at the intersection between data, design, and people. Students have shared that the community-engaged Albuquerque City Nature Challenge class project has helped them feel more personally connected to Albuquerque's human and more-than-human environment.” The Critical Cartography course is rooted in critical theory and explores the argument that maps can be interpreted as expressions of power and knowledge. In spring 2023, students applied this theory through two different community-engaged projects.

S T U D E N T I M PAC T S

ing People and Spaces

One group worked with high school students at Rio Grande High School to do a participatory mapping project on “Best Places in the South Valley.” Another group worked on a re-examination of the Old Spanish Trail. The Center has also announced funding support for a new field course called Environmental Justice in Greater Chaco. The course will center its attention on the intricate experiences surrounding resource extraction, impacts of climate change, and struggles for environmental equity within the greater Chaco landscape. The course will begin with instructor-led readings and discussions on the UNM campus, but students will then spend most of their time in the field, learning directly from community leaders about the economic and political geographies of environmental justice.

The students developed CNC infographics as part of their work in the new GES course Information Design for Science and Society, which was recently added to the university's general education curriculum. Thanks to funding from the Center for Community Geography, students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in project-based learning while also supporting a community project.

ASSURE-ing Success The Arts & Sciences Support for Undergraduate Research Experiences (ASSURE) program nurtures and promotes research experiences through faculty/ student relationships. Since its launch in 2021, the program has supported over 100 students in making research an important part of their educational success. Research experiences at the undergraduate level are one of the many unique opportunities that students get to take advantage of at UNM, and they are significant in that they very often lead to expanded opportunities beyond the undergraduate level. “The ASSURE program provides opportunities for our students to get experience actually doing research in the lab, the field, or the archives," said Chris Lippitt, associate dean for research for the College of Arts &

Sixteen Students and Alumni Selected for NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 14

Sciences. "Students’ first research experiences can be truly transformative, and here at UNM that means working with and learning from world-class research teams working on some of the most important questions facing humanity." ASSURE Fellows also receive a $1,600 stiped during the semester-long collaboration. ASSURE alumni have already been nationally recognized for their outstanding efforts. Abrianna Morales (Psychology and Criminology, 2023) was a 2022 Truman Scholar, and this year, Andrew Schuman (History and Political Science, 2023) was also selected as a Truman Scholar. Melissa Rudden (Chemistry & Chemical Biology, 2023) is a 2023 Goldwater Scholar.

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is one of the top competitive fellowship programs in the nation, designed to support outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM fields. In 2023, 16 out of the 21 current UNM students and alumni selected for this fellowship came from the College of Arts & Sciences. They represented the Departments of Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry & Chemical Biology, English Language & Literature, Geography & Environmental Studies, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics & Astronomy, and Psychology.

STUDENTS BY THE NUMBERS

5,731

1,337

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students

270

436

Undergraduate students employed by research grants

Graduate students employed by research grants

310

65%

Students with tuition paid on grants

From underrepresented communities

S T U D E N T I M PAC T S

LO C A L I M PAC T S

Image: Library of Congress: Kitchen scene in Spanish-American home near Taos, N.M., Taos County

Keeping New Mexico's Traditional Dialect Alive The dialect unique to New Mexico and southern Colorado has survived and thrived for 400 years but is slowly being eclipsed as the elders who speak it pass away, and the younger generations turn to the English language prevalent outside those pockets. Researchers like Professor Damián Vergara Wilson, the Spanish as a Heritage Language Program coordinator, are turning their attention to preserving and documenting the vernacular. Awareness of the endangered dialect and Wilson’s efforts is growing thanks to a recent New York Times article by Simon Romero, himself a native of the tiny village of Ribera about 50 miles from Santa Fe, in which he quotes the UNM professor. In April, Wilson was also interviewed by well-known Spanish-language news anchor Jorge Ramos for his show Al Punto on Univisión. The Associated Press and Telemundo also featured Wilson and his linguistic efforts In New Mexico, the debate about the value of the Spanish language became a hot-button issue when the United States colonized it. “People still think they are doing their children favors by not teaching them Spanish, both immigrant populations and ones with long histories in the U.S.,” Wilson said. Wilson is teaching a new generation of scholars to appreciate and attempt to preserve the traditional community language. In Wilson’s Spanish as a Heritage Language program, one of the longest-running programs of its type, students develop an appreciation of their heritage language. They learn about cultural connections, sharing experiences, backgrounds, and linguistic knowledge with one another. “The Spanish of their communities is honored as a venerable variety of the language. We go so far as to propose that the Spanish that has been preserved in New Mexico should be considered a national treasure for its uniqueness and its perseverance,” Wilson said.

GOAL THREE: INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

“Our mission is ‘Cuenta tu historia’ – ‘Tell your story!’ He continues, "Language and identity are very closely linked, which is one reason it’s important to preserve it because our way of speaking is part of our identity. It’s because that’s how we tell our stories and that’s how we talk about place, time, religious beliefs, culture, and gossip. This is how we tell our stories.”

College is in Sight for New Mexico's High School Students New Mexico high-schoolers across the state are getting the opportunity to enhance their traditional schedules of calculus, literature, and physics with their own cultural traditions.

Expect lessons on expressing history through music, New Mexico land and water rights, Chicano civil rights and the role of women in the Mexican Revolution.

In 2016, the Department of Chicana & Chicano Studies set out to not only help high school students get a jump start on their higher education, but bring in a special perspective often missing in classrooms. That’s how the Initiatives for Student-engaged Educational Ecosystems College (I-SEE COLLEGE) began.

Research has shown that through I-SEE COLLEGE, the high school graduation rate for participants was 97%, compared to the statewide average of 75%. Over 900 students have benefitted from the program since 2016.

Students engage in three major subject areas: intro to Chicana and Chicano Studies, intro to comparative ethnic studies and Chicana and Chicanx musical expressions. “Our history really hasn't been taught structurally. We didn't have that when I was in high school,” Frausto said. “Now, they're learning their own history, and the research has shown that kids who learn their history, and that their culture is appreciated and honored at the high school level are more inclined to continue their education at the university level.”

"Chicane studies helped me as a Mexican American read about the knowledge of our family history and how it is prevalent to the world today. I learned practices and theories that help me exercise a forward thinking lifestyle in my identity and the longevity of the culture that I love so much" said former I-SEE COLLEGE Student and recent UNM alumnus, Santiago Saenz (Mathematics and Chicana & Chicano Studies, 2023). RFK Charter High School Chicana and Chicano Studies, English and Language Arts, and Music Instructor Keith Sanchez said, “Not only has it spurred a measurable increase in students choosing a path towards higher education and community service, but agency to fiercely assert their voice in a world they thought would never listen.”

Ortega Hall is home to the Departments of Spanish & Portuguese and Languages, Cultures & Literatures

Honoring Generational Histories of Pueblo Pottery also address different historical experiences and relationships in pottery making traditions. Over 20 artists will make additional visits to the Maxwell Museum in order to finalize their selections of pottery from the museum’s substantial collection. During these visits, their oral histories will be recorded as they go through the process of making their selections and finalizing the exhibit’s themes and content.

A half century ago, the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology produced Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery, an exhibit that not only recognized Pueblo pottery as art for the first time, but also represented its makers as artists, emphasizing generational knowledge and practice. That groundbreaking exhibit will serve as a touchstone for a 50th anniversary celebration in 2025 to reinterpret Pueblo pottery. To mark this anniversary, Curator of Ethnology Lea McChesney is recognizing a wider diversity of Pueblo artists and their art forms, bringing representatives from the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in Texas to the Maxwell to serve as co-curators of the new exhibit. These artists are selecting the works to be included in the exhibit and accompanying catalogue, narrating their selections and the significance of these works. As with the original exhibit, their stories often refer to generational knowledge and practice. But they

LO C A L I M PAC T S

McChesney explains that the research and “insights gained from ethical, relational curation and extensive visits to the collection” by the artists will be a major step in accomplishing the project's goals. The completion of this project will include an exhibit, catalog, and programming welcoming others from these communities to utilize the vast resources that are being enhanced through this collaboration. With the resulting catalog, improved documentation, and established community relationships, the project will live on well beyond the exhibition, benefitting future generations of artists, reinvigorating their values and beliefs in the arts, and furthering the continuity of this artistic practice.

Revitalizing the Diné Language for the Next Generation A study by Professor and Chair of the Department of Native American Studies Tiffany S. Lee, and her colleagues, is making significant strides towards sustaining the Diné language and cultural heritage. The project embodies the Diné concept of "t’áá Diné,", or identity of the people, to foster an environment where children are encouraged to be “t’áá Diné”, or, deeply rooted in the Diné cultural identity. This practice ultimately shapes their entire outlook on life The groundwork for the project was laid through a series of listening sessions. Educators and families from partner schools, despite varying contexts, shared similar Diné-based values and perspectives on developmental milestones and indicators of well-being. . One educator stated that language learning reinforces the identity of youth because “They come to know and see the foods, celebrations, dances, and songs and see that it makes them unique and different from another. They have the support to validate and confirm their identity.” The essence of "t’áá Diné" lies in shaping the minds, behaviors, and perceptions of Diné children through a firm foundation of Diné worldview and values. To achieve this, the project will identify key indicators of a child thriving in a "t’áá Diné" environment. This information will serve three crucial purposes: ensuring the comprehensive wellbeing of Diné children, strengthening the connection between language learning and wellbeing, and advocating for the value of "t’áá Dinéjí" (in the way of the Diné) through empirical data.

In 2022, the College partnered with the Center for Regional Studies to financially support community-based research projects focused on New Mexican or Southwestern communities. Meet our 2023 recipients.

The research has a notable emphasis on Diné cultural protocols, Lee says, “Our project is very unique with our focus on Diné communities by Diné researchers. What we will learn will be applicable and useful for many Native communities across the U.S. and beyond to learn from and build a network together.” “We are a team that is Diné in all aspects of this project, and by the completion of this project the research can be replicated by other Native communities who are interested in leading research within their own Nation.”

BECOMING US The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology became Albuquerque's first public museum in 1932 and is home to the State of New Mexico's only exhibit on human evolution. It is a center of anthropological research, teaching, and community engagement, serving more than 35,000 visitors per year. In 2025, the current exhibit on human evolution will be reimagined to invite visitors into the past, present, and future of scientific discovery of our humanity, our adaptations, and our impact on the planet. The new exhibition, titled, "Becoming Us: The Exploration of Human Evolution", will be a journey for all ages, traversing millions of years of human evolution and spanning the globe. The new space will be nearly doubled to allow for expanded content. Beyond focusing on humanity’s past, the enlarged exhibition will look at the present and future, examine what we hold in common and what makes us distinct—from each other and from other species we share the planet with. The exhibition will deploy a range of techniques and formats to convey content, inspire curiosity, and, importantly, allow visitors to understand the processes of knowledge production and see themselves as potential contributors to that work. From an immersive entry corridor that will display the human genome, to short video presentations, to a dynamic interactive map table, to original artifacts, visitors will be introduced to the methods, practices, and ethics of scientific research. 20

To make a gift in support of this important new exhibit, please go to the Maxwell Museum's website at MaxwellMuseum.unm.edu.

FA C U LT Y B Y T H E N U M B E R S

442

Faculty

Postdocs

122

1,091

Patents held by faculty in 2023

Publications in 2023

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows

Distinguished Professors

Awards for teaching excellence

National & International awards for research excellence

LO C A L I M PAC T S

WO R L D I M PAC T S

B E C O M I N G A PA R T OF HISTORY

Image: New Mexican Harrison "Jack" Schmitt collecting moon samples during the Apollo 17 mission Credit: NASA

It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. For the first time in more than 50 years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will be sending astronauts to the moon - and an interdisciplinary group of experts at UNM has been selected as one of five new teams to support the scientific preparations for this momentous effort.

for 2026.

Led by Sr. Research Scientist in the Institute of Meteoritics (IOM) and Research Professor in the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Charles “Chip” Shearer, the Center for Advanced Sample Analysis of Astromaterials from the Moon and Beyond (CASA Moon) will receive $7.5 million over the next five years to study the origin, evolution, and utilization of the Moon through lunar sample analysis.

The UNM team was selected for this effort because of their combined expertise and unique access to state-of-the-art equipment that is housed at both the IOM and the Physics & Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science (PAÍS) building. PAÍS opened in 2019 in order to provide a space for collaborative research opportunities such as CASA Moon.

CASA Moon will integrate sample measurements, experimental studies, remotely collected orbital data, and modeling to understand the evolution of the Moon and explore its resources for future human activities.

Future generations of lunar explorers and The CASA Moon team consists of scientists will also have an opportunity to learn researchers in the from this incredible IOM, the Department partnership, as a core “CASA Moon is a diverse and of Earth & Planetary component of the multi-generational team that links center will be the Sciences, the Center for Stable Isotopes, the establishment of the Apollo generation with the Department of Biology, science training Artemis generation of lunar and the Department of programs. explorers...we will make great Civil, Construction, and science and exploration Environmental Through collaborations Engineering. with national breakthroughs because of laboratories (Johnson collaborations among team The team is one of Space Center, Goddard members.” five new collaborative Space Flight Center, research teams selected and the Lawrence by NASA’s Solar System -- Charles "Chip" Shearer Livermore National Exploration Research Laboratory) and other Virtual Institute universities-colleges, (SSERVI) to help them better understand the CASA Moon will provide undergraduate and lunar environment. These teams were selected graduate students with unique training in lunar from a pool of 14 competitive proposals science. throughout the country. In addition to this, CASA Moon will provide Together, these five teams will join eight outreach to underrepresented communities existing teams in advancing lunar research through internship programs, workshops, and web efforts to prepare for and enhance the seminars. Science and engineering communities science that will be conducted as part of will also be engaged through similar efforts, and Artemis, which aims to establish a sustainable, even the general public will have an opportunity crewed presence on the Moon by the end of this to participate through citizen science projects and decade. public events, including state, national, and international Space Exploration webinars. To do this, NASA will return humans to the CASA Moon will also be actively involved in the lunar surface to deploy instrumentation, UNM Sustainable Space Research Grand Challenge examine the geology of the landing site and initiative, which you can read more about on page vicinity, and carry out key sampling and 30. exploration activities. The first of this new era of human-landed missions, Artemis III, is scheduled

Discovering New Exoplanets

AI-generated image by Dominic Oddo

National Geographic's 11 Most Astoni

Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Comparative Human and Primate Physiology Center (CHmPP), Melissa Emery Thompson, has published new research in collaboration with her colleagues that the Washington Post has called "a landmark discovery." Published in Science, the study has also been highlighted by the New York Times for its revelation that at least one group of older female chimpanzees experience menopause. This trait has previously only been shared by a small number of whale species and, of course, female humans. Until recently, it was unusual for female chimpanzees to live long enough to experience menopause, but in the security of the Kibale National Park in Uganda, some females live long past their biological ability to have offspring. The process that leads to menopause is common to 24

all mammals. What sets humans apart is that women in every population routinely live decades beyond their menopause. “Menopause did not evolve as something new. It was simply revealed as our species began to live longer and longer,” said Emery Thompson. By using the same hormonal markers that are used to track perimenopause and menopause in humans, researchers were able to definitively document that menopause had occurred in these female chimpanzees. "These data showed unequivocally that the older chimpanzees in this study had truly undergone menopause... [over 13 years] The hormone data show a clear transition, with perimenopause in their 40s and onset of menopause around age 50. This is strikingly similar to the reproductive aging schedule in humans,” said Emery Thompson.

One of these planets, TOI 198 b, was discovered by Physics & Astronomy doctoral student, Dominic Oddo, and Assistant Professor of Physics & Astronomy, Diana Dragomir. Together with their colleagues, their findings were published in an article titled, "Characterization of a Set of Small Planets with TESS and CHEOPS and an Analysis of Photometric Performance" that was published in the Astronomical Journal. TOI 198 b is a rocky world that has a 10-day orbit around its star. It orbits on the innermost edge of the habitable zone, which indicates a planet with potential for life. Its host star is an early M dwarf, which is the most common type of star in our own

galaxy. They are the smallest and coolest stars with the most potential for life to form on its orbiting planets. The planet was discovered using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS). By using the transit method, scientists were able to determine that TOI 198 b was a planet by measuring the temporary dimming of the star as the planet crossed its face, which is called a transit. Oddo is honored to be part of this discovery, saying, “It’s exciting to be a part of such a lively and dynamic field, and this 5,500-planet mark is a testament to all of the work that my many colleagues - including in the group here at UNM – do,” said Oddo.

WO R L D I M PAC T S

In 1992, scientists made the landmark discovery of two planets orbiting a star outside of our solar system. Since then, the number of these planets, called exoplanets, have now surpassed 5,500 thanks to the discovery of five new exoplanets in 2023.

“Here’s to the next 5,500 discoveries! May they continue to revolutionize our understanding of the tapestry of planets in our galaxy.”

ishing Scientific Discoveries of 2023 Source: National Geographic

Photo credit: Suzi Esterhas

Chimpanzees Experience Menopause, Too

WO R L D I M PAC T S

The Community Network for Volcanic Eruption Response (CONVERSE) is a geohazard center that represents various disciplines in volcano science in order to maximize the science return from volcanic eruptions. It was established in 2022 thanks to a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant. When volcanic unrest occurs, both academic and government agencies need to have advanced fundamental understanding of the volcanic system with coordination before, during and after the event. An initial project supported building connections amongst volcano scientists, both within academia and with governmental agencies such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Such activities are critical for effective scientific response in case of an actual event of volcanic unrest. For a recent response scenario exercise, CONVERSE focused on volcanoes in the southwestern U.S. because they have less activity, little or no seismicity, and gas emissions that would cause worry for eruption. However, Tobias Fischer, professor of Earth & Planetary Sciences, points out there is a real potential for this because those volcanoes erupted only a few thousand years ago, which is not a long time in the geologic time frame. Experts came together and produced an artificial data set and an artificial timeline to simulate how this volcanic field might become active. The team then disseminated that information to the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. The exercise helped consolidate resources related to volcanic field activity, and also produced open-ended questions that spurred new collaboration and discussion.

Developing a Response Plan 26

“With regards to understanding the role of virtual scenario exercises, we found that these experiences can be impactful and influential, and how the scenarios are conducted - including the types of interactions, and moderation of comments from all participants - is an important aspect of cultivating a culture of inclusivity in these exercises, and by extension, in volcano science” said Yolanda Lin, assistant professor in Geography & Environmental Sciences. CONVERSE is continuing with the scenarios and using them as an educational outreach tool.

Largest Telescope Array in North America Under Development by NRAO with Support from UNM The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)/Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), and the University of New Mexico (UNM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore collaborations in support of future U.S. radio astronomy initiatives.

engineers to the UNM campus, resulting in unparalleled education and training opportunities for UNM’s astronomy students and hundreds of new, high-paying jobs in New Mexico,” said Chris Lippitt, associate dean for research at the College of Arts & Sciences.

The MOU outlines the shared interests of AUI/NRAO and UNM in increasing professional collaborations amongst scientific and engineering staff through the sharing of facilities and computing resources. The joint effort will actively identify future collaborations related to the next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA).

Through this partnership, NRAO and UNM will explore the potential of establishing the UNM College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Physics & Astronomy as a host site for the ngVLA Data Processing and Science Operations Center.

The ngVLA, currently in its design phase thanks to an award from the National Science Foundation, will improve upon the sensitivity and spatial resolution of the Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the VLBA by more than an order of magnitude. The ngVLA will become the next U.S. flagship radio telescope and ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in radio astronomy. “This partnership with NRAO to support the next generation Very Large Array could bring more than 200 of the world's best radio astronomers and

This site will foster close collaboration between NRAO and UNM researchers, and will also provide UNM students the opportunity to work closely with and learn from the world-class radio astronomers and engineers at AUI/ NRAO. “This memorandum of understanding between NRAO and UNM strengthens our existing partnership, is the foundation for significant cooperative work on the ngVLA, and will help ensure that the state of New Mexico remains at the center of the radio astronomy world,” said Eric Murphy, the Project Scientist for ngVLA. “We look forward to an exciting future ahead with UNM.”

GOAL ONE: A D VA N C E N E W M E X I C O

First-Ever Dictionary on Rare Language

Few have heard of Moré-Kuyubim, an incredibly rare, complex language shared between small communities split across the Guaporé River that divides Bolivia and Brazil. Assistant Professor of Linguistics Joshua Birchall is one of the few people in the world who has been able to decipher this language, despite not originating in the community. He is also now a publisher of the first Moré-Kuyubim dictionary. “The language had been passed on from generation to generation without ever having been written. Traditionally, it was spoken on both sides of the border and both sides of the river. Both of these groups went through very different kinds of cultural histories,” Birchall said. Birchall emphasizes he simply could not have done it alone. Between initial translators, technicians, visitors, experts and previously archived documentation, the support in making this happen was key. “I was able to kind of map out the differences between the speakers from Bolivia and Brazil. We'd have cultural workshops in Brazil on how to make

instruments and woven mats,” Birchall said. “We also had language workshops where we’d listen to the sounds and language as recorded on these old tapes. We'd bring some of the elders from Bolivia who spoke the language much better than I could, and give us examples.” On top of the physical dictionary copies, Birchall created a way for community members to access and learn the terms on an app. It’s also available online and can be downloaded. Speakers of Moré-Kuyubim themselves were featured on the app, pronouncing the words and phrases. Birchall was also able to video, transcribe and edit together tales and activities many younger members could only try to visualize previously. These digital copies featured recipes, weaving tutorials, musical traditions, traditional parties and legends that had long since been verbal campfire stories. “Language is certainly a very big marker of cultural identity. You can have a cultural identity outside of a language, but the presence of a language certainly makes that a lot stronger,” Birchall said.

The Humanities building is home to the Departments of American Studies, English Language & Literature, and Linguistics.

WO R L D I M PAC T S The Pathogen Informatics Center for Analysis, Networking, Translation & Education, or PICANTE! is a collaborative partnership of researchers at The University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico State University, University of Kansas, Gorgas Memorial Institute in Panama, and the Center for Research on Health in Latin America in Quito, Ecuador.

Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB). UNM has the world’s largest collection of cryopreserved mammalian tissues coupled to an extensive network of international biorepositories, while Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has decades-long experience developing methodology to model the evolution,epidemiology, and control of pathogens and the computational power to implement those methods.

Together, they are developing a new model for predicting pandemics thanks to a $1 million “Ever since the devastating planning grant from the National Science emergence of hantavirus in the Foundation’s Predictive Four Corners region, UNM has Intelligence for Pandemic maintained a leadership role in Prevention Phase I program. zoonotic pathogen research and

By examining the dynamic environmental interfaces between wildlife and semi-urban and rural communities, the team will strategically monitor the pathways for predicting, detecting, and mitigating zoonotic pathogens at the nexus of emerging infectious diseases. This work could show how pathogens jump between species and what conditions increase the risk of spillover into human populations.

mitigation efforts in the One of the significant challenges in Southwest and internationally.” understanding the risk of zoonotic pathogens - Joseph Cook, Ph.D. passing from animals to Distinguished Professor of Biology humans, such as SARS-CoV-2 and hantavirus in New Mexico, is knowing how diseases are evolving and Using state-of-the-art genomic sequencing, spreading in animal populations. bioinformatic workflows, geovisualizationSARS-CoV-2 demonstrated that pandemics pose a empowered interactive web tools, mathematical global challenge in desperate need of new modeling, and machine learning approaches, international, collaborative solutions. PICANTE! will researchers can interpret, analyze, and communicate shed light on the evolution and spread of data from vast biorepositories to predict the next pathogens before they spill over into human pandemic. populations by studying and using the extensive frozen animal tissue biorepositories housed at the

Predicting the Next Pandemic

Rising to the Challenge UNM President, Garnett S. Stokes, began the Grand Challenges initiative in 2019 to unite researchers, educators, students and community members in solving problems of critical importance to our state, our nation and our world. Three initial teams were selected for this effort, and this year, three new interdisciplinary Level Two research teams were added. All three of these teams have core leadership from the College of Arts & Sciences engaged in addressing the following challenges for New Mexico:

CHILD HEALTH Leadership member: Xi Gong, Ph.D. Geography & Environmental Sciences JUST TRANSITION TO GREEN ENERGY Leadership member: Gabriel Sanchez, Ph.D. Political Science

In 2023, the University announced the establishment of a new Category III Research Center called Accelerating Resilience Innovations in Drylands (ARID). An interdisciplinary initiative under the auspices of the Office of the Vice President for Research, ARID unites faculty from the College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Engineering, the School of Architecture & Planning, the School of Law, and the UNM Health Sciences Center. ARID's mission seeks to maximize the resilience of drylands to climate change by fostering transdisciplinary research; co-creating innovations with community and industry partners; and equitably training the next generation to improve economic, human, and ecosystem health in New Mexico and beyond.

SUSTAINABLE SPACE RESEARCH Leadership member: Charles Shearer, Ph.D. Earth & Planetary Sciences

With research priorities that span sustainable water resources, clean energy, healthy ecosystems, and community health, ARID's vision is to pioneer resilience innovations that enable New Mexico residents, businesses, and organisms to thrive despite the impacts of climate change.

GRANDCHALLENGES.UNM.EDU

ARID.UNM.EDU

GOAL FIVE: ONE UNIVERSITY 30

Accelerating Resilience Innovations in Drylands (ARID)

THE COLLEGE BY THE NUMBERS

$42.3M

Departments & Schools

Museums

in research expenditures for FY 2023

Centers & Institutes

Undergraduate degree programs

Research One institution for New Mexico

Master's degree programs

Doctoral degree programs

T H E U N I V E R S ITY O F NEW M E X ICO is designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and holds the distinguished Carnegie Community Engagement designation.

for accessibility among R1 (very high research activity) institutions

for accessibility among all U.S. higher educational institutions

Source: New York Times 2023 College-Access Index 31

As the largest and oldest college at The University of New Mexico, the College of Arts & Sciences has a long history of providing New Mexico’s students with a high-quality foundation for postsecondary education spanning a wide variety of disciplines. The College ensures that all students across UNM—with majors spanning diverse areas like engineering, nursing, political science, history and more—graduate equipped to excel in their chosen field and become leaders for New Mexico. The humanities and social sciences have been central to this mission for over 130 years by helping students cultivate critical thinking and communication skills, mediate diverse perspectives, nurture broad cultural awareness, and grapple with their identity. To ensure that UNM students receive a forward-looking education in the humanities and social sciences, the College is embarking on a campaign to provide these programs and the students they serve with a new state-of-the-art facility. For over 50 years, Ortega Hall and the Humanities Building have sat at the center of the UNM campus. Both have exceeded their useful life and are beyond repair according to industry experts charged with maintaining safe and productive learning environments for students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, our 18 humanities and social sciences departments have outgrown these two buildings and are currently dispersed amongst 10 buildings throughout campus.

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF HUMANI SPACE FOR DISCOVERY AND COMMUNITY A campus’ built environment has enormous influence over the potential of its community. Welcoming design and versatile spaces encourage interaction, foster meaningful connections, and nurture a vibrant academic community. Here, ideas are exchanged, collaboration is embraced, and knowledge is a shared journey.

ROOM TO GROW Students need access to tools, resources and spaces that inspire their engagement, exploration and success. Digital and media labs and libraries, collaboration and study spaces, event and exhibition halls, a language learning center, advising office space – the proposed humanities and social sciences complex is an opportunity to envision and deliver a transformative student experience. 32

Conceptual interior perspective of Community Living Room

“A new facility would bring most of the departments into a common space,” shared Dean Jennifer Malat, “and being situated in the heart of campus, the new space would serve as a central hub for learning and academic collaboration in the humanities and social sciences as well as a central space for the campus community as a whole.” Together with Smith Plaza, the SUB, Zimmerman Library, and the Duck Pond, this new facility will anchor the physical, academic, and social heart of the campus. A new shared facility recognizes the need for multi-disciplinary teaching and research. Such proximity would allow traditional humanities and social sciences approaches to flourish alongside new approaches necessary for addressing emerging areas of inquiry, such as the intersection of social justice and artificial intelligence. Situating these units in a technology-centric space would allow faculty to produce innovative and multi-modal scholarship and help students engage with new digital tools for an ever-modernizing workforce. The College has initiated an inclusive planning process in anticipation of a new building. Workshops were held with students, faculty, staff, and administration to imagine a facility that directly addresses the five goals of the UNM Strategic Plan UNM 2040: Opportunity Defined by creating a sustainable, inclusive, and modern space to equip

The Sala design provides a conceptual example of how this new collaborative facility could be realized.

every UNM student with the ability to contribute to New Mexico’s economy and culture. Malat says, “As the College embarks on this exciting and much-needed project to ensure that UNM continues its world-class teaching and scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, we will continue engaging the broader UNM community, including more than 200,000 alumni who have benefited from these programs. We welcome the community’s input as we create a facility that respects the deep history and culture of New Mexico, supports and celebrates its diversity, and equips our citizens with the opportunities of the future.”

T I E S A N D S O C I A L S C I E N C E S E D U C AT I O N ADVANCING RESEARCH Physical proximity is vital to collaboration. As a Research One (R1) institution, UNM is committed to supporting its research faculty by creating an environment conducive for discovery and innovation. A shared interdisciplinary facility directly supports the exploration of new working relationships and faculty engaged in collaborative research, leading to the development of new ideas.

AT THE CENTER OF STUDENT SUCCESS The social sciences and humanities are the cornerstone of a college education. Creating a dynamic environment where students will develop their critical thinking and cultural understanding is central to their intellectual growth and future in an interconnected world. 33

ALUMNI I M P A C T S Nina Lanza, Ph.D.

Planetary scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, part of Mars Rover research team

Earth & Planetary Sciences, 2011

Mandisa Routheni Founder, Juneteenth Renaissance Institute

Africana Studies, 2015

Jaymie Roybal, J.D.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Dept. of Justice & President, UNM Alumni Association

Hakim Bellamy, M.A.

Political Science and Signed Language Interpreting, 2012

Albuquerque's first poet laureate

Communication & Journalism and Rhetoric & Compositional Writing, 2014

Natalie Spencer Wesley Chenault, Ph.D.

Inaugural associate director for Strategic Initiatives and Programs of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

American Studies, 2008

Cheriss May, for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Henrietta Mann, Ph.D.

2021 National Humanities Medal recipient

Philosophy, 2016 and 2017

Communication & Journalism and Languages, Cultures, & Literatures, 2008

American Studies, 1982

Kyle Stepp

Kaitlyn Creasy, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Philosophy, California State University at San Bernadino

Program officer for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders at the U.S. Department of State

Richelle Montoya

First female VP of Navajo Nation

Criminology, Psychology, Sociology, and Native American Studies, 2011

Amputee advocate and co-founder of Lobothon

Communication & Journalism and Rhetoric & Compositional Writing, 2016

Shohini Ghose, Ph.D.

Chief Technology Officer at Quantum Algorithms Institute and quantum computing visionary

Physics & Astronomy, 1999 & 2003

Joy Harjo

23 poet laureate of the U.S. rd

English Language & Literature, 1976

Ryan Mummert

Executive and Family Wealth Director, Morgan Stanley

Economics, 1996

Aaron Padilla, M.S.

Board Certified in swallowing and swallowing disorders

Speech & Hearing Sciences, 2014 and 2017

Credit: Two Sons Productions

Kwane Stewart, D.V.M.

CNN's 2023 Hero of the Year and Founder of Project Street Vet

Biology, 1993

THE FUTURE OF G I V E TO NEW MEXICO ARTSCI.UNM.EDU/GIVE Your support ensures that our students have the opportunity to take full advantage of their academic experience here at the UNM College of Arts & Sciences. Today’s workforce needs leaders who can meet the demands of our ever-changing society, and the College is actively working to ensure that our students are equipped to meet these needs.

Our Lobos are New Mexico’s future.

CONTRIBUTORS Hyunju Blumel Salome Borrego-Marsh Steve Carr Irene Gray, MPA

EDITOR Mary Beth King Savannah Peat Geneva Sandoval Dani Rae Wascher

Irene Gray, MPA

ORTEGA HALL STE. 201 MSC03 2120 1 UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87131

See what else is possible at

ARTSCI.UNM.EDU ASRESEARCH.UNM.EDU