Good afternoon Lobos –

The University of New Mexico will be front and center at the State Capitol on Wednesday, February 4 for the New Mexico State Legislature’s annual UNM Day. Members of the Lobo community—including faculty, staff, students and leadership—will come together to connect with legislators, partners, and the public, highlighting the many ways UNM serves our state. UNM Day is an ideal opportunity to share our top academic, research, and infrastructure priorities while underscoring our role as a Research 1 institution and as a driving force for education, healthcare, and economic development across New Mexico. By telling our story and demonstrating our impact, we strengthen relationships and advocate for continued investment in our students and communities. My thanks to everyone helping to represent UNM with energy, pride and purpose at the Capitol.

Lobo Researcher Illuminates a Pivotal Chapter of Human Evolution

University of New Mexico anthropologist Osbjorn Pearson is helping reshape what we know about human origins through a landmark analysis of rare Lake Turkana fossils dating back nearly two million years. Working with an international research team, Pearson examined an unusually complete Homo habilis skeleton, using advanced measurements and 3D-printed bones to reveal how this early ancestor moved and lived. His findings show a species that was neither fully primitive nor fully modern—shorter and lighter than later humans, but with remarkably strong arms. The research offers a clearer picture of the evolutionary bridge leading to Homo sapiens and underscores UNM’s global impact in advancing scientific discovery. You can read his team’s groundbreaking article at The Anatomical Record.

SRMC Opens Specialized Thyroid and Parathyroid Care Clinic

The University of New Mexico is expanding access to lifesaving specialty care with the opening of the Head and Neck Endocrine Clinic at UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center (SRMC), a campus of UNM Hospital. The clinic is the only comprehensive, multidisciplinary thyroid and parathyroid specialty program in New Mexico, bringing surgeons, endocrinologists, and diagnostic experts together in one coordinated setting. With significantly increased capacity and a growing number of patients from across the state, the clinic offers high-volume expertise for complex conditions, supported by telehealth and statewide partnerships. This expansion underscores UNM’s leadership in delivering advanced, patient-centered care and ensures more New Mexicans can access specialized treatment close to home.

Research Safety Week Kicks Off February 10

The University of New Mexico is proud to host its first-ever Research Safety Week, a campuswide effort to strengthen a proactive culture of safety across our research community. This February 10–12, Research Safety Week brings together researchers, students, staff and campus partners for engaging programs that highlight best practices in safety, risk management and compliance. Activities include expert-led keynotes, hands-on workshops, lab tours, and interactive trainings covering everything from field and laser safety to personal protective equipment. Open to all disciplines, Research Safety Week underscores that safety is a shared responsibility—and essential to responsible, innovative scholarship at UNM.

Project ECHO Expands Global Reach

The University of New Mexico is making a global impact as Project ECHO launches a bold new initiative to strengthen infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response across seven African nations. Supported by a $2.2 million, two-year grant from the Gates Foundation, the effort partners with ministries of health and public health institutes to improve outbreak detection, coordination, and response. Using ECHO’s proven digital learning networks, the initiative builds resilient health systems through collaboration, shared expertise and real-time knowledge exchange. Each country will develop its own virtual community of practice, with connections across borders to share lessons learned. This work reflects UNM’s global leadership in democratizing knowledge and improving health outcomes worldwide.

SHAC Clinic to Be Named for Dr. Olga M. Eaton

The University of New Mexico is honoring a remarkable legacy as the SHAC ASAP Acute Care Clinic prepares for a new name and a complete renovation. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. R. Philip Eaton, the SHAC clinic will be named the Olga M. Eaton, M.D., ASAP Acute Care Clinic, celebrating the life and impact of Dr. Olga M. Eaton, who served as SHAC director for 14 years. I was pleased to help with a dedication ceremony in January as we unveiled a handcrafted memory box that reflects Olga’s compassion, commitment to student well-being, and deep respect for holistic healing traditions rooted in New Mexico. Renovation work will begin this spring, with a goal of opening the modernized clinic to students in 2027. This transformation ensures that Olga’s legacy of listening, caring, and healing will continue to support Lobo students for generations to come.

Photo: Dr. R. Philip Eaton, center, with SHAC team members.

Celebrate Extraordinary Lobos with a Sarah Belle Brown Community Award

Nominations are open for the Sarah Belle Brown Community Awards, which I have the honor of presenting each year to recognize one faculty member, one staff member, and one student for their exceptional service to our community. Nominations will be accepted through Thursday, March 12, at 5 p.m. I encourage you to take a moment to nominate someone whose dedication and service inspire you and exemplify the spirit of our community.

On the Podcast: Rethinking New Mexico on Screen

How does film fame shape a place—and the people who call it home? In the latest episode of It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science, Lobo graduate student Gabriela Guajardo explores that question through research, poetry, and lived experience. A master’s student in Chicano Studies and first-place winner of this fall’s Lobo Bites, Guajardo examines how the film and television industry has influenced New Mexico’s cultural identity, representation, and communities. Drawing from her work on local film sets and her voice as an internationally ranked spoken-word poet, she offers a powerful, personal perspective on storytelling, accountability and place. Listen now to hear how UNM research brings new depth to familiar narratives, wherever you get your podcasts.