Good afternoon Lobos –

The next wave of the quantum revolution is here—and The University of New Mexico is helping lead it. Through the Quantum New Mexico Institute (QNM-I), launched in 2024, UNM is partnering with Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory to position New Mexico as a national powerhouse in quantum information science, industry innovation and workforce development.

Building on decades of pioneering research by faculty such as Carlton Caves and Ivan Deutsch, QNM-I unites academia, national laboratories, industry, and government to accelerate discovery and translate it into real-world impact. With significant state and federal investments—including support connected to Elevate Quantum, the nation’s only quantum Tech Hub—New Mexico is gaining national attention for its coordinated, collaborative approach.

From expanding Ph.D. training to attracting new companies and entrepreneurial ventures, we are creating a thriving quantum ecosystem. Together, we are ensuring that New Mexico doesn’t just witness the second quantum revolution; we’re helping define it.

NM PBS Welcomes New General Manager and CEO

I am delighted to share that the Board of Directors of New Mexico PBS has named Phil Hoffman as the station’s next general manager and CEO, effective April 1. Following a comprehensive national search conducted in partnership with The University of New Mexico and Albuquerque Public Schools, Phil emerged from a highly competitive pool with more than 20 years of public media and higher education leadership experience. An Emmy Award–winning storyteller and innovative media leader, Phil brings a deep commitment to education, civic engagement, and community service. I am confident Phil will build on NMPBS’s strong legacy while advancing its vital mission across our state.

Hernández-Durán Named Regents’ Professor



Congratulations to Ray Hernández-Durán, professor of art history in UNM’s College of Fine Arts, who has been named a Regents’ Professor, one of the highest honors bestowed upon our faculty. This distinguished, lifelong title recognizes sustained excellence in teaching, research, and service, and reflects Ray’s extraordinary impact over more than two decades at UNM. A respected scholar of Spanish colonial art and architecture, Ray mentors graduate students and junior faculty with exceptional care, and recently curated Voces del Pueblo: Artists of the Levantamiento Chicano in New Mexico at the National Hispanic Cultural Center—a project he worked on for seven years. This well-deserved recognition celebrates the incredible impact Professor Hernández-Durán continues to have on our students and our university—and the powerful example he sets for our community.

Women’s Hockey Finishes Its First Season

While the world was watching Team USA compete for Olympic gold, a milestone season concluded here at The University of New Mexico. Our UNM Women’s Ice Hockey Club has completed its inaugural year as New Mexico’s first American Collegiate Hockey Association Division I women’s hockey program—marking a transformative moment for collegiate athletics and for the growth of women’s hockey in our state.

Founded by students Kiki Langenwalter and Mia Hollister and supported by dedicated coaches and teammates, this student-run team is building both a competitive program and a statewide pipeline for girls in hockey. Competing against established programs such as Arizona State University and University of Denver, our Lobos have already earned respect for their character and determination. They’re proving that opportunity, excellence, and Lobo pride belong on the ice—and that young women in New Mexico can pursue their hockey dreams right here at home.

HSC Strengthens Safety Measures

Student safety remains a top institutional priority at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. In coordination with UNM Police, UNM Hospital Security and campus leadership, HSC supports a safe learning and clinical environment. Over the past five years, UNM has invested more than $20.4 million in security enhancements across our central and north campuses, including additional officers, expanded camera coverage, improved lighting, fencing, and body cameras. Security coverage has increased in hospital parking areas, with 24/7 monitoring in key structures, while residents in high-risk clinical areas are equipped with wireless duress buttons for immediate response. Forty-two blue light phones, escort services and the LoboGuardian app also provide added protection. Together, these comprehensive, coordinated efforts reflect UNM’s unwavering commitment to providing a safe, supportive environment where students, patients, faculty, and staff can learn, work, and heal with confidence.

Spring Teaching Conference to Spotlight Connection and Excellence



The University of New Mexico’s Center for Teaching and Learning, in partnership with the Faculty Senate Teaching Enhancement Committee, invites faculty from across our campuses to register for the 2026 UNM Spring Teaching Conference, April 8–9. This year’s theme, Constellating Our Praxis: Connection and Inspiration in Teaching and Learning at UNM, will spotlight the UNM Framework for Teaching and Learning Success, endorsed by the Faculty Senate in April 2025. Faculty and graduate and undergraduate students with teaching roles are encouraged to participate. Registration is open through March 24.