Good afternoon Lobos –
The University of New Mexico continues to proudly celebrate March as Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the extraordinary contributions of women throughout history and celebrate their indelible impact on society. This month provides us with the opportunity to honor trailblazers, visionaries, and everyday heroes whose achievements and influences have shaped our world.
At UNM, we recognize the invaluable role that women play in our success and growth. Although women have been on the front lines of our history for as long as we’ve been a nation, many of their achievements remain anonymous or uncredited to this day, still awaiting the writers and researchers who will discover them and tell their stories. At The University of New Mexico, we’re writing those stories every day through the many inspiring Lobo women we call our students, mentors, colleagues, and leaders.
It is also worth celebrating some of the many programs and resources we make available at UNM to support and promote women. Our UNM Women’s Resource Center, for example, has been advocating for and empowering women since its founding in 1972. We are also home to the Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program, one of the oldest of its kind in the nation, as well as the UNM Feminist Research Institute. These programs remain available for anyone to explore and learn more about how we all relate to each other and to our environment.
As always, the UNM Department of Anthropology has created a comprehensive website of related organizations, events, and scholars, as well as background on Women’s History Month, along with a sampling of research, news, organizations, and even TED Talks. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the contributions of women in our history and in our own lives.
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Student Documentarians Win Funding
Three Lobos from The University of New Mexico’s Film and Digital Arts department are among this year’s recipients of the New Mexico Documentary Incubator Grant (NMDIG), securing funding to bring their powerful documentary ideas to life. Jay-Alan Miller’s film The Fields of Our Future will explore regenerative farming and its impact on New Mexico’s agriculture. Heathen Seagraves’ documentary A Strong Woman will examine intergenerational perspectives on queer identity. And Thomas Manning’s film Reentering a New World seeks to shed light on felon reintegration, drawing on his own experiences. These talented filmmakers have six months to complete their projects, contributing to New Mexico’s vibrant storytelling landscape. Congratulations to our students for making UNM proud.
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UNM-Gallup Unveils Legacy Gallery
The University of New Mexico-Gallup has opened the Legacy Gallery, a dedicated space displaying a historic collection of photographs documenting the African American experience in New Mexico from 1776 to 1976. The collection, on loan from retired UNM professor Shiame Okunor, had previously been stored in the Zollinger Library’s basement and only displayed occasionally. Now, through a collaboration between the library and the director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at UNM-Gallup, the photos have a permanent home. Plans are underway to expand the collection to include Gallup’s Black history, making it a true cultural asset and a vital part of the greater Gallup community.
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Lobo Battalion Earns Prestigious National Recognition—Again!
The University of New Mexico’s Lobo Battalion has once again proven that excellence isn’t necessarily determined by size. At the Senior Leader Workshop in San Antonio, Texas, the battalion was named Best Small Program in its brigade, beating out 34 other programs for the prestigious honor. This award, which evaluates cadet performance, retention, recruiting, and overall program culture, underscores what we already know—our Army ROTC program is a powerhouse of leadership and dedication. Further, this is the Lobo Battalion’s third time earning this distinction—they won titles in 2015 and 2017--reinforcing its legacy of excellence. Congratulations to our outstanding cadets and cadre for continuing to set the standard. Your hard work, discipline, and passion make all Lobos proud!
Sign Up Now for Green Zone Training
On a similar note, I’m proud that The University of New Mexico continues to be rated as a Gold Level “Military Friendly” university, recognizing that our commitment to veterans and their families is second to none among Research 1 institutions. One of the best tools we have for ensuring our campus remains open and accommodating to veterans is our regular Green Zone training, which prepares university faculty, staff, and students to better understand the experience of veterans, service members and their families. In coordination with our Veteran and Military Resource Center, my office will be holding a Green Zone training on Monday, March 24 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Student Union Building Trailblazer/Spirit Room. You can participate either in person or online; sign up here to reserve your spot.
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A Month of Miracles at the UNM Children’s Hospital
Throughout the month of March, UNM aspires to educate and inspire our communities to join our cause and help give New Mexico children a healthier future. During our Month of Miracles, one hundred percent of every dollar you donate to the UNM Children’s Hospital will be put toward providing cutting edge treatment, critical programs, and patient and family care needs. Additionally, each Friday of this month, radio station 100.3 The PEAK will broadcast the stories of patients and families from across New Mexico who have been positively impacted by the treatment they received from our children’s hospital. Month of Miracles is an excellent example of the importance of community partnerships, and we’re grateful to our media partners for lending their platforms to help us share the stories of UNM Children’s Hospital with the people of New Mexico. To learn more about this initiative and to make a donation, please visit the Month of Miracles website or text JTR to 51555 to donate now.
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This Week’s Podcast
As we wrapped up our celebration of Black History Month last week, UNM’s award-winning podcast, It’s (Probably) Not Rocket Science, featured a conversation with Marsha Hardeman, a professor in UNM’s Africana Studies Department, who shared her journey of growing up in the segregated South to championing Black history in education. Hardeman’s powerful storytelling connects past struggles to today’s challenges, reminding us why preserving history matters—and how storytelling makes that history much more real and accessible. You can find the latest episode wherever you get your podcasts, including on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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Have a great week, and let's go, Lobos!
Garnett S. Stokes
President
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