Good afternoon Lobos –
It is a watershed moment in collegiate athletics, one that will have a profound impact on our university, our student-athletes, and our entire community. Last week, a federal judge granted final approval to the House v. NCAA settlement, ushering in a new era that allows universities, including UNM, to directly share revenue with college athletes for the first time in history. A description of the implications of this historic settlement has been provided in an excellent communication from our Vice President and Director of Athletics, Fernando Lovo, who has also shared a set of important FAQs. I urge all of you to read them.
I am optimistic about the future of Lobo Athletics. Just this year, UNM won six Mountain West team championships, more than any other university in our conference, reflecting a long-term period of consistent success. Our commitment to academic excellence, student well-being, and community pride remains unwavering. Together, we can navigate this new chapter with integrity and a shared vision for success.
| | |
UNM Opens Public Access to Groundbreaking Clergy Abuse Archive
The Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections has released the first batch of a powerful and historic digital archive: the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Institutional Abuse Collection. This important project provides public access to legal documents—previously sealed—related to clergy sexual abuse cases in New Mexico. It’s part of a broader effort to promote transparency, support survivors, and make vital records available for research, reflection, and accountability. As the first university in the country to host such a collection, UNM is helping lead the way in preserving difficult but necessary histories. This release includes decades of deposition transcripts, with more materials coming soon. It's a sobering reminder of past injustices—and a significant step toward healing and understanding.
| | |
UNM’s Mobile Behavioral Health Team Rolls Out in Sandoval County
In Sandoval County, help now arrives in a white SUV. UNM Health’s new Behavioral Response Team (BRT), based at Sandoval Regional Medical Center, is hitting the road to meet people in crisis—right where they are. This mobile team of behavioral health professionals and peer support workers responds to referrals from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, offering immediate, in-person support to those facing mental health emergencies. Their unique brand of compassionate care is delivered at the doorstep, helping people feel seen, heard, and safe in some of their darkest moments. Funded in part by the New Mexico Health Care Authority, the BRT is the latest example of UNM’s commitment to addressing New Mexico’s behavioral health needs with innovation, empathy, and urgency.
| | |
New Summer Program Connects Humanities Educators with AI Tools
This summer, UNM is providing an exciting new opportunity for humanities educators ready to explore the future of teaching with the launch of our AI & Pedagogy Summer Program. Hosted by the College of University Libraries and Learning Services (CULLS), this six-week virtual experience invites faculty and grad students to dig into how artificial intelligence can enhance learning in the humanities. Through weekly Zoom sessions, participants will collaborate, reflect, and develop hands-on classroom projects—from AI-informed assignments to syllabus redesigns. Each member of the cohort will also receive a ChatGPT Plus subscription to support their creative experimentation. If you’re curious, collaborative, and passionate about teaching, apply by June 16 to be part of this dynamic group.
| | |
FRESSH Cohort Ignites Research in Social Sciences and Humanities
Congratulations to the newest cohort of UNM’s FRESSH program—an incredible group of 18 researchers exploring bold, human-centered questions in the social sciences and humanities. Now in its third year, the FRESSH program (Fostering Research Expansion in the Social Sciences and Humanities) offers intensive mentorship and training for faculty, staff, and postdocs developing competitive grant proposals. Along the way, they’re building community, sharpening their grant writing skills, and laying the groundwork for research that addresses real-world issues. I’m really proud of these researchers and of our team at the UNM Faculty Research Development Office for continuing to empower Lobos through programs like FRESSH and its companion, the WeR1 Grant Revision for Outstanding Wins to Level Up program (GROWL) program, which will be launching this fall.
I want to add a special thank you to UNM Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher and UNM HSC Vice President for Research Hengameh Raissy for their thoughtful and detailed updates to our research community regarding federal funding and the efforts of our Research Rapid Response Team – your strategic leadership is greatly appreciated!
| | |
Have a great week, and let's go, Lobos!
Garnett S. Stokes
President
| | | | |
