Good afternoon Lobos –

I hope you’ve had a great first week of your Fall 2025 semester. I’ve enjoyed speaking with so many of you and hearing your stories about your Lobo experience so far. Every day, you tell us that you chose The University of New Mexico because it’s a great place to learn, work, and succeed. And we agree—as New Mexico’s premier Research 1 institution, The University of New Mexico is proud of the world-class scholarship our faculty lead and the transformative opportunities they provide for students. We’re accustomed to looking at, and engaging with, the world differently.

Nearly every day, we see our Lobo researchers and research teams leading exciting national initiatives or steering innovative collaboratives. Recently, Political Science Assistant Professor Sarah Dreier was selected as a co-principal investigator in a landmark, $152 million National Science Foundation and NVIDIA-funded initiative, led by the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. In partnership with top universities, Dr. Dreier will co-lead data curation and help build an open, transparent AI ecosystem, while also training UNM faculty and students to leverage these cutting-edge tools for discovery and innovation.

This summer, UNM’s Department of Physics and Astronomy achieved a remarkable milestone as three faculty members—Diana Dragomir, Francis-Yan Cyr-Racine, and Tonmoy Chakraborty—each received the National Science Foundation’s prestigious CAREER award. Their pioneering projects span the search for exoplanets, the mysteries of dark matter, and breakthroughs in next-generation biological imaging. Earning three CAREER awards in one season is an exceptionally rare distinction, underscoring both the strength of UNM’s faculty and the department’s growing national impact in physics and astronomy.

In the field of behavioral health, Professor Katie Witkiewitz, director of UNM’s Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions, received the prestigious Marlatt Mentorship Award from the Research Society on Alcohol for her outstanding dedication to mentoring emerging researchers. This award recognizes her exceptional commitment to mentoring young scientists—an effort that has defined her 13 years at UNM, where she has guided more than 25 trainees. Witkiewitz is the second UNM faculty member to receive this award, underscoring our national reputation for developing leaders in alcohol research.

These achievements reflect the excellence, mentorship, and innovation that define UNM’s research mission, where faculty and students alike are shaping discoveries that reach far beyond our state. Congratulations to our Lobo faculty on their outstanding accomplishments.

Campus Safety Week Begins September 7

During our annual Campus Safety Week, the UNM Community comes together to observe National Campus Safety Awareness Month (NCSAM). Workshops and other activities held throughout the week are designed to bring more awareness and education to safety- and security-related topics that affect UNM students, faculty, staff, and our larger community. This year, Campus Safety Week is Sunday, September 7 through Saturday, September 13; as part of the week’s events, I invite you to join me on Tuesday, September 9 as we walk the Albuquerque campus together to identify places where better lighting or pruning can make our campus that much safer. We’ll gather at the Atrium of the Student Union Building starting at 6:30. 

Additionally, the UNM Newsroom is featuring an ongoing series on campus safety, Lobos: United for Safety, which will run over the next two months spotlighting our current safety policies and infrastructure, and how we meet the challenges of being an urban campus while maintaining our character as an open and welcoming community. Please check our newsroom for regular updates.

UNM Hospital Supports Recovery and Resilience Through PSR

At The University of New Mexico Hospital, great care can look different depending on the needs of the populations we serve. The Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) center in Albuquerque’s South Valley reflects UNM’s commitment to providing innovative, community-based behavioral health care, offering structured classes in life skills, art, music, exercise, and social engagement to support New Mexicans living with serious mental illness. As part of UNM Health’s Comprehensive Community Support Services, PSR demonstrates how our institution leads in creating accessible, Medicaid-covered programs that serve all New Mexicans, regardless of ability to pay. Through initiatives like PSR, UNM Hospital continues advancing health, resilience, and recovery across our state.

UNM Launches Bike & Scooter Valet Pilot

The University of New Mexico is taking another step toward a more sustainable, accessible campus with the launch of the new Bike and Scooter Valet pilot program. Operated by Parking & Transportation Services (PATS) and funded by the Student Fee Review Board, this initiative makes active transportation to Central Campus easier and more secure. Located on the East side of Popejoy Hall, between Popejoy's main entrance and the Student Union Building (SUB), the staffed valet provides monitored parking for bicycles, scooters, and e-bikes, offering enhanced oversight beyond standard racks. By encouraging alternative, low-emission travel options, the program helps reduce car dependency, ease parking demand, and support healthier choices for our community.

Nominations Open for Outstanding Supervisors

Great supervisors help make UNM a truly special place to work—and now is your chance to recognize those who inspire you. Nominations are open through August 31 for the Staff Council Outstanding Supervisor Award, which honors leaders who champion work-life balance, professional growth, and effective leadership in alignment with our University’s mission and values. Each year, two to three deserving recipients receive a plaque and a $1,000 cash award. Staff, faculty, and students are invited to nominate supervisors who directly oversee staff employees. Submit your nomination today and help us celebrate UNM’s outstanding leaders.

Cloutier Appointed Interim Executive Director of Strategic Communications

With the retirement of Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Cinnamon Blair coming at the end of this week, I am pleased to announce that Ben Cloutier has been named the interim Executive Director of Strategic Communications, guiding the university’s communication strategies, and ensuring coherent, effective messaging across all channels. Ben, who presently serves as a Senior Director of Strategy and Communications for Project ECHO, steps into his new role right away, helping ensure a seamless transition in leadership. Welcome to Scholes Hall, Ben—and my thanks to Cinnamon for her two decades of service to the Lobo community.

Labor Day is September 1

Next Monday, September 1, is Labor Day, which means for many of us, we’ve got a three-day weekend coming up. I want to take a moment to say thank you to all UNM employees across our campuses and salute all your hard work that goes into making us the University for New Mexico. I also know that for many of our essential employees—especially our tireless healthcare providers and staff—Labor Day is another day at work, and not a holiday. So, a special thanks to all of you for your contributions and dedication to keeping our university and our community a safer, stronger, better place.

My next Monday message will arrive in your inboxes on September 8; until then, have a great week, enjoy the coming three-day weekend, and let’s go, Lobos!