Good afternoon Lobos –

Summer has officially arrived—and while it looks like the weather is going to give us a break this week, temperatures in many places across our state have already exceeded 100 degrees. As you take some time this summer to enjoy all that our campus, our community, and our state have to offer, look for ways to stay cool, stay hydrated, and to take care of yourself in the heat.

Perhaps you might consider exploring any of New Mexico’s 35 state parks or 19 national parks, monuments, and historic trails. Or maybe visit Johnson Center Aquatics on our Albuquerque campus, where your Lobo card provides access to a full-size Olympic swimming pool, a lap pool, and plenty of other activities. You’ll also find lots of fun opportunities and adventures available from UNM’s Recreational Services, including Getaway Adventures for white water rafting in Taos and SCUBA certification classes. Recreational Services also provides a number of adaptive programs and events to ensure its services are available to as many as possible.

Enjoy your summer, Lobos, and take care of yourselves in the summer heat with some tips from UNM Health Sciences.

Zimmerman Library Honors Pride with LGBTQ+ Book Display

This Pride Month, Zimmerman Library is honoring UNM’s LGBTQ+ community with a thought-provoking display titled Reading with Pride!, available through June 30. Located on the first floor near the New Books Shelf, the collection highlights queer voices through both fiction and nonfiction—some of which have been challenged or banned for their content, including Gender Queer: A Memoir, The Black Flamingo, and Julián is a Mermaid. It’s a celebration of identity, inclusion, and the library’s role in creating a welcoming environment for all Lobos. Stop by, learn something new—and maybe check out a book or two.

UNM Art Museum Hosts Nation’s Largest Academic Museum Conference

This week, The University of New Mexico Art Museum (UNMAM) is proudly hosting the 2025 Association of Academic Museums and Galleries (AAMG) Conference, bringing over 400 museum professionals and students to campus June 24–27 for the largest AAMG gathering in history. With the theme Belonging: Storytelling Across Campus and Community, the conference features workshops, panels, and excursions focused on leadership, inclusion, and museum innovation. Congratulations to UNMAM Director Arif Khan, Devin Geraci, and the planning team for organizing a national showcase of what makes UNM—and New Mexico—so remarkable.

Lobo Researchers Show How Good Gossip Builds Great Teams

Turns out, a little gossip might be good for group work. New research from UNM Anderson School of Management Associate Professors Trevor Spoelma and Andrea Hetrick suggests that when teammates speak well of one another, it can actually reduce “social loafing” and boost team performance. Their study, published as More than idle talk, found that positive gossip—like praising a teammate behind their back—creates a sense of accountability and motivation within self-managed teams. It’s recognition without the red tape, and it works--their findings offer a fresh take on workplace dynamics and highlight simple ways teams can build trust and cohesion. The takeaway? Don’t fear all gossip—use it wisely, and it might just be the secret to better teamwork.