Good afternoon Lobos –

Summer in New Mexico is a season like no other. From cool mornings on the trail to hot afternoons by the pool, our weather invites everyone to get outside and enjoy the beauty that is our state. But while we’re out soaking up the sunshine, emergency teams from UNM’s health facilities are preparing for what they call “trauma season”—the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day when accidents and injuries rise sharply.

At The University of New Mexico Hospital—the state’s only Level-I trauma center—and UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, a Level-III trauma center in Rio Rancho, our teams are prepared around the clock to provide life-saving care. Together, they serve as critical safety nets for our entire state, especially rural and tribal communities that rely on timely care in emergencies.

Whether it’s an ATV crash, a fall on a hike, or a more serious trauma, having the right team and technology in place can mean the difference between life and death. Our trauma experts are equipped to handle everything from initial stabilization to advanced surgery, with seamless coordination between campuses and quick access to specialists, imaging, and air transport when needed.

So, as you enjoy your summer adventures, remember to stay safe and watch out for others. And know that if the unexpected happens, UNM’s trauma teams are here—trained, equipped, and ready to help. Their goal is simple: to get you healthy as quickly as possible.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, Lobos, and be careful out there.

Lobo Physicist Tapped for Leadership Role in Global CERN Collaboration

I am delighted to share that Research Assistant Professor Svende Braun of UNM’s Department of Physics & Astronomy has been selected as co-convener of the B-Physics Weak Decays Working Group within the world-renowned ATLAS Experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.

With more than 5,500 collaborators from 183 institutions across 42 countries, ATLAS tackles some of the most fundamental questions about the universe. In her new role, Braun will lead international teams investigating the behavior of b-quarks, key to understanding why our universe is made mostly of matter.

What makes this especially exciting? Braun only joined UNM and ATLAS in January 2025, making her appointment a clear recognition of her expertise and impact. As department chair Richard Rand put it: “It’s really impressive.” I couldn’t agree more, and I’m always proud to see UNM researchers taking on leadership roles on the global stage. Congratulations to Professor Braun for this prestigious recognition and achievement.

New Mexico’s Quantum Moonshot Project Advances in National NSF Competition

Big news from the quantum frontier as the National Science Foundation has named New Mexico’s Quantum Moonshot project—led by Elevate Quantum and featuring key contributions from UNM—as a semifinalist in its prestigious Regional Innovation Engines program. This landmark federal initiative is set to invest up to $160 million over 10 years in regional innovation ecosystems, and Quantum Moonshot is one of just 29 semifinalists nationwide.

Rooted in decades of quantum leadership across New Mexico and the Mountain West, the Quantum Moonshot project brings together national laboratories, universities, tribal nations, and tech leaders to advance quantum innovation for both national security and civilian use. Our goal? To build a thriving, inclusive quantum economy that creates opportunities across our region. With this recognition from NSF, New Mexico continues to advance its reputation as a global destination for quantum research and workforce development. We’re proud to be a part of it.

New Clinic Tackles Hard-to-See Cancers

A new specialty clinic at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center is taking aim at some of the most complex cancers: those hiding just beneath the skin and deep within soft tissues. The new clinic, founded by Lobo doctor David Savage, focuses on skin cancers like melanoma and rare soft tissue sarcomas that affect muscles, fat, and connective tissues--cancers that can be tough to detect and even harder to treat. The clinic’s multidisciplinary team offers personalized, coordinated care for every patient—a team-based approach that ensures no case is too rare or too advanced to tackle. With access to cutting-edge therapies, including promising advances in immunotherapy, the clinic represents the best of what UNM has to offer: innovation, collaboration, and compassionate care. It’s another step forward in ensuring that New Mexicans get the specialized cancer care they need, close to home.

Welcoming New Directors at CULLS, UNM-Taos Student Affairs

I’m proud to welcome some outstanding new Lobo leaders who bring passion, experience, and a strong commitment to student success. At UNM-Taos, Maisie Baca, a UNM-Taos alum with more than 30 years of experience in higher education, has been named by branch chancellor Mary Gutierrez as the new director of student affairs. Her career spans roles in advising, financial aid, and registrar offices across UNM campuses—and always with a focus on student success.

Meanwhile, over at the College of University Libraries & Learning Sciences in Albuquerque, we’re thrilled to welcome Magen Bednar as director of access services. With a strong background in user-centered library services and a passion for inclusive, student-first practices, Magen is a fantastic addition to the CULLS team and will join them on August 1. Congratulations to both of these remarkable leaders; we’re excited to see the positive impact your leadership will have on our students and the UNM community.

UNM Leadership Shares Updates on Safety, Investments in Security

Last Friday, EVP Teresa Costantinidis, UNM Police Chief Joseph Silva and I briefed the community and media on campus safety and our ongoing efforts to enhance security on our campuses and in our campus facilities. Our briefing highlighted major improvements, including upgraded emergency phones, expanded outdoor lighting, new security fencing, and broader use of key card access. We also outlined upcoming training and communication initiatives and discussed our continued investment in areas surrounding campus. We remain focused on building a safe, supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff and will continue to listen to feedback on how we can make The University of New Mexico a secure and welcoming place.

UNM Policies Get a Digital Makeover

Starting today, UNM policies will be easier than ever to access, thanks to a major upgrade that will move our Regents’ Policy Manual and our University Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual over to PolicyStat, a cloud-based platform designed to simplify how faculty, staff, and students find and share policy information. The content of our policies isn’t changing—but the experience is. PolicyStat offers intuitive search tools, mobile-friendly design, and accessible formatting, all aligned with our UNM 2040 goals of inclusive excellence and sustainability. The revamped Policy Office website will feature helpful guides, training tools, and a link-mapping tool to ease the transition. It’s a smarter and sleeker way to stay informed.