Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | Edition #179

Dr. Scott at the GPSA Graduate Poster Showcase. 

Dear Student Affairs Colleagues,

While our students take a well-deserved break from coursework this week, we also acknowledge and recognize that here at the midpoint of the spring semester our community regularly experiences a moment of transition. Cooler days of winter blow away to the warm afternoons of spring, the stress of midterms give way to the excitement and rigor of end of the semester projects and anticipation of graduation, while planning and process building give way to implementation and achievement. We know that upon their return to campus, students will balance a commitment to finishing the semester strong with the stressors of doing so.

Last year the Division of Student Affairs along with partners in the College of Arts and Sciences and HSC initiated The Pack’s Got Your Back program to help steward students through this inflection point in the semester. The premise was simple - we know students experience anxiety about what is going on in the world and their own lives and they may not always feel like they belong.

So, in response the Pack’s Got Your Back creates an opportunity for our faculty and staff to distribute healthy snacks and relaxation products while offering affirmations that we are glad that our students are part of our community and that as a community we support their wellbeing and inclusion on our campus. You have the opportunity to sign up now to spend some time at the Duck Pond next week letting students know they belong here and we’ve got their backs.

With appreciation, 

Eric

Pamela Agoyo, DSA’s executive director for Student Support, has been selected as the next vice president for Student Affairs at Fort Lewis College. Agoyo will begin her new role on July 1, 2026, rising to the top of a competitive pool of more than 50 highly qualified candidates.

Agoyo—who is Cochiti Pueblo, Kewa Pueblo, and Ohkay Owingeh—is a nationally recognized student affairs leader with more than three decades of experience in student success and higher education achievement. She is widely known for her deep commitment to student success, her ability to strengthen campus belonging, and her leadership in creating equitable, student‑centered pathways. 

Further information about the search process to fill her current role will be shared in the coming weeks.

Please join us in congratulating Pam on this well‑deserved opportunity.

In a time of significant stress, some members of the UNM community might not be feeling the sense of belonging on our campus that we strive for. To reiterate to our Lobos that we're in this together and here for each other, departments from across campus are uniting again for another The Pack's Got Your Back initiative, on Tuesday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Duck Pond Cactus Garden.

We are always in need of volunteers for this event. Please select your volunteer slot(s) via the button below and feel free to share link with others in your area.

Calling all DSA Managers and Supervisors! The Professional Development Committee is proud to present the DSA Manager/Supervisor Training on March 31, 2026. Deadline to register is Friday, March 27.

Agenda:

8:30 - 8:45 a.m.   

Coffee/Tea and Water 

8:45 - 9:45 a.m.  

Best Practices, Navigation, & Utilization of SharePoint  

Presenter: Dr. Tina Zuniga, Strategic Support Manager 

9:45 - 10 a.m.  BREAK

10 - 11 a.m.

Budgets as Leadership: Beyond the Mechanics 

Presenter: Teresa Costantinidis, Executive VP for Finance and Administration

11 - 11:15 a.m. BREAK

11:15 a.m. - noon

University Leadership Transitions & Proactive Stability 

Presenter: Dr. Eric Scott, VP for Student Affairs 

noon - 1 p.m.  

Food Tasting sponsored by Aramark 

Office of the Executive Directors for Student Support and Student Resources Accepting Applications for Administrative Assistant Position

The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) at The University of New Mexico seeks a highly skilled and proactive Administrative Assistant to join the Office of the Executive Directors for Student Support and Student Resources. DSA is home to units and services dedicated to advancing the quality, cohesiveness, and cultural relevancy of the student experience at UNM and beyond. 

The Administrative Assistant will provide direct administrative and strategic assistance to the Executive Directors for Student Support and Student Resources and requires a proactive, highly organized individual to advance the division’s commitment to provide an innovative, equitable, and culturally responsible student experience grounded in a sense of place and tradition. This position is intended to build administrative capacity for the Executive Directors’ work in co-chairing the DSA Professional Development Committee and providing operational efficiencies in areas including, but not limited to: purchasing and inventory activity, human resources transactions, fiscal and budget operations, and other tasks contributing to the Student Support and Student Resource units in a shared services model.  

Those interested can view the complete description and apply via the UNM Jobs posting req36066 with a best consideration date of Tuesday, March 31. 

American Indian Student Services, El Centro de la Raza, African American Student Services, and the Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center are excited to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2026. 

We’d be grateful for your support in spreading the word to students so they can take advantage of these opportunities and be recognized for this meaningful educational milestone. 



If students have any questions regarding the events, please direct them to connect with the appropriate centers.

Constellating Our Praxis: Connection and Inspiration in Teaching and Learning at UNM

We invite you to attend the 2026 UNM Spring Teaching Conference! This year’s theme is Constellating our Praxis: Connection & Inspiration in Teaching and Learning at UNM. 

Why  

• Connect with colleagues and fellow educators to exchange ideas on caring for our students’ development and well-being.  
• Explore ideas that you can integrate into your own practices for student success. 
• Learn about the UNM Framework for Teaching and Learning Success.  
• Attend sessions that exemplify the principles of the UNM Framework for Teaching and Learning Success (all sessions listed in the conference program are tagged with the principles of the framework).  

When & Where  

• Day 1: Wednesday, April 8, 8:40 AM – 3:30 PM*; Student Union Building, Level 3 
• Day 2: Thursday, April 9, 9 AM – 3:30 PM; Virtual Via Zoom 

*Day 1 of the conference culminates with the Teaching Excellence Awards Celebration: 4 PM – 6 PM, SUB Ballroom C 

Session Highlights 

We are excited to share all the conference sessions with you but would like to highlight the following:  

• April 8 (in-person in the SUB) at 9:30 AM: Let’s Tackle the Problem... Literally” and “Loving Students in Spite of Everything”: Freirean’s Modeling for Multidisciplinary Synchronicities in Student Engagement Praxis? 
• April 8 (in-person in the SUB) at 2:30 PM: Facilitating Whole Learning with Reflective Practices in the Classroom 
• April 9 (Virtual Via Zoom) at 9:30 AM: The Constellation of Support: Where Advising and Teaching Meet 
• April 9 (Virtual Via Zoom) at 1:15 PM: Leading the Pack: Student Success the Lobo Way 
• April 9 (Virtual Via Zoom) at 1:15 PM: Restorative Justice as Pedagogy  
• April 9 (Virtual Via Zoom) at 2:30 PM: Undergraduate Research Opportunities: Relationships, Belonging and Growth 

Please review the full conference schedule for additional information and register today! We ask that you share this invitation widely with colleagues and students within your broader networks. Registration will remain open throughout the conference. Lunch may not be available for registrations occurring after April 1.  

RADcamp is a Summer Recreation Program offered by UNM Rec Services and Early Bird Registration is open NOW until March 31st! The mission of Recreational Activities Day Camp(RADcamp) is to cultivate the interpersonal and academic growth for campers through recreational activity.



Though RADcamp focuses on recreation, our programming involves aspects of STEM and the arts. RADcamp recognizes the diversity of the Albuquerque population and strives to ensure the camp is an inclusive and welcoming space for all to grow and learn. UNM Students will receive a discounted rate! Register today by emailing RADcamp@unm.edu.

Sky Happiness Retreat for Students

This program is for students to practice some breathwork, meditation, and connection with peers. The program is nationally renowned and free for students. Please share with any student who may be interested in a life-changing way to regulate stress and learn a new skill.

Students are invited to explore over a dozen UNM campus resources that can help them with graduation, grad school, benefits post-graduation, and more. Please encourage students to connect with UNM Alumni and learn how they can stay engaged with a variety of programs and events locally and nationally.

Save the Date for the 2026 Louie Awards

Know a certain someone whose work is out of this world and deserves recognition? Why not nominate them for a 2026 Lobolympics Louie Award?

Nominations are currently being accepted in the following categories now through Friday, April 17:

• Amazing Assessment 
• Howling Best Employee 
• Lobo Star Student Employee
• Outstanding Pack
• Student Affairs Cub
• UNM Faculty Leader of the Pack
• UNM Staff Leader of the Pack

Visit the DSA Louies webpage for all the details

The Nate Crain Leadership Awards at the University of New Mexico honors four (4) outstanding undergraduate student leaders with $1,000 scholarships each year. To be eligible to be considered for the awards, undergraduate students must have earned between 24 and 96 credit hours at the time of application, must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, and have a very good record of on campus student (organizational, student government, fraternity/sorority) involvement and leadership at UNM. 

The application deadline is Sunday, April 12. Student recipients will be notified by Friday, April 17 and recognized at the Recognition Reception on Friday, April 24.