The Aggie Ingeniero Newsletter

Message from the Dean

If you have been around the Engineering Complex at NMSU, particularly Thomas and Brown Hall, you may have noticed some unusual activity. The 50-plus-year-old facility that housed Electrical and Computer Engineering classrooms and laboratories, has been emptied and is ready for demolition, making way for construction of a new state-of-the-art building.

This new building is designed to foster the student-centric focus of the College of Engineering to provide an outstanding classroom instruction and practical learning environment to all engineering majors on campus. It has been designed to accommodate diverse learning styles of our students: online, team learning, faculty-led instruction, tutoring and mentoring.

A request for a $22.5M Government Obligation Bond supported by Representative Lara Cadena, was passed by the New Mexico State Legislature in 2023. As construction costs rose between the time of proposal submission and approval, the request fell short.

David Jauregui, Ph.D.

Interim Dean

The NM Legislative Finance Committee subsequently submitted a request for an additional $10M of General Funds in 2024 which the governor signed into law following this past legislative session. We have the combined efforts and generosity of many people to thank for making this much-needed modernization of our campus infrastructure a reality. Specifically, we are grateful to the voters of New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, our state legislators, numerous generous donors, and many dedicated NMSU employees. I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every one of our supporters for believing in NMSU engineering and investing in the futures of our students. Opportunities remain to contribute to the new engineering building, honoring the legacy of past achievements while laying the foundation for future advancements. Your support will directly impact student success, helping us continue our tradition of excellence as we move forward into a new era of innovation, education, and transformative experiences for our students. We invite you to join us in this exciting and pivotal time for the NMSU College of Engineering.

WATCH: The Legacy of Thomas and Brown Hall

Thomas and Brown Hall was named after two pioneering figures in NMSU's history shortly after construction. Melvin A. Thomas and Harold “Prof” Brown. Both shared student-centric values that are still practiced today.

Watch the video to learn more!

Alumni Highlights

Electrical Engineering alum grateful for his NMSU beginnings

Ed Macha reflects on New Mexico State University’s Thomas and Brown Hall, which is in the process of being replaced. It was in this building where his journey as an engineer began and where he developed a deep connection with the College of Engineering.

Photo and video Gallery: Join The Legacy

Do you have photos or video clips of your time in Thomas and Brown Hall?

The College of Engineering is putting together a photo and video gallery for archival purposes. If you'd like to have your media featured in the galley, send files to engr_media@nmsu.edu. We will accept media through December 2024. Please provide a short caption and photo credits.

College News

Chemical Engineering ranks among best for Women in STEM

Almost half of the recent graduates from the NMSU Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering are women, and a national publication has noticed. NMSU ranked No. 16 for Best Chemical Engineering undergraduate program.