As I begin my tenure as president of The University of New Mexico, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the warm welcome I have received from the UNM community and from people across New Mexico. It is a privilege to join an institution with such a rich history, an extraordinary mission, and a profound impact on the lives of its students and the communities it serves.

I also want to thank President Garnett Stokes for her eight years of dedicated leadership. She leaves behind a legacy of significant progress and a university filled with optimism for the future. I am grateful for the opportunity to build on the solid foundation she has put in place.

My first 100 days will be dedicated to listening and learning. I believe that understanding the experiences, perspectives, and aspirations of our university community is essential to leading effectively.

During the coming months, I will spend time on our campuses meeting with students, faculty, and staff to hear their priorities for the university's future. I will also connect with alumni, donors, and community partners, whose enthusiasm for UNM and deep roots throughout New Mexico are invaluable to the success of both our institution and our state.

I am also especially eager to meet with tribal leaders, elected officials, and business and civic leaders throughout the state, people who care deeply about this university and want to see it thrive.

These conversations will help me better understand UNM's greatest strengths, the challenges we face, and the opportunities that lie ahead. As we embark on this journey together, my focus will be on building relationships across our campuses and throughout our communities we serve.

I look forward to hearing your ideas about how we can strengthen academic excellence, support student achievement, and advance the groundbreaking research that sets this university apart. I also want to discuss how we can expand access to higher education for students across the state, improve our heathcare delivery system, and strengthen the services we provide to New Mexico's communities.

Throughout these first several months, as I focus on listening and engagement, the university communications team will help me share updates, reflections, and highlights from my conversations and visits. I hope these reports will encourage dialogue and inspire new ideas.

The University of New Mexico has a proud tradition of transforming lives through education, research, patient care, and public service. I am honored to join this remarkable community and enthusiastic to be working alongside you as we build on that legacy and shape an even stronger future together.



Thank you for welcoming me to the Lobo family. I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks and months ahead.