Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | Edition #184

Dear Student Affairs Colleagues,

As we enter the final weeks of the semester, it has been an absolute pleasure to celebrate with our students, faculty, and staff at a variety of end of the year events. I’ll admit, the pace can be grueling. Still, it speaks volumes about our community—that for four straight weeks—every night offers the opportunity to uplift and honor the accomplishments of Lobos from across campus. Though they come from different backgrounds and lived experiences, each is launched toward success, propelled by their UNM education.

At the Recognition Reception on Friday night, 18 departments from across campus presented awards, including the Clauve Outstanding Senior Awards and, for the first time, the Nate Crain Leadership Award. Congratulations and thank you to each of the awardees for their dedication to enhancing our campus community.

On that same thread, last Friday, we celebrated Arbor Day on campus with the UNM Office of Sustainability. Not only have we been officially designated a Tree Campus for Higher Education designation, but I also had the chance to dig in and help plant two more trees with campus partners. Like these new trees, our students come with their own roots and may need different things in order to thrive on our campus, but our dedicated teams can help them grow to their full potential. I look forward to continuing to celebrate with you and our students over the next few weeks as we move towards graduation.

With appreciation,

Eric 

The University of New Mexico’s Division of Student Affairs has launched a national search for the next Executive Director for Student Support, a senior leadership role that plays a central part in stregthening student success, engagement, and persistence across the institution.

The Executive Director for Student Support oversees several student support units and partners across UNM to advance coordinated, student-centered approaches to student success. The position also serves on the Student Affairs Executive Leadership Team and plays a key role in shaping division-wide strategy and institutional alignment.

The search follows the departure of Pam Agoyo, who will be leaving UNM to serve as Vice President for Student Affairs at Fort Lewis College. The selected candidate is expected to begin prior to the start of the fall 2026 semester.

A diverse search committee representing academic affairs, student services, enrollment management, and student leadership will guide the process. Committee members include Chair:

• Dr. Rebecca Sánchez, Interim Vice Provost for Academic Personnel
• Dr. Stephanie McIver, Executive Director, Student Health and Counseling
• Laura Franklin, Director, Accessibility Resource Center
• Andrew Yazzie, Director, American Indian Student Services
• Joseph DeBonis, Strategic Project Director, Enrollment Management
• Sarah Dominguez, Transfer Pathways Officer, Office of Advising Strategies
• Miriam Barba, Student Affairs Leadership Intern, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
• Emmanuel Mitchell, Student Operations Assistant, Student Union Building

To learn more, visit UNMJobs posting req36450. The best consideration date is Monday, May 18. First-round interviews are expected to be held virtually in late May, with on-campus finalist visits anticipated in early June.

Members of the campus community are encouraged to share this opportunity broadly and to apply or nominate qualified candidates.

Stoling Ceremonies

Graduating Lobos are strongly encouraged to sign up for UNM’s Graduate and Undergraduate University Commencement Ceremony and their respective academic college convocations to celebrate this important milestone in their academic journey.

Please encourage students to visit https://graduation.unm.edu/ to sign up and learn more about all the opportunities available to celebrate their success!”

In addition, all students are invited to participate in stoling ceremonies hosted by African American Student Services, American Indian Student Services, the Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center, and El Centro de la Raza. Stoling ceremonies are open to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, and provide an additional opportunity to honor our distinct and rich cultures and recognize the collective support that contributes to degree attainment. These celebrations complement commencement and convocations by offering a personalized and culturally meaningful experience. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Stoling Ceremonies:

Who can participate in stoling ceremonies? 

All members of our Lobo community are invited to participate. At UNM, we celebrate Each of Us Defines All of Us. This is one more opportunity for graduates to do so as they near the final milestone of their degree.

What should graduates and guests expect at stoling ceremonies?

Celebrations typically last between 1.5-2.5 hours, and each have unique features to their program. All programs include honoring graduating students through a stoling component. 

Can graduates bring their family and friends? 

Yes, however, the locations of each program vary and may have occupancy constraints. Additional information regarding how many guests may attend will be made available through each center.

Universidad del Pueblo Panel

Don’t forget to join the DSA Professional Development Committee for this week’s First Fridays event at Career Services to connect with fellow Student Affairs staff!

The DSA Staff Engagement and Recognition committee is excited to offer the second campus Art Walk next Wednesday. The walk is a guided, hour‑long exploration of campus, with stops at outdoor art installations to learn about each piece along the way.

The Art Walks support Lobo Well-being by nurturing:

• Physical wellness - movement and fresh air
• Social wellness - connection with colleagues
• Emotional wellness - reflection and joy in nature and art
• Intellectual wellness - learning about public art and campus history
• Environmental wellness - engaging thoughtfully with our campus landscape
• Spiritual wellness - finding meaning, inspiration, and moments of awe through art

Participants in each Art Walk will also receive a specially created zine unique to the walk.

Student Memorial Ceremony

The University of New Mexico community will take time to remember and celebrate the lives of Lobos who passed away during the last year. A Student Memorial Ceremony will be held on Monday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building, Ballroom C. 

The ceremony serves as a time for the community to come together and honor the lives of students who have passed away this year. Family members and the Lobo community are invited to join University administrators and Division of Student Affairs staff as they remember and celebrate these students’ lives and legacies.

Academic Affairs is seeking your help in encouraging undergraduate students to participate in an important survey focused on the student experience at UNM.

The survey is part of BELONG (Building Environments for Learning, Opportunity, Navigation, and Growth), an initiative designed to better understand how undergraduate students experience UNM. Topics include the quality of classes and academic advising, as well as students’ overall sense of belonging as Lobos. Feedback collected through this effort will directly inform ongoing work to strengthen students’ academic and social experiences at the university.

The survey is currently open and will remain available through May 15.

Students may access the survey using their UNM email address as a passcode on this survey link. Alternatively, students may use the QR code included in the attached materials.

As a thank‑you for their time, students who complete the survey will be entered for a chance to win a variety of prizes, including Lobo Cash, gift certificates, athletic apparel, personal training sessions, and more.

Any assistance in sharing this information and encouraging student participation is greatly appreciated.

The Division of Student Affairs is seeking motivated students to apply for the Student Affairs Leadership Intern (SALI) position. This paid internship offers hands‑on professional experience within a collaborative office environment while supporting programs and services that enhance the UNM student experience.

SALI interns gain exposure to careers in Student Affairs, build transferable professional skills, contribute to assessment and reporting efforts, and have opportunities to develop and implement innovative ideas. This role is ideal for students interested in leadership development, graduate school preparation, and careers in higher education.

Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) is excited to announce we are hiring two highly qualified candidates for the position of Accommodations Specialist. 

As an employee of this highly energetic and student-oriented center, you will provide academic support to prospective and current students within ARC.

The Accommodations Specialist provides direct support to individuals with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), conducts disability eligibility analyses, provides referrals, approves reasonable accommodations, and connects individuals with services to support their personal and/or academic goals. Additionally, the Accommodation Specialist educates campus constituencies regarding support for individuals with disabilities and facilitates compliance with the ADA/ADAAA and related federal, state, and local regulations and University policies.

Best consideration date is Thursday, May 21.

Encourage students to gear up for finals by joining their Peer Learning Facilitators for review and study sessions today from 4 to 6 p.m. Pizza and beverages will be provided for students while they get the extra support they need to aim higher on their exams.

by Megan Borders

The University of New Mexico’s commitment to supporting its students is unparalleled and fully backed by leadership, so much so that student success is written into the university’s strategic plan, UNM 2040: Opportunity Defined. 

In keeping with this objective, a cross-campus interdisciplinary team of decision makers have come together over the past two years to help make UNM’s campus more friendly for students who are parents. 



Led by Daniela Baca, director of UNM’s Children’s Campus, the team comprises Megan Chibanga, the executive director for Residence Life & Student Housing; Charla Orozco, director of Institutional Analytics; Elizabeth Amador, director of Student Financial Aid; Áine McCarthy, director of the Women’s Resource Center; and Heather Sweetser, representing Academic Affairs.