University of New Mexico President Garnett S. Stokes, spoke to the UNM community today in her annual State of the University address. The speech was livestreamed through the Office of the President’s website and UNM’s YouTube channel.
As the first woman president in UNM’s history, Stokes spoke about unity, innovation, and adapting to change to help move New Mexico forward.
She began by sharing the Indigenous Peoples’ Land and Territory Acknowledgement that emphasizes the history of UNM’s campus the promise of the University’s committed relationship to indigenous peoples and honoring their ongoing stewardship of the land.
Stokes then introduced this year’s theme: “Together…for Tomorrow,” underscoring the university’s strength in connection, collaboration and diverse perspectives.
Recognizing that change can bring uncertainty, she assured the community that UNM will not comprise its core values.
As we navigate these changes, we do so together. Our strength lies in our unity, in the collective wisdom and passion of our entire university community. "Each of us defines all of us" is more than just a catchy phrase; it's a call to action intrinsic to our Lobo identity. It reminds us that our individual stories, struggles, and successes are threads in the larger narrative of UNM. It is this togetherness that will propel us forward, allowing us to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation.
UNM’s Role in New Mexico’s Growth
Stokes continued by sharing that UNM’s impact goes beyond the campus, as the university is an active partner in contributing to the state’s growth and prosperity. Highlighting the University’s role in education, healthcare and economic development.
She underscored the critical role that UNM Health Sciences plays in communities across New Mexico. Not only do they train the next generation of health care professionals, but they also serve as the state’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, therefore providing crucial health care services statewide.
Moreso, the Health Sciences faculty continually publishes research that impacts the daily lives of the public. She also pointed to groundbreaking research on microplastics found in the brain, and that the amount is growing, more so than in another part of the body.
With this responsibility comes transformative projects to help meet the evolving needs of these communities, including expanding access to these services into the communities that need them the most. One such project is investing in a new School of Medicine facility, which will offer cutting edge infrastructure that will advance health care in New Mexico.
“As an institution, we proudly embrace the opportunities and the challenges presented by our state—and we’re proud to contribute to the growth, prosperity, and advancement of New Mexico. We don’t regard promoting the public good as an obligation; we see it as a privilege.”
Faculty Excellence and Research Innovation
Stokes celebrated the achievements of UNM’s faculty, including:
- Women in STEM Awards: 14 winners across 11 projects
- Prestigious NEH Grants were won by two Arts & Sciences faculty
- UNM has one of the only 10 nationally chosen McKnight Scholar Award
- UNM has a National Science Foundation TRAILBLAZER award winner for their groundbreaking research to control wildfires.
UNM is the state’s premier Research 1 university, meaning that innovation seeps into everything the UNM community has a hand in, from research to creative works, all of which ensure student success and being engaged in all aspects of higher education discourse locally, nationally and globally.
These research advancements have culminated in several public facing projects, including a new arthropod website from the Museum of Southwestern Biology that is teaching visitors all about the southwest arthropod species to researchers from Health Sciences who are testing ski boot bindings to see which might be more likely to cause injury.
Stokes continued to emphasize UNM’s pride in being a part of the New Mexico community. Highlighting UNM’s Grand Challenges teams, which started in 2018, these teams were created to address the state’s most pressing issues, from child health to clean energy. They have grown exponentially over the past seven years, from three teams to six teams, and winning numerous grants to continue research in these impactful areas.
The University continues to support economic growth through programs like the UNM Rainforest Innovations. It directly impacts local and state economies by inspiring future entrepreneurs through programs like the pitch deck.
“As you can see, we are proud to be a part of the New Mexico community. In a state as diverse and as expansive as ours, we know that interests, opportunities, and challenges are ever-changing—and as an institution, we do our best to change with them. We want our university to be more dynamic, more inclusive, and more impactful,” she said.
Record-Breaking Student Success
Stokes then transitioned into highlighting student successes. Students continue to earn national recognition in research, athletics, national competitions and leadership roles. Sharing that UNM has its first Rhodes Scholar in 2 decades, as well as three Goldwater Scholars and a Churchill Scholar. A team of students from the Anderson School of Management received first place honors at the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship. Competing against 32 other schools nationwide for the honor.
The Lobo student-athletes have also had a banner year, from the cross-country teams winning the Mountain West titles for both men and women to the men’s basketball team winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament in 2024 and a Lobo was recognized as a Mountain West Player of the Year for their efforts in esports. She thanked the athletic staff, faculty and leadership for always putting “student” first in student athlete.
Strengthening Campus and Community
She shared many highlights from the UNM Foundation and Alumni Association, all showcasing the passion our donors and alumni have for UNM and the students. All coming together to support new programs, scholarships for current students to our alumni looking forward to the annual green chile roasts, where a total of five and a half tons of green chile is consumed!
The campus has also seen growth in services and revitalizing projects over this past year. There is now a dedicated space for transfer students, UNM opened the brand-new Lobo Welcome Center, renovating one of the oldest adobe buildings on campus in the ongoing commitment to sustainability. Over the next year there will be more revitalizing projects opening from the new Center for Collaborative Arts & Technology, the Duck Pond, to the Health Sciences Critical Care Tower, among many others. Additionally, thanks to voter support for GO Bonds in 2024, UNM looks forward to several major improvements across all four branch campuses as well.
The Power of Togetherness
Stokes concluded by reminding the audience of the strength and power in unity and togetherness.
“Let's harness the power of our connectedness, embrace the limitless opportunities before us, and write the next chapter of UNM's legacy—together. Ultimately, it is not just what we achieve that defines us, but how we achieve it—together, as Lobos, for tomorrow.”
To listen and watch the address, visit State of the University.