SANTA FE -- Gov.-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday unveiled the process through which she will fill numerous forthcoming vacancies on New Mexico boards of regents. Here is a statement from the Governor-elect's office:
The governor-elect named six individuals leading three advisory committees that are interviewing prospective candidates and vetting the background of each, using clearly defined criteria intended to determine what each institution must have in its board of regents. The committees will offer recommendations to the governor-elect, who will make selections and subsequently go to work with state Senate representatives to ensure they are confirmed.
One committee will focus on candidates for the University of New Mexico; another will focus on both New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; and yet another will focus on Eastern New Mexico University, Western New Mexico University, New Mexico Highlands University, Northern New Mexico College and New Mexico Military Institute.
Those advisory committee leaders are:
University of New Mexico Advisory Committee
Chair: Roberta Ramo
Vice-chair: Raymond G. Sanchez
New Mexico State University and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Advisory Committee
Chair: Former Gov. Garrey Carruthers
Vice-chair: Veronica Mendez Cruz
Comprehensive Advisory Committee
Chair: Carlos Rey Romero
Vice-chair: Loyda Martinez
Each committee is comprised of 5 to 7 New Mexico residents from a diversity of backgrounds who either have work experience in higher education or are business leaders in their respective communities with a vested interest in the success of our institutions of higher education. Each committee includes alumni of the institutions for which they will be conducting interviews.
The criteria for their evaluation process were compiled through a review of other state processes and include input from the governor-elect’s higher education transition team members. Committee members will also emphasize the prospective diversity of the respective boards in their evaluation and recommendation processes along with a consideration of skills and competencies specific to each institution.
The governor-elect said clear criteria and a thorough, fair review process are essential components of the effort to regain public trust in the appointment process and in the state’s university regents. “I’m very eager to see this first-of-its-kind process bear fruit,” Gov.-elect Lujan Grisham said. “We are doing the work to ensure our universities have exactly the right regents and the leadership these great institutions deserve.”