Latest news with #WNMU
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Western New Mexico University Board of Regents announces search for president
SILVER CITY, N.M. (KRQE) – The new members of the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents held their first official meeting Wednesday and provided an update on their plans to find a president for the university. Former WNMU President Joseph Shepard stepped down in January amid allegations of improper spending at the school, which Shepard has denied. A state audit revealed that WNMU spent more than $200,000 on travel and lodging from July 2018 to June 2023. The audit also found credit card spending totaling more than $145,000, which included furnishings for the president's residence. Story continues below News: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham authorizes National Guard deployment to Albuquerque Trending: NMSU: 6 international students' visas revoked by federal government News: Suspect in custody after fleeing from police in a U-Haul with people in the back Education: Curanderismo in the classroom: Albuquerque high school teacher introduces students to Mexican folk healing The Board of Regents Wednesday announced that they would begin a search for an interim president, and they plan to seek proposals from national talent search firms to begin recruiting for the permanent president position. The board also accepted the 2023-2024 FY Audit Report, which 'found no major irregularities' and has already been accepted by the Office of the State Auditor, according to Vice President of Business Affairs Kelley Riddle. At the meeting, Riddle also told the board that a special forensic audit required by the State Auditor is underway and will be completed by June 30. The audit is being conducted by Jaramillo Accounting Group. As WNMU moves forward with new board members who were appointed by the governor, the New Mexico Department of Justice is continuing its legal efforts to recover $1.9 million that was paid to Shepard as part of a buyout approved by the former group of regents. Shepard and his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. A hearing to address that motion is set for June 16 in Luna County District Court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Western NM University regents tasked with addressing previous allegations of financial malfeasance
Western New Mexico University campus pictured in Silver City, New Mexico. (Photo courtesy Western New Mexico University) Western New Mexico University's new board of regents will meet for the first time next week, taking the first steps in getting the university 'back on track' following claims of misuse of funds and violation of fiduciary responsibilities. The state Senate confirmed four regents for the Silver City university during the recent 60-day session, including former state Sen. Steven Neville, attorney John Wertheim, WNMU alumnus J. Dean Reed and student regent Keana Huerta. The fifth regent seat remains empty. A spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told Source NM that they did not have any updates about when the governor might announce a fifth regent nomination. The terms of two members of the previous board of regents expired at the end of December and the other three regents submitted their resignations in January, about a year after the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor reported finding university leadership had misused hundreds of thousands of public funds on lavish trips and other spending. The board voted in December to terminate former university President Joseph Shepard's contract and then authorized a $1.9 million severance package. Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a civil suit against Shepard and the board in January, alleging they had violated fiduciary duties, New Mexico's anti-donation clause, the Open Meetings Act and laws pertaining to unjust enrichment, not fulfilling contractual obligations and acting on an unenforceable contract. Shepard filed a motion in March to dismiss the case against him, which Torrez opposes. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for June 16, according to court records. Huerta told Source NM in a statement that the new board intends to keep the university's students at the forefront of 'our discussions and work diligently to ensure that any issues are addressed appropriately.' 'We as the board are committed to doing the right thing in this situation,' Huerta told Source in a written statement. 'Ensuring transparency and accountability while upholding the integrity of the institution are our priorities.' Huerta is originally from the Silver City area and a third-year student at WNMU, which she said makes her uniquely qualified to 'understand the needs and challenges of our local students, faculty, and staff,' she said. Neville, a former state senator who represented Senate District 2 in San Juan County, told Source he does not want to make a judgement on the ongoing investigation and litigation until he has more facts and that he will leave the legal action to the attorney general and the state auditor. Steven Neville, a former state senator representing parts of San Juan County, joins the Western New Mexico University board of regents. (Photo courtesy Steven Neville) 'My job is to try to get us a new president, try to get things back on track, make sure that the books are balanced and go from there,' he said, noting that ensuring students' experiences remain positive and quality education is provided are a priority. 'Western's a very good university so we want to make sure that that focus continues.' Neville added that he has spoken to his fellow regents and said they are all working on gaining more knowledge of the university's situation and are thinking along similar lines in regard to their next steps. Legislators introduced four pieces of legislation addressing the role of university regents and how they are chosen during the recent 60-day session, but only one bill passed and awaits the governor's signature. Senate Bill 19 would require new regents to complete 10 hours of training within six months of being appointed. House Joint Resolution 12, supported by the attorney general, died in a Senate committee, and proposed asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment codifying regents' fiduciary duties, moving proceedings to remove regents from the state Supreme Court to district courts and allow the attorney general or majority of the board to initiate removal of a regent. Senate Joint Resolution 7 also died in a Senate committee. The resolution proposed an amendment to the state Constitution requiring the governor to select regents from a vetted list provided by a nominating committee. Senate Bill 266 would have required regents to submit certain employment contracts to the State Board of Finance for approval, adding a level of oversight to boards of regents. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Western New Mexico University welcomes new members to Board of Regents
SILVER CITY, N.M. (KRQE) – The New Mexico Senate recently confirmed four new appointments to the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents. Joining the Board will be former District 2 state Sen. Steve Neville, John V. Wertheim, Keana Huerta, and J. Dean Reed. All four were nominated by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Story continues below Crime: Video – Stolen vehicle driver totals APD vehicle in crash with officer NM Film: 'Rust' trailer released more than three years after fatal on-set shooting Sports: Rio Rancho fires boys basketball coach after 16 years Bio provided by WNMU: Steve Neville, a resident of Farmington, served as a State Senator from 2004 to 2024. A graduate of Moriarty High School, Neville has undergraduate and graduate degrees from New Mexico State University. He served as the National Chairman of the Energy Council and as President of the San Juan Board of Realtors, among other leadership roles. He has worked in real estate consulting and investment since 1985. Bio provided by WNMU: John Wertheim, an attorney based in Albuquerque, has served as an advisor to the late Governors Bruce King and Bill Richardson, to former U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and to current NM Gov. Lujan Grisham. His undergraduate degree is from Yale University, and his J.D. degree is from the University of New Mexico. In addition to his legal practice, Wertheim has a long record of community and political service. Bio provided by WNMU: Keana Huerta was born and raised in Grant County and graduated from Cobre High School in 2023. She served as a Councilwoman for the Town of Hurley from 2023 to 2025 and is an active member of the Silver City Kiwanis. Huerta is studying nursing at WNMU, and she is the lead singer of Siempre Band. Working as a solo artist, she issued a single with the help of Tejano music luminary Shelly Lares. She will serve as Student Regent. Bio provided by WNMU: J. Dean Reed is an alum of WNMU, having earned a B.A. and M.B.A. from the university. Most recently serving as Vice President for Cornerstone Diagnostics, Reed has extensive experience developing sales and training strategies in the healthcare field. While a student at WNMU, he served as student body president for two years, and since graduating from the university, he has been involved with the WNMU Alumni Association, including serving as Secretary of the Alumni Board. Note: Photo from Western New Mexico University Alumni The fifth Regent seat has yet to be filled. University Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Jack Crocker said that the WNMU community was looking forward to moving forward with the new Regents. 'We appreciate Governor Lujan Grisham's thorough deliberations in appointing outstanding members for the board and their sincere willingness to serve. Students, faculty, and staff, and the community in general, look forward to the exceptional experience, knowledge, leadership, and expressed commitment each regent brings not only to support our current excellence but also to advance WNMU's historic legacy as a proud Hispanic Serving Institution, its academic quality, dedication to transforming students' lives, and longstanding service to the region and state,' Crocker stated in a news release. The confirmation of new board members comes as the New Mexico Department of Justice continues its legal efforts to recoup $1.9 million that was paid to former university president Dr. Joseph Shepard as part of a buyout approved by the former group of regents. Shepard and his legal team have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. A hearing to address that motion is set for June 16 in Luna County District Court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former senator confirmed as board member to scandal-plagued WNMU
Mar. 14—Western New Mexico University came one step closer to a fully functioning institution in the midst of an ethics scandal Friday, when it earned one new member of its governing board. Former Republican state Sen. Steven Neville of Aztec was confirmed by the Senate 32-0 following his hearing before the Senate Rules Committee. He became a regent immediately upon the vote. A constitutional prohibition against legislators being appointed to certain other offices within a year after leaving office does not apply to Neville, according to Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, who chairs the committee. Neville, who served in the Senate from 2005 through the end of last year, called his confirmation "gratifying" in an interview with the Journal. "I had certainly hoped that I wouldn't have any opposition, but you never know," said Neville, who was also a San Juan County commissioner from 1997 to 2004. Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, called his former colleague "the individual that is going to bring stability to Western New Mexico University." Campos was referring to a sprawling ethics scandal that first involved the former WNMU regents, the institution's president, Joe Shepard, and his wife, Valerie Plame, who allegedly spent more than $360,000 of public funds on furniture for the president's Silver City residence and foreign business trips from 2018-23, according to State Auditor Joseph M. Maestas. All but one member, student Trent Jones, resigned from the board at the insistence of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Shepard resigned Jan. 15, but not before the board approved a $1.9 million payout to him. Shepard and the former board members have denied wrongdoing and are currently fighting a lawsuit from Raúl Torrez. The university, since the beginning of the year, has had an acting president. In an interview, Neville said the board, once all members have been appointed, has to assure the public that WNMU is "in good hands (and) the finances are in order." He said he was aware of other audits performed on WNMU, but that the new board would have to verify them. "Maybe we need to do a forensic audit," Neville said, before adding it was too early to say exactly what the new board would do first. He added that soon after forming, the board will have to search for a new president. "We've got to get the captain of the ship back in place," Neville said. An alumnus of New Mexico State University, Neville said that he wanted to be a member of his alma mater's governing board — until he got a phone call from Lujan Grisham. "She says, 'I need you at Western worse,' so I agreed to do it," Neville said. But some senators also joked about Neville's lack of ties to the university based in Silver City. Senate Minority Leader William Sharer, R-Farmington, said, "I'm not sure he knows where Western is, so you might have to give him a map." Senate confirmation hearings on the three other WNMU regent appointees are expected to take place on Monday. They include John Wertheim, a former New Mexico Democratic Party chairman; J. Dean Reed, a national sales director and trainer; and Keana Huerta, a WNMU student and Hurley town councilor. A fifth regent has not yet been named by Lujan Grisham's office is "continuing diligent review of all letters of interest and résumés that have been submitted," said Jodi McGinnis Porter, a spokesperson for the governor.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former WNMU president moves to dismiss state's lawsuit
Feb. 20—Western New Mexico University's former president is asking a court to dismiss a lawsuit by the state Department of Justice targeting his lucrative severance package. Attorney General Raúl Torrez challenged the severance agreement approved by WNMU regents on Dec. 20, which included a $1.9 million payment on top of a faculty appointment paying $200,000 annually with an eight-month sabbatical. The complaint alleges that the board of regents, most of whom subsequently resigned at Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's request, negotiated the agreement in violation of New Mexico's open meetings law. Torrez is asking a judge to void the contract and reclaim the money, arguing that Shepard and the regents breached their fiduciary duties in handling public funds. The complaint alleges that the contract is "unconscionable" under the law and also violates the New Mexico Constitution's anti-donation clause. Shepard retorted Wednesday with a motion to dismiss the suit, accusing the attorney general of overreach, calling the lawsuit "a transparent effort to substitute its own views about the best interests of Western New Mexico University ... for those of the Board. While NMDOJ has many responsibilities, managing the University's financial affairs is not one of them." The motion further argues that Shepard had no fiduciary responsibility in negotiating his severance, which followed his announcement in December that he would resign amid increasing scrutiny of lavish spending at the university, located in Silver City. The controversy has prompted inquiries from the Office of the State Auditor as well as the State Ethics Commission. Shepard's motion argues that he and the former regents negotiated lawfully. "No amount of spin from Joseph Shepard's crisis communications consultants or his high-priced legal team is going to deter the New Mexico Department of Justice from holding him accountable for abusing the public trust and misusing taxpayer money," Torrez said in a written statement. "He may have convinced his pals on the Board of Regents at Western New Mexico University to hand him a golden parachute, but we intend to use every available resource to recover funds that should have gone towards supporting the teachers, staff and students at that institution. We look forward to responding to this filing and having our day in court." In a separate filing, former regents Mary Hotvedt, Daniel Lopez, Dal Mollenberg filed a response to Torrez's complaint on Wednesday, along with student regent Trent Jones. Lujan Grisham asked the entire board, a body appointed by the governor, to step down Dec. 31 after the severance agreement prompted criticism and outrage. Jones subsequently rescinded his resignation, according to court documents. The regents denied they or Shepard had breached their fiduciary responsibilities and argued the Department of Justice cannot challenge the validity of the contract since it is not a party to it and the regents have the authority to manage and govern the university. The former regents said they can no longer be sued in an official capacity nor be held personally liable. A joint resolution seeking constitutional changes specifying university boards' fiduciary duties and a legal path to remove regents passed its second legislative committee Wednesday. It moves next to the state House of Representatives for a vote.
