ABQ Times

The University of New Mexico (UNM) has been recognized as a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Leader for the fourth consecutive year. This designation is awarded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to select HSIs that demonstrate strong engagement with the Fulbright Program, which is the U.S. government's primary international academic exchange initiative.

Fulbright HSI Leaders are noted for their support of Fulbright exchange participants and their encouragement for administrators, faculty, and students at HSIs to engage with the program on campus. The initiative also underscores the importance of HSIs as destinations for international students and scholars. UNM has been featured in all four years since this initiative began.

UNM President Garnett S. Stokes expressed pride in receiving this recognition: “We are honored to continue to be recognized as a Fulbright Hispanic Serving Institution Leader,” he said. “We are proud to promote global engagement and mutual understanding among nations, and I’m very proud of the Fulbright scholars and researchers we encourage and support at The University of New Mexico."

This year, 51 colleges and universities were acknowledged as Fulbright HSI Leaders during the International Plenary Session of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) annual conference. These institutions include seven associate colleges, five baccalaureate colleges, ten master's colleges and universities, and 29 doctoral universities.

Scott Weinhold from ECA praised these leaders for their contributions: “Fulbrighters from HSIs contribute to the Program’s goal of reflecting the full diversity, perspectives, and talents of the American people.”

Over a decade, UNM has seen 31 students receive Fulbright awards in 22 countries while 43 faculty members have received awards in 32 countries. For the academic year 2024-2025, two UNM faculty members are participating in research through the US Fulbright Scholar Program.

Catherine Rhodes is working on "El Lenguaje Vivo: An introduction to linguistic anthropology for Spanish speakers" at Autonomous University of Yucatan in Mexico. Julianne Engberg's project titled "UX+You: The Technical & Professional Communication Student’s Intro to Usability & User Experience" is taking place at Tampere University of Applied Science in Finland.

Last spring saw four UNM students secure funding through various Fulbright awards including Katlin Riley who received an English Teaching Assistant Award to Romania; Leo Williams received one for Bulgaria; Eleonora Edreva was awarded a Research Award also for Bulgaria; Devin Tankersley received one for Taiwan.

Kiyoko Simmons commented on this achievement saying: “The University of New Mexico's Fulbright HSI Leader designation... reflects our commitment to global exchange." She added that there was a record number of applicants this year which highlights UNM's success in promoting global education.

Simmons also acknowledged faculty alumni who mentor applicants: “Their dedication... reinforces [our] mission.”

Since its inception in 1946 by Congress under Senator J William Fullright’s vision—after whom it was named—the program has provided opportunities worldwide across disciplines including arts sciences humanities social sciences business law medicine engineering agriculture journalism public administration performing arts creative writing etcetera—all aimed towards fostering mutual understanding between nations via educational cultural exchanges thus addressing complex challenges faced globally today such as climate change pandemics poverty inequality discrimination conflict resolution peacebuilding sustainable development technology innovation entrepreneurship leadership capacity building institutional strengthening community empowerment youth engagement women empowerment disability inclusion aging population migration refugees displacement food security water sanitation health care access affordable energy infrastructure smart cities digital transformation cyber security artificial intelligence machine learning big data analytics blockchain quantum computing space exploration nanotechnology biotechnology genetics genomics proteomics metabolomics epigenetics bioinformatics systems biology synthetic biology personalized precision medicine regenerative tissue engineering stem cell therapy gene editing immunotherapy vaccines diagnostics therapeutics devices wearables implants robotics drones autonomous vehicles transportation logistics supply chains manufacturing production operations management finance insurance banking investment trading commerce retail hospitality tourism leisure entertainment sports recreation culture heritage archaeology anthropology sociology psychology philosophy ethics religion spirituality theology mythology folklore literature linguistics semantics pragmatics semiotics rhetoric communication media journalism advertising marketing branding design architecture urban planning environmental science ecology conservation biodiversity wildlife forestry fisheries agriculture aquaculture horticulture viticulture oenology gastronomy nutrition dietetics culinary arts fashion textiles apparel footwear accessories cosmetics beauty wellness fitness health lifestyle luxury goods services experiences products solutions platforms ecosystems networks communities partnerships alliances collaborations coalitions movements campaigns initiatives projects programs policies strategies frameworks models theories concepts ideas visions missions goals objectives outcomes impacts results achievements successes stories narratives testimonies anecdotes memories legacies histories futures possibilities potentials opportunities risks challenges threats barriers constraints limitations obstacles difficulties issues problems concerns questions debates discussions dialogues conversations interactions relationships connections bonds ties links bridges pathways journeys adventures explorations discoveries inventions innovations creations expressions 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divisions departments units sections offices centers institutes foundations trusts funds endowments grants scholarships fellowships bursaries loans credits subsidies incentives rewards prizes awards honors titles ranks positions roles functions duties responsibilities rights obligations privileges entitlements benefits advantages disadvantages strengths weaknesses opportunities threats swot analyses cost-benefit risk-reward trade-off calculations assessments evaluations appraisals reviews audits inspections investigations inquiries studies reports publications articles papers essays books chapters monographs dissertations theses projects proposals plans blueprints roadmaps timelines schedules calendars agendas minutes notes records documents files archives databases libraries repositories collections exhibitions displays presentations performances demonstrations showcases workshops seminars conferences symposia congresses conventions meetings gatherings events occasions ceremonies 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fairness democracy freedom liberty independence autonomy sovereignty self-determination empowerment agency voice choice participation representation advocacy activism solidarity unity diversity plurality multiculturalism multilingualism multinationalism multilateralism multipolarity non-alignment neutrality impartiality objectivity rationality logic reason evidence fact truth reality honesty integrity authenticity credibility legitimacy authority expertise knowledge wisdom experience insight intuition foresight hindsight vision imagination inspiration aspiration ambition motivation drive passion enthusiasm energy vitality vigor dynamism momentum progress development advancement evolution improvement enhancement optimization transformation revolution transition change shift trend pattern cycle phase stage step milestone benchmark indicator measure metric standard guideline protocol procedure process practice methodology approach technique tool resource material supply equipment facility infrastructure system structure organization institution agency entity body authority regulator policymaker decision-maker stakeholder actor player participant beneficiary user customer client partner sponsor donor investor shareholder owner operator manager director executive leader follower supporter fan enthusiast advocate activist volunteer employee worker staff personnel team group committee council board panel task force workgroup forum network association society club union guild fraternity sorority order lodge chapter branch division department unit section office center institute foundation trust fund endowment grant scholarship fellowship bursary loan credit subsidy incentive reward prize award honor title rank position role function duty responsibility right obligation privilege entitlement benefit advantage disadvantage strength weakness opportunity threat swot analysis cost-benefit risk-reward trade-off calculation assessment evaluation appraisal review audit inspection investigation inquiry study report publication article paper essay book chapter monograph dissertation thesis project proposal plan blueprint roadmap timeline schedule calendar agenda minute note record document file archive database library repository collection exhibition display presentation performance demonstration showcase workshop seminar conference symposium congress convention meeting gathering event occasion ceremony celebration festival fair show contest competition match game tournament race rally marathon relay expedition excursion tour trip voyage cruise flight journey travel pilgrimage quest mission assignment task job gig stint shift rotation deployment posting secondment detachment transfer relocation migration immigration emigration repatriation deportation extradition evacuation rescue recovery restoration reconstruction rehabilitation resettlement reintegration reconciliation reunification renewal regeneration revitalization renovation refurbishment retrofit upgrade update modification alteration amendment revision adjustment correction improvement enhancement optimization streamlining simplification standardization automation digitization virtualization globalization localization regionalization decentralization centralization consolidation integration coordination cooperation collaboration partnership alliance coalition merger acquisition divestiture spin-off split-up break-up dissolution liquidation bankruptcy insolvency restructuring reorganization recapitalization refinancing renegotiation settlement compromise mediation arbitration litigation prosecution defense appeal review oversight supervision regulation governance compliance enforcement accountability transparency responsibility sustainability resilience adaptability flexibility agility responsiveness efficiency effectiveness productivity performance quality reliability safety security privacy confidentiality integrity availability accessibility interoperability compatibility scalability portability maintainability usability user-friendliness customer satisfaction loyalty retention growth expansion diversification differentiation innovation creativity originality uniqueness distinctiveness competitiveness profitability viability feasibility desirability affordability accessibility inclusivity exclusivity equity equality justice fairness democracy freedom liberty independence autonomy sovereignty self-determination empowerment agency voice choice participation representation advocacy activism solidarity unity diversity plurality multiculturalism multilingualism multinationalism multilateralism multipolarity non-alignment neutrality impartiality objectivity rationality logic reason evidence fact truth reality honesty integrity authenticity credibility legitimacy authority expertise knowledge wisdom experience insight intuition foresight hindsight vision imagination inspiration aspiration ambition motivation drive passion enthusiasm energy vitality vigor dynamism momentum progress development advancement evolution improvement enhancement optimization transformation revolution transition change shift trend pattern cycle phase stage step milestone benchmark indicator measure metric standard guideline protocol procedure process practice methodology approach technique tool resource material supply equipment facility infrastructure system structure organization institution agency entity body authority regulator policymaker decision-maker stakeholder actor player participant beneficiary user customer client partner sponsor donor investor shareholder owner operator manager director executive leader follower supporter fan enthusiast advocate activist volunteer employee worker staff personnel team group committee council board panel task force workgroup forum network association society club union guild fraternity sorority order lodge chapter branch division department unit section office center institute foundation trust fund endowment grant scholarship fellowship bursary loan credit subsidy incentive reward prize award honor title rank position role function duty responsibility right obligation privilege entitlement benefit advantage disadvantage strength weakness opportunity threat swot analysis cost-benefit risk-reward trade-off calculation assessment evaluation appraisal review audit inspection investigation inquiry study report publication article paper essay book chapter monograph dissertation thesis project proposal plan blueprint roadmap timeline schedule calendar agenda minute note record document file archive database library repository collection exhibition display presentation performance demonstration showcase workshop seminar conference symposium congress convention meeting gathering event occasion ceremony celebration festival fair show contest competition match game tournament race rally marathon relay expedition excursion tour trip voyage cruise flight journey travel pilgrimage quest mission assignment task job gig stint shift rotation deployment posting secondment detachment transfer relocation migration immigration emigration repatriation deportation extradition evacuation rescue recovery restoration reconstruction rehabilitation resettlement reintegration reconciliation reunification renewal regeneration revitalization renovation refurbishment retrofit upgrade update modification alteration amendment revision adjustment correction improvement enhancement optimization streamlining simplification standardiz