ABQ Times

The University of New Mexico (UNM) has released its 2024 General News Year-in-Review, highlighting significant accomplishments and newsmakers within the university community. The annual compilation by University Communication and Marketing (UCAM) showcases stories from the past year involving UNM students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Among the notable achievements is UNM's first Rhodes Scholar in over two decades. Additionally, the university launched the Quantum New Mexico Institute in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories. "New Mexico scientists played a pioneering role in the development of Quantum Informational Science," according to UCAM.

The year also marked 55 years of Black student activism at UNM. The Black Student Union celebrated its anniversary with commemorations beginning during Black History Month.

UNM was part of a $1.7 billion initiative to combat hunger through the New Mexico Basic Needs Consortium. This effort was part of a broader challenge announced by the Biden-Harris administration aimed at building healthy communities across the nation.

Another highlight includes Mubarak Hussain Syed, an assistant professor of Biology at UNM, receiving the 2024 McKnight Scholar Award for his contributions to neuroscience research.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded UNM’s Southwest Environmental Finance Center $6.2 million for providing training and technical assistance to small water systems nationwide.

UNM's Lobo Welcome Center officially opened this year as a newly renovated facility designed to integrate with historic campus architecture while serving as an introduction for prospective students.

Abrianna Morales, a recent graduate from UNM, was named one of 32 U.S. recipients of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Her academic excellence and commitment to advocacy were highlighted as key factors in her selection.

Additionally, former U.S. Senator Fred Harris passed away shortly after his 94th birthday. Harris served as a professor emeritus at UNM and had established a legislative internship program that benefited many students over the years.

In other developments, Professor Sonia Gipson Rankin addressed Vice President Kamala Harris’s unprecedented presidential campaign in discussions on legal implications related to new technologies and racial justice issues.

UNM also announced plans for a new Center for Collaborative Arts & Technology set to break ground later this year, aiming to foster innovation and creativity among students across disciplines within fine arts education.

Lastly, Hodgin Hall remains an integral piece of UNM history as it once housed all administrative functions when it served as the university's sole building on campus grounds decades ago.