The University of New Mexico (UNM) is hosting Professor Jesús A. Fernández from the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua as the 2025 Fulbright Mexico Studies Chair. This appointment is part of a multi-year agreement between UNM’s Latin American and Iberian Institute (LAII) and COMEXUS, the U.S.-Mexico Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange, through the Fulbright-García Robles program. The initiative aims to promote academic and cultural collaboration between the United States and Mexico.
Joseph Cook, Distinguished and Regents Professor of Biology and curator of mammals at the Museum of Southwestern Biology, said, “We are delighted to partner with COMEXUS and UNM’s Latin American and Iberian Institute, Museum of Southwestern Biology, and Biology Department to host Fulbright scholar, Dr. Jesús A. Fernández, as the Mexico Studies Chair. His expertise on biodiversity along the international border is particularly valuable during a time of accelerating environmental change.”
Fernández earned his doctorate in biology from Louisiana State University. Since 2013, he has taught and conducted research on the biota of northwestern Mexico at UACH. His research centers on the ecology and evolutionary biology of wild mammals in northern Mexico’s montane regions.
At UNM, Fernández collaborates with both the Museum of Southwestern Biology and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science to study the biogeographic and evolutionary history of sky island ecosystems in the U.S.–Mexico borderlands. His work applies molecular genetics to understand how climate changes during the Late Quaternary period have influenced mammalian diversity in these high-elevation habitats.
His research also considers conservation challenges such as habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, and emerging wildlife diseases.
During this semester at UNM, Fernández is teaching a course titled “Transboundary Sky Island Biology” within the Department of Biology. The course examines biodiversity in the U.S.–Mexico border region using molecular and ecological methods to address topics like host-parasite dynamics and long-term conservation strategies.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Fernández is working with Cook and LAII to organize an international panel on transboundary mammal conservation that will take place in early November.
