Jingjing Wang, an associate professor of economics and associate director of the Water Resources Program at the University of New Mexico, has received the 2025 NM EPSCoR Mentor Award. The honor recognizes her for academic guidance, student support, and leadership, with her nomination coming from her own students.
The New Mexico Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NM EPSCoR) Mentor Award is given to faculty across the state who demonstrate outstanding mentorship in STEM research and education. This year’s recipients submitted personal statements describing their mentoring philosophies and their commitment to supporting student success across different disciplines and backgrounds.
Wang’s approach to mentorship is described by students as kind, supportive, and uplifting. She uses student-centered practices that focus on trust, shared purpose, and holistic care. Her relationships with mentees respect each student’s individual background, goals, and challenges.
“Mentoring students at UNM is one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of my work, and I’m truly honored by this recognition,” said Wang. “I’m grateful for the support I’ve received, from the university to the college to my department, and for the opportunity to help our students grow, thrive and succeed.”
Wang supports students working in fields such as climate science, water resource management, and agricultural sustainability. She also connects her mentees with fellowships, conferences, and professional development opportunities. Many of them have gone on to careers in academia, government, or industry.
Her research focuses on how public policies can address environmental issues and improve the use of resources like water and agriculture. Wang earned a B.E. in environmental engineering from Tsinghua University as well as an M.S. in environmental science and a Ph.D. in environmental and natural resource economics from the University of California, Riverside.
Her teaching interests include microeconomics, natural resource economics, environmental economics, mathematical methods for economics, numerical methods for economics, and integrated modeling.
“I’m deeply grateful — this recognition really belongs to my students and mentees. They inspire me every day,” said Wang.
Wang was selected alongside Qianyun (Gloria) Zhang from New Mexico State University and Eduardo Ceh-Varela from Eastern New Mexico University.
