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12 UNM faculty receive Ovation Awards for high-impact work
A dozen UNM faculty from across campus have been named as the 2025 recipients of the Ovation Awards. The honor recognizes full-time UNM faculty at any career stage for “recent accomplishments with unusually high impact, addressing local or global challenges and/or elevating the scholar’s and UNM’s reputation on a national/international stage. These may include a significant innovation, discovery, exhibit, or scholarly/creative work, or the establishment of a research resource or program. The award recognizes singular accomplishments rather than career achievement,” according to the Office of the Vice President for Research. Learn more about who won.
Faculty to talk about mirror DNA, local news, community engaged descriptions, and photography at Nov. 19 Lightning Lounge
The last UNM Faculty Lightning Lounge of the semester takes place Nov. 19. Join colleagues from 3:30-4:30 in the Honors College Forum to hear short talks about innovative research and scholarship.
The speakers include Matthew Lakin, an assistant professor of computer science whose talk is Through the Looking Glass: Mirror DNA for Biomedicine; Sara Abbaspour, an assistant professor of photography whose talk is floating ocean; Gwyneth Doland, a professor of practice in journalism whose talk is Mapping the Local News Ecosystems of New Mexico; and Suzanne Schadl, a professor in the College of University Libraries & Learning Sciences, whose talk is Archives, Metahistory, and Community Engaged Description.
No registration is required. Time will be available for questions. Come meet new people, network and learn! The Lightning Lounge is hosted by ADVANCE at UNM, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of the Vice President for Research.
If you are interested in presenting your research at a spring lounge or want to recommend someone, email AVP for Faculty Affairs Christopher Lyons (clyons@unm.edu) or advance@unm.edu.
Myrriah Gómez to lead SHRI as interim director
UNM Associate Professor Myrriah Gómez has been named as interim director of the Southwest Hispanic Research Institute at UNM. Gómez, who teaches in the Honors College, is a longtime member of SHRI and replaces former director Irene Vásquez, who will continue to lead the Department of Chicana & Chicano Studies. Gómez’s research interests include Chicanx and Indigenous literature; New Mexico critical regional studies; and nuclear cultural studies. In 2022, she published Nuclear Nuevo México: Colonialism and the Effects of the Nuclear Industrial Complex on Nuevomexicanos, which won several prestigious awards. She also is the faculty coordinator for UNM’s Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program and leads the Conexiones-Spain study abroad program in Cáceres, Spain.
Engineering professor will stuy quantum systems with DOE award
A UNM assistant professor will study technology that controls quantum systems as part of a new Early Career Award from the U.S. Department of Energy. Milad Marvian, who works with the Center for Quantum Information and Control (CQuIC) and teaches in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, will explore the role of randomized protocols in the efficiency of information processing in quantum systems. Learn more on the UNM News site.
VPR Ellen Fisher honored with materials chemistry award
UNM Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher in September received the John A. Thorton Memorial Award from the scientific society AVS: Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing for her work in materials chemistry. The award recognizes outstanding research or technological innovation in the areas of interest to AVS, with emphasis on the fields of thin films, plasma processing, and related topics, according to the AVS website. Fisher received the award for her “contributions to the advancement and understanding of plasma chemistries and plasma-surface interactions in thin film deposition and surface modification.” Read more on the UNM News site.
Faculty now have access to a DIY video recording studio on campus
Fancy yourself as a famous content creator? Or maybe you just need a quiet and professional place to make a video for class. Either way, UNM’s academic and content creators now have access to a studio with high quality video, audio and lighting equipment. The studio in Woodward 138 is open to faculty, staff and students. It has a teleprompter, Open Broadcast Software and more. You must complete a training video and quiz before making a reservation, which can be for between one and four hours. Use this link to learn more.
ADVANCE director retiring in 2026; search underway for new leader
ADVANCE at UNM Director Julia Fulghum has announced her retirement, effective June 30, 2026.
Fulghum, a chemistry professor, has spent 37 years as a faculty member. Her 24 years at UNM includes 23 years in various leadership positions including as chair of the former Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Department in the School of Engineering, vice president for research, and associate dean for faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“Founding and leading ADVANCE – now in its 10th year – has been some of the most deeply satisfying, most fun, and hardest work I’ve done in my faculty career,” Fulghum said.
After so many years in academia, Fulghum is looking forward to doing more of the activities she enjoys, including hiking, photography, and traveling with her husband, UNM chemistry professor Steve Cabaniss. He also will be retiring at the same time.
A UNM search committee is conducting an internal search for a new director, and Fulghum said the work of ADVANCE to support all faculty will continue.
“Together with collaborators across campus, we work to support faculty in having enjoyable and productive careers. Our efforts are developed based on campus data and experiences, and we pivot as events indicate different types of support are needed. I look forward to supporting the next director and the leadership team in continuing this ever-evolving work.”
Fulghum said she’ll be spending some of her post-retirement time in a part-time role supporting ADVANCE.
“I’m honored to have had this opportunity. Together, we’ve built something significant,” she said. “The substantive collaborations, friendships, and shared joys and sorrows have helped us all to continue moving forward.”
Faculty in economics, law, nuclear engineering and honors to speak at Lightning Lounge Oct. 15
Join colleagues at another round of UNM Faculty Lightning Lounge events on Oct. 15. If you haven’t attended before, please join! Faculty colleagues give short talks about their research and scholarship, and time is available for questions during and after the event. No registration required. Come meet new people, network and learn!
The October speakers are: Yuting Yang, an assistant professor of economics whose talk is The Economics of Energy Transition; Allison Freedman, an associate professor of law whose talk is Eviction Sealing: A Lifeline in the Fight for Housing Justice; Tomasz Falkowski, an assistant professor in the Honors College whose talk is Growing Food and Forests: Maintaining Milpa for Food Sovereignty and Ecological Restoration; and Minghui Chen, an associate professor of nuclear engineering whose talk is The Harmony of Atomics and AI.
Please note that there is a new location and time for the Lightning Lounges this semester. They are on Wednesdays and take place from 3:30 – 4:30 in the Honors College Forum.
The Lightning Lounge is hosted by ADVANCE at UNM, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Engineering faculty named as Regents’ and Dean’s Excellence Professors and Lecturers
UNM School of Engineering faculty have been named to coveted titles including Regents’ Professor and Lecturer, and the Dean’s Excellence Professorship and Lectureship for the next three years. They are Meeko Oishi, Nathan Jackson, Rafiqul Tarefder, Abdullah Mueen, Adam Hecht, Fernando Moreu, Leah Buechley, Ali Bidram and Osman Anderoglu. Find out more about who received which of these important recognitions and why in this UNM News story.
Faculty connecting with graduate students through mentoring program
The UNM Graduate Community Mentoring program is connecting faculty with grad students through a series of story-based conversations this semester. The program, which aims to support mentoring relationships across campus, kicks off Sept. 26. Learn more on the UNM news site.
New research tutorial available for UNM faculty
Associate UNM Professor Todd Quinn has created a Zotero tutorial for faculty and student research. The tutorial covers how to use the reference management software as part of a research workflow, according to a UNM News story.
UNM faculty in linguistics, psychology and music kick off fall Lightning Lounge events Sept. 10
We’re excited for another round of UNM Faculty Lightning Lounge events this fall. We want to see you, and we already have some great speakers lined up. The dates are Sept. 10, Oct. 15 and Nov. 19.
The September event features three of the four winners of the 2025 Research and Creative Works Leadership Award; James F. Cavanagh of Psychology, whose talk is What’s Dopamine Got to do With it?; Melvatha Chee of Linguistics, whose talk is Eleven Hours Per Minute: Developing Indigenous Child Language Research; and Peter Gilbert of Music, whose talk is If it Never Ends, Does it Mean Anything?
Please note that we have a new location and time for the Lightning Lounges this semester. They will still be on Wednesdays, but will take place from 3:30 – 4:30 in the Honors College Forum.
If you haven’t attended before, please join! Faculty colleagues give short talks about their research and scholarship, and time is available for questions during and after the event. No registration required. Come meet new people, network and learn! The Lightning Lounge is hosted by ADVANCE at UNM, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of the Vice President for Research.
If you are interested in presenting your research at a future lounge or want to recommend someone, email AVP for Faculty Affairs Christopher Lyons or advance at unm dot edu.
Accessibility Resource Center names new director
UNM’s Accessibility Resource Center has named Laura Franklin as its new director. Franklin, who has 30 years of experience in higher ed, most recently worked as the director of student access at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. She starts at ARC Sept. 8. Learn more on the UNM news site.
Large cohort of new UNM faculty start this week
We’re excited to see so many new faces around campus this week! Learn more about your new colleagues by checking out our bios of new faculty.
Provost’s Office publishes fall semester info for faculty
UNM Vice Provost for Student Success Pamela Cheek has released a video and a PDF with important updates for all faculty for the fall semester. The updates include required syllabus language, updates to the UNM Classroom Conduct policy, information on using AI in the classroom, new resources for students and more. Download the PDF about what you need to know or visit the Provost’s Office website.
New CTL director starts Aug. 11
The UNM Center for Teaching and Learning has announced that Interim Vice Provost for Student Success at Portland State University Erin Shortlidge will serve as its new director. An associate professor of biology and biology education, Shortlidge starts moving into the role Aug. 11 and will assume all duties Sept. 1. CTL is responsible for supporting all faculty through trainings and workshops. It also works with students including through its peer tutoring program. Learn more on the UNM news site.
Federal government veteran chosen as ARID Institute leader
The new leader of UNM’s ARID Institute has more than 30 years of experience at the U.S. Geological Survey. Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher announced the appointment of Anne Kinsinger to the post. Kinsinger also brings other federal agency experience to the institute, which explores innovations in climate resilience in New Mexico. Learn more on the UNM news site.
Two faculty members appointed to Academic Affairs leadership positions
UNM faculty members Rebecca Sánchez and Cris Elder have new half-time roles in the Office of Academic Affairs as leadership changes are made following the departure of Provost James Holloway later this month. Starting July 1, Sánchez, of the College of Education and Human Sciences, will be interim associate vice provost for academic personnel. On July 14 Elder, of English Language and Literature, will be special advisor to the interim provost for labor relations. The pair are taking on duties previously done by Barbara Rodríguez, who starts as interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs July 3. Learn more on the UNM news site.
Catch the replay of the MacGyvering Funding Sources to Meet Your Research Goals workshop
Securing funding to meet your research goals can take some creativity and imagination. Get some ideas in the replay we’ve just posted of the MacGyvering Funding Sources to Meet Your Research Goals workshop. You’ll hear from Hannah Yohalem, Assistant Director of the Faculty Research Development Office and Andrea Orzoff, Faculty Research Support Officer, FRDO. Access the replay and others from this workshop series.
Professors in medicine, philosophy and neuroscience are now distinguished faculty
Congrats to Sally Davis, Michelle Harkins, Douglas Perkins, Iain D. Thomson and C. Fernando Valenzuela for being promoted to the rank of distinguished faculty at UNM! Read more on the UNM news site.
FERPA training now required of faculty once every three years
A new UNM policy now requires all faculty to complete a training on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) training every three years, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year. Read more from Provost James Holloway on what you need to do.
Learn about finding foundation funding in our video replay
Have you ever thought about seeking some of your research funding from a foundation? The latest video in our workshop series on diversifying your research funding looked at ways researchers can work with the UNM Foundation on possible proposals. Access the video and learn more.
New HR initiative to help staff affected by federal funding cuts
Many faculty work with staff members who are concerned about the future of their jobs amid federal funding uncertainty. To address this, UNM Human Resources is launching the Term Retention Initiative (TRI), a new program that aims to support term appointment staff in positions that are ending because of external funding cuts. The TRI “offers a single application process for impacted employees to join one or more targeted talent pools based on their experience and interests. Hiring departments are encouraged to review and connect with these applicants prior to publicly posting open positions. This provides for faster hiring for departments and less uncertainty for staff navigating role transitions and positions UNM to retain staff who are already trained, experienced, and aligned with our mission.” Learn more.
New IT help system comes online June 16
UNM IT has announced that a new help system will launch June 16. According to IT, you’ll get a “modern and user-friendly platform that will make requesting help from UNM IT faster, smoother, and a whole lot easier.” To make it easy, the new system will be available right where the old one was, at help.unm.edu.