Good afternoon Lobos –

Happy 2026, and welcome back to our Lobo faculty and staff. I hope you enjoyed a restful and healthy winter break and had time to recharge as we prepare for the return of our students and the start of the Spring 2026 semester. With classes beginning for most students on Tuesday, January 20, there is already a great deal of activity across our campuses, whether its faculty finalizing course plans and continuing impactful research, staff ensuring the University continues to operate smoothly and effectively, or our medical professionals delivering the high-quality, compassionate care our communities depend on. Thank you for all that you do; it is truly a privilege to work alongside you. Here’s to a successful Spring semester and a safe, productive year ahead.

New Mexico Legislative Session Begins January 20

Tuesday, January 20 marks not only the first day of the Spring 2026 semester, but also the opening of the Second Session of the 57th New Mexico Legislature. As in all even-numbered years, the 30-day session will focus on the state budget and related issues, agency spending, and items placed on the legislative agenda by the governor. We will host our annual UNM Day at the Capitol on February 4 and look forward to engaging with lawmakers on UNM’s legislative priorities. Throughout the short session, which concludes at noon on February 19, we will continue working closely with students, faculty, and staff to advocate for these priorities and provide meaningful opportunities for legislative engagement.

UNM’s Office of Government and Community Relations (OGCR), led by Chief Government Relations Officer Mike Puelle and his team, works closely with the governor, legislators, and state agencies to represent the interests of the UNM community and keep us informed on legislation that affects our students, faculty, staff, retirees, and patients.

As always, The University of New Mexico remains actively engaged on a wide range of legislative issues. To ensure that UNM speaks with one coordinated and strategic voice, I ask that any legislative requests or outreach be coordinated through OGCR.

Prossnitz Named to National Academy of Inventors



What a pleasure it is to celebrate distinguished professor Eric R. Prossnitz, who has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest professional distinction awarded exclusively to inventors. This prestigious honor recognizes faculty whose discoveries translate into real-world impact, improving lives and strengthening the global innovation ecosystem. Prossnitz’s groundbreaking research in molecular medicine has led to numerous U.S. patents, new therapeutic approaches, and the creation of startup companies that move discoveries from the lab to the marketplace. His sustained success reflects UNM’s growing national profile in research, innovation, and economic development, and highlights the meaningful impact our researchers have on the world.

Lobo Researchers Unlock New Paths to Healthier Aging Brains

University of New Mexico researchers have made a promising breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. In a study published in Genomic Psychiatry, a team of researchers working in the lab of Kiran Bhaskar, a professor in the UNM School of Medicine’s Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, discovered that the enzyme OTULIN plays a key role in driving toxic tau protein formation, brain inflammation, and aging. By suppressing OTULIN, researchers halted tau production and restored healthy neurons—opening new pathways for treatments that could slow or even reverse brain aging. It’s an amazing discovery that underscores UNM’s leadership in transformative neuroscience research—advancing new hope for preventing neurodegenerative disease, restoring brain health, and improving lives worldwide.

UNM Lights Up Learning with Immersive Tech Innovation



Here’s some news likely to be of virtual interest: with support from congressionally directed NASA funding, The University of New Mexico’s ARTSLab is turning imagination into immersive experience through the Artemis in 3D STEAM Challenge and Training Program. The new Community Immersive Technology Hub is opening the doors to augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for learners across New Mexico—no prior headset required. Highlights include Neon Forge, a neon-bright VR hit at the Bands of Enchantment Festival, and hands-on educator workshops offered with Unity. By blending art, technology, and community curiosity, UNM is proving that immersive innovation can be playful, powerful, and accessible to all.

An Update on Lobo Athletics          

Big changes and exciting news in Lobo Athletics over the last few weeks, starting at the top, where I am pleased to have appointed Ryan Berryman as our interim vice president and director of athletics, filling in following the departure of Fernando Lovo, who recently accepted the AD job at the University of Colorado. Berryman brings more than a decade of senior leadership experience within University of New Mexico Athletics, and his deep institutional knowledge and oversight of budgeting, operations, compliance, and student-athlete support will provide stability and continuity as the University conducts a national search for permanent leadership. That search process is underway, chaired by community leader and UNM Foundation board member Del Archuleta. Details about the search committee and search process will be announced in the coming days. Congratulations to Ryan Berryman on his interim role, and my thanks as well to Fernando Lovo for his inspiring service as a Lobo—and I wish him the best in leading the Colorado Buffaloes.

There’s also been a change in leadership for our Lobo volleyball team, as Brian Hosfeld has been named the team’s 11th head coach. Hosfeld brings us more than 30 years of elite coaching experience—his leadership was pivotal at Wichita State, where the Shockers earned a conference title and an NCAA appearance—and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Lobo Volleyball.

On the field, I’m so proud of our Lobo football team and all they accomplished this season under coach Jason Eck. Lobo nation traveled to Phoenix the day after Christmas to cheer on our team in the Rate Bowl—our first bowl appearance since 2016—where we eventually fell to Minnesota in an overtime thriller. While game didn’t go our way, this has been one of the most memorable seasons in recent memory, and enthusiasm for Lobo football remains high as Coach Eck and his leadership team take this excitement and momentum into next season. Congratulations on an amazing 2025, Lobos—it was one for the record books.

Remembering the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is a reminder that The University of New Mexico will be closed next Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, honoring the life and legacy of one of our nation’s most courageous, compassionate, and principled leaders.

As an undergraduate at Morehouse College in 1948, Dr. King wrote that education has both practical and moral purposes. “The function of education,” he wrote, “is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically . . . Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” At UNM, that vision lives on through our commitment to engaged education—a core value reflected in UNM 2040 and our goal of providing every Lobo with a truly transformative student experience.

I hope you will take time to reflect on how each of us can carry forward Dr. King’s example by fostering a community of diverse perspectives, dynamic learning, and shared respect—one that inspires curiosity, thoughtful dialogue, and pride in who we are as individuals and as Lobos.