University of New Mexico Identifies Five Distinguished Presidential Finalists

POLICY WIRE — Albuquerque, USA — The Board of Regents for the University of New Mexico has officially announced a slate of five distinguished candidates vying for the institution’s top leadership position.

This significant announcement comes as current President Garnett Stokes prepares for her retirement later this summer, necessitating the search for a new leader to guide the prominent educational institution.

Meet the Distinguished Candidates for UNM Presidency

The five individuals selected bring extensive experience from various academic and administrative roles across the nation. The prospective leaders are:

• Eric L. Barker, who currently serves as the vice president for health affairs at Purdue University.
• Steven Goldstein, the vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of California, Irvine.
• Eric Link, holding the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Dakota.
• Ashwani Monga, the executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer for the University System of Georgia.
• Elizabeth “Liz” Watkins, currently the provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of California, Riverside.

The university has made arrangements for comprehensive engagement opportunities, inviting faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader community to participate in open forums. These in-person sessions are scheduled to take place in SUB Ballroom C, ensuring direct interaction with each candidate.

Recognizing the importance of broad participation, UNM will also provide virtual access to these forums for individuals unable to attend physically, fostering transparency in the selection process.

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UNM Presidential Finalists Campus Visit Schedule

The schedule for the finalists’ campus visits and engagement sessions has been released:

• Elizabeth Watkins: April 20, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
• Ashwani Monga: April 21, 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Eric Barker: May 11, 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Steven Goldstein: May 12, 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Eric Link: May 13, 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Following each visit, surveys will be made available to gather valuable feedback from attendees, allowing community input to play a crucial role in the ultimate decision.

The Board of Regents emphasized that the definitive hiring choice for the next president will be finalized only after the conclusion of these extensive campus visits and community consultations. This rigorous selection process underscores the importance of strong leadership in guiding major institutions, a theme also central to significant policy discussions impacting economic stability across different sectors.