Distinguished Professor Steven Walsh honored as 2026 CERL awardee

Join Lobos across The University for an evening of back-to-back celebrations beginning with UNM's annual PI reception followed by the annual Community Engaged Research Lecture (CERL) with UNM Distinguished Professor Steven Walsh.

Both events will be held in PAIS on Tuesday, Nov. 3 in celebration of UNM researchers across campus. Registration is required to attend both events.

• PI Reception | 4-5:30 p.m. | In-person ONLY
• CERL with Steven Walsh | 5:30-7 p.m. | In-person + Zoom

The PI Reception:
The PI Reception is an annual celebration hosted by The Office of the Vice President for Research to honor the research and scholarship conducted by our Lobo researchers every year. It is a wonderful opportunity to honor remarkable achievements, nurture valuable connections, and potentially ignite new collaborations-all within the vibrant company of fellow scholars who share an unwavering passion for discovery. So, PIs be sure to mark your calendars for this annual event that promises to be both intellectually stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable!

2026 CERL Honoree:
Steven Walsh is a distinguished professor within UNM's James & Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership. Walsh has been a Lobo since 1998 and holds the Ellis School's Economic Development Endowed Chair.

His research focuses on technology commercialization, firm growth, technology entrepreneurship, and industry revitalization. He works with emerging technologies including fusion, quantum, aerospace, pulsed power, micro- and nanotechnologies, and bio-based technologies.

Walsh is a member of UNM's Management of Technology, Project Management, and Technology Entrepreneurship research group. For more than 20 years, the group has been recognized in published rankings as a leading research center and has helped provide the foundation for the New Mexico Small Business Assistance (NMSBA) grants. NMSBA grants have supported more than 580 firm-assistance projects involving UNM faculty, business professionals, and students. More than 2,000 UNM students have participated in the program.

Walsh has authored or co-authored more than 400 academic and practitioner articles, books, book chapters, and other publications.

Lecture: 'Basic and Applied Research is a Team Sport'
Walsh has been very open about sharing this award with his colleagues, students, and research partners, reflecting a philosophy he often shares with his students: "Never Lie. Help Others. Be Fair to All. Be Accountable to Yourself." That same spirit of collaboration is at the heart of his lecture, "Basic and Applied Research is a Team Sport." Walsh will explore research as a process of uncovering, articulating, and conveying new ideas and concepts in meaningful ways, while highlighting the teamwork and collaboration behind three research efforts focused on community development. RSVP today.

About the CERL:
The annual Community-Engaged Research Lectureship Award recognizes exceptional scholarly work that embodies UNM's commitment to community engagement and profoundly and systematically affects the relationship between the university and the larger community in a positive and meaningful way. This is the highest award for community-engaged scholarship bestowed by the University of New Mexico.

The nominee must be an active, full professor or exceptional associate professor at the time of the nomination is submitted. The scholarship or the creative work of the nominee must be of the highest quality and should be tied to the faculty member's expertise.