UNM President Garnett S. Stokes Announces Retirement after Eight Years of Transformative Leadership

The University of New Mexico (UNM) announced today that President Garnett S. Stokes, the University's 23rd president and the first woman to hold the position, will retire in July 2026.

The UNM Board of Regents approved a six-month contract extension to ensure she remains in office through that date, providing continuity of leadership and steady progress on the University's major initiatives during the transition.

Read President Stokes' Message to the UNM Community.

Eight Years of Impact
Since joining UNM in March 2018, President Stokes has guided the University through a period of growth, innovation, and statewide impact. Highlights of her tenure include:

• UNM 2040: Opportunity Defined - President Stokes launched a successful long-term strategic framework shaping the University's campus ethos, teaching, research, healthcare, and economic missions.
  
• Grand Challenges Initiative - Launched in 2019, addressing pressing issues such as sustainable water resources, artificial intelligence, substance use disorders, and child health, while drawing significant research funding and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Since 2018, the success of our Grand Challenges initiative has turned an initial $2.25 million investment into over $100 million in grants and awards.
  
• Student Success and Enrollment - During her tenure, UNM has seen four consecutive years with total student enrollment on the rise, and for the sixth year in a row, first-year student registrations grew as well. UNM has also added new support for student services, academic advising, and open educational resources.
  
• Research Excellence - President Stokes has expanded collaborations across health sciences, engineering, the arts, sustainability, and emerging fields such as quantum science, reinforcing UNM's Carnegie R1 status and national reputation.
  
• Economic Development - UNM is driving New Mexico's economic future by turning research into real-world impact. Partnerships with state agencies, national laboratories, and industry are accelerating technology commercialization, fueling startup growth, and opening new career pathways for students. The creation of the South Campus Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) is sparking long-term growth around UNM's sports, research, and innovation corridor-bringing fresh investment, infrastructure, and economic activity to Albuquerque while strengthening UNM's role as the state's anchor institution for prosperity. At the same time, UNM is evaluating proposals to expand its presence in downtown Albuquerque, further connecting the University to the city's economic and cultural core.
  
• Health Care Access and Workforce - Construction of the new Critical Care Tower at UNM Hospital, set to open this fall, will expand ICU capacity, add operating suites, and create space for more than 1,000 new staff. The Health Care Workforce Expansion Initiative has modernized facilities for the Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health, ensuring UNM can train and retain the health professionals New Mexico needs. UNM has also expanded the facilities and services offered by the Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Truman Clinic, the Dermatology Clinic, the Special Care Dental Clinic, and the Crisis Triage Center. Further work is underway to expand the College of Pharmacy and the Children's Psychiatric Center. Altogether, these projects represent an unprecedented growth to meet the health care needs of New Mexicans.
  
• Athletics - UNM has made significant strides in restoring pride, positivity, and integrity in athletics. Investments in facilities, new leadership, and a renewed commitment to student-athlete success have helped bring excitement back to Lobo sports while reinforcing the values of accountability and community.
  
• Physical Transformation & Development of Campus - Under President Stokes, UNM has launched and completed major building and renovation projects across campus: the Critical Care Tower at UNM Hospital nears patient activation; the Center for Collaborative Arts & Technology and a new Humanities facility are rising with modern, sustainable design; the revitalized Duck Pond now features enhanced ecological systems, accessibility, and restored heritage; a new UNM police headquarters; a new Physics & Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science Center; the Lobo Welcome Center; and upgrades to residence halls, athletics and commons areas, lighting and pedestrian access are improving everyday campus life.

Regents' Statement
Paul Blanchard, chair of the UNM Board of Regents, released the following statement:

"On behalf of the Board of Regents and the UNM community, we extend our deep gratitude to President Garnett S. Stokes for her visionary stewardship and steadfast commitment to the University. Her work has advanced UNM as a national leader in research, student success, and as a partner and major driver of economic development for communities across our state, including expansion and modernization of treatment facilities for UNM Health Sciences.

"As we look to the future, the Board is committed to conducting a robust search for the next president while we continue to have the benefit of President Stokes' leadership."

Looking Ahead: Building on Momentum
As the board of regents begins the search process, work continues across the University on major initiatives:

• Expansion of workforce development pipelines in health care, including the expansion of the School of Medicine - doubling of our medical school's M.D. graduates.
• Investment in interdisciplinary research facilities and collaborations with national laboratories.
• Growth in groundbreaking research such as Quantum Computing and technology transfer and entrepreneurship through UNM Rainforest Innovations.
• Strengthening of UNM 2040 priorities to align academic excellence with statewide needs.

President Stokes will continue to oversee these efforts and advance UNM's mission until her retirement takes effect in July 2026.