Opportunities Ahead, UNM’s 2026 State of the University Address

University of New Mexico President Garnett S. Stokes delivered her final State of the University address on Monday, Mar. 23. She not only reflected on the past year's accomplishments but gave a retrospective of her eight years at UNM.

Within her first year at the university, Stokes visited all 33 counties in the state, and a common theme became apparent to her-UNM matters deeply to New Mexico.

"UNM is not simply in New Mexico; it is of New Mexico. That's the reason I always refer to us as the University for New Mexico," Stokes aid. "Everything we do-our teaching, our research, our patient care, our partnerships-is grounded in our roots in, and responsibilities to, the state of New Mexico and New Mexicans everywhere."

Stokes expressed pride in the progress made toward UNM 2040, which aims to expand opportunities for students, strengthen discovery and innovation, and deepen engagement with the communities the university serves.

Even through a global pandemic, Stokes said the university still made strides to serve New Mexicans.

Research remained a priority at the university and paved the way for Grand Challenges which launched in 2019. "The idea behind Grand Challenges was straightforward: bring together researchers from across disciplines to address complex issues facing our communities. What we saw in response has been, and continues to be, genuinely inspiring," Stokes said.

At the heart of the university, Stokes said, is serving student success. UNM has worked to enhance advising, expand mentorship opportunities, increase the use of open educational resources, adjusting curriculum, and addressing basic needs such as food security and housing.

As home to the state's only academic medical center through the UNM Health Sciences Center and UNM Hospital, preparing the next generation of health care professionals is critical.

"Over the past eight years, we have expanded programs in nursing, pharmacy, and public health, strengthened clinical services, and continued to grow our research enterprise. And the work continues," Stokes said. "The new Critical Care Tower at UNM Hospital literally stands as physical testament to the work we do, ensuring that New Mexicans have access to world-class care. And soon, it will be joined by a new, state-of-the-art School of Medicine facility that will double the number of medical graduates in our state."

Changes to the campus skyline were discussed with a look ahead to the new Center for Collaborative Arts and Technology building, and a celebration of the revitalized Duck Pond, new Welcome Center, and a new ROTC building.

Stokes was later joined on stage by Interim Provost Barbara Rodriguez, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO of UNM Health System Dr. Mike Richards, and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Teresa Costantinidis, each discussing the milestones they were proud to hit.

Rodriguez touted the local and global impact of Grand Challenges and spoke of expanding to include more branch campus faculty and students to engage in research.

Richards highlighted the Crisis Triage Center as it provides a critical healthcare service in an environment that centers patient healing.

Costantinidis spoke about the new UNM Police Department Headquarters that should begin construction in April, which will increase visibility, speed up response times and provide effective community policing.

Stokes closed with thanking the Lobo community for allowing her the opportunity to serve UNM. "Serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my career. While it's been the toughest job I've ever had, it's also been the most joyful-and that's because we've done this work together. I am grateful for your support, your pride in UNM, and your belief in what this university represents," Stokes said. "It has been a tremendous privilege to be part of UNM's story with all of you-and, more importantly, it's been a joy to be a part of the Lobo family. Thank you for making me a part of such an extraordinary pack."