NMSU Presidential Candidates Made Their Case and Failed, NMSU Regents Vote to Begin a New Search

The public and the board of regents have heard from the five finalist for the position of president for NMSU. From February 26th through March 1st, 2024 New Mexico State University students and faculity and the Las Cruces community heard from the five candidates for NMSU president through forums hosted by the presidential search committee and student government.

The Board of Regents commissioned a search committee to find candidates for the next system-wide president in July 2023. Finalists were made public on February 2nd, 2024. Their profiles and resumes were posted on the search website and significant information was released on each of the five candidates.

The public, regents, faculty and students questioned candidates on their approach to shared governance, experience with executive leadership challenges and how they would elevate the NMSU experience. In-person attendance at the forums was scarce, but it didn’t stop participants from getting down to business with their questions.

One takeaway from the forums was clear among all candidates the individual chosen will be tasked with working hard at building the campus community and understanding institutional relationships are a key to the sucess of the institution.

Full recordings of the forums can be accessed on the president search website.

The New Mexico State University Board of Regents voted unanimously Monday, March 11th, 2024, to begin a NEW search for presidential candidates after going through an eight-month recruitment process that included numerous closed-door deliberations and interviews as well as campus visits from the screened final five potential hires.

During Monday's meeting the NMSU Regents moved into executive session to decide on the final outcome which lasted for only about an hour until Regents came back into open session. Chair Ammu Devasthali delivered the news and thanked the committee for work up until this point but then announced they would restart a new search.

"The presidential search committee has worked extremely hard to bring forward the best candidates from the pool and we appreciate their efforts," Devasthali said. "The motion today does not reflect the committee's valuable contributions. The Regents have also diligently evaluated the finalists in the past weeks, setting ambitious schedules to complete reviews."

Despite Regents completing those individual candidate reviews, Devasthali said none of the five contenders, who all hold "impressive" qualifications would be the next president.

"After careful consideration, I do not believe that any of the current finalists fully meet the needs of New Mexico State University at this critical juncture," Devasthali said. "Finding the right leader is paramount."

Interim president Jay Gogue's contract was amended in September 2023 to be approved monthly until a permanent president was chosen thus he will continue in the role unless the Regents change course.

For more informatiom on the search or to stay current on the events around the search and the process visit New Mexico State University | BE BOLD. Shape the Future. (nmsu.edu)

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