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National search announced for next University of New Mexico president
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The University of New Mexico’s Board of Regents on Tuesday outlined the next steps for a national search to find a successor to President Garnett Stokes, who announced her retirement last month.
“The Board will soon appoint an advisory search committee tasked with assisting the Board in identifying qualified candidates for the presidency,” UNM wrote in a news release.
Stokes will serve as president of the university through the end of the academic year. She is the first woman to hold the position and has led the university for over seven years, making her one of the longest-serving presidents in UNM’s history.
“This search represents an important moment in UNM’s history — an opportunity to find a leader who will build on the incredible momentum already underway,” Board Chair Paul Blanchard said in a statement. “We are searching for a leader who brings integrity, vision, and the ability to turn ideas into action.”
Along with appointing a search committee, the board will select an external firm to assist in the search. The board is in the process of finalizing the contract with a firm, so a final cost is not yet available, according to Ben Cloutier, spokesperson for the university.
The estimated cost of the contract would be around $200,000 — roughly a third of Stokes’ salary.
According to UNM, the committee and firm will “lead a rigorous nationwide effort to identify candidates, host public forums and candidate visits, and make recommendations to the Board.”
By late spring 2026, regents are slated to select and name a president, who will begin their tenure upon Stokes’ retirement.
