New Mexico Tech announces five finalists in presidental search

SOCORRO — The New Mexico Tech Board of Regents approved five finalists in its presidential search Thursday, including two candidates currently employed at the university.

On the list are: Montserrat "Montse" Fuentes, president of St. Edward's University; Andrew Hamilton, vice president for academic success at Texas State University; Michael Jackson, interim president at New Mexico Tech; Kerop Janoyan, associate dean for research and graduate studies at California State University, Long Beach; and Carlos Romero, associate vice president for research at New Mexico Tech.

Board of Regents President David Lepre Sr. said it took a tremendous amount of work to conduct the search.

"I believe this may be the first time that we have, as the New Mexico Tech campus has done this on its own," Lepre said. "Essentially, we've done it with the great assistance of a search committee, with the support and help of our human resources director and department, with the state administrative staff as well."

The five candidates were recommended by a Presidential Search Committee, and Regent Yolanda Jones King said she believes the university set a precedent by conducting its own presidential search.

"Other universities are interested," Jones King said. "We may be paving the way for others to do it themselves."

New Mexico Tech said finalists will visit campus March 23-27 to meet with students, faculty, staff and community members.

Dean of Arts and Sciences Steve Simpson said each finalist will visit campus for a full day of meetings, including several opportunities for community participation.

As part of their visit, each candidate will give a public presentation and participate in an open session, providing members of the campus and Socorro community an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and offer feedback. The sessions will take place daily at 9 a.m. in the Macey Center auditorium for each candidate.

Simpson said the university will send an email to the campus community inviting people who can’t attend to submit questions, some of which can be asked during these sessions.

Candidate biographies and visit schedules will be posted on the New Mexico Tech presidential search webpage, nmt.edu/presidential-search.

In July, New Mexico Tech announced Jackson as interim president following the resignation of Mahyar Amouzegar. Amouzegar, the university’s 18th president, resigned June 30, less than two weeks after regents restricted his hiring authority and asked him to reverse a vice presidential appointment.