New Mexico Tech appoints acting president after abrupt resignation

SOCORRO — New Mexico Tech has a new acting president, though the outgoing one is staying at the university in a different role.

Mahyar Amouzegar said his last day serving as NMT president was Friday, July 25. He made the announcement in an email the day before, explaining that the decision was made after thoughtful conversations with Board of Regents President David Lepre. He said the original plan was for a longer transition, but they decided an accelerated timeline was in the best interest of the institution.

“Although we had hoped to share this announcement sooner, the necessary administrative steps took longer than expected. David and I appreciate your patience as we finalized the details to ensure a smooth and respectful transition,” Amouzegar wrote.

In a column published Thursday in El Defensor Chieftain, Amouzegar said he will remain at New Mexico Tech as a faculty member in the Departments of Management and Mathematics.

Amouzegar confirmed in the email that the Board of Regents appointed Michael Jackson acting president.

Amouzegar announced his plans to resign as president on June 30, after 14 months on the job. The resignation came less than two weeks after regents restricted Amouzegar’s hiring authority and asked him to reverse a vice presidential appointment that had already brought the new hire and his family to the area.

Jackson, former provost and vice president of academic affairs, said in a statement, “While leadership transitions bring challenges, our core mission is unwavering.”

“We remain fully committed to providing a world-class STEM education for our students and advancing research that benefits our state and nation. I am confident that by working together, our exceptional team will continue to thrive,” Jackson said in the statement.

In December 2023, New Mexico Tech regents announced Amouzegar as the university’s 18th president. He was appointed to a five-year term with an annual salary of $425,000. He began his tenure April 15, 2024.

Amouzegar wrote of Jackson’s selection, “I could not be prouder to see him at the helm during this critical time. David (Lepre) and I have every confidence in his ability to guide the university forward with integrity and purpose.”

“This university is filled with remarkable people doing extraordinary work, and it has been an honor to serve as your president,” he wrote.

Jackson, who received his doctorate in physics from New Mexico State University, has held faculty positions at several universities, according to the release. Prior to joining NMT in 2021, he served as Founding Dean of the College of Science and Technology at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Physics Teachers and the American Physical Society.