The University of New Mexico is looking for a new president as Garnett Stokes prepares for retirement in July. The Board of Regents has named five candidates who will each visit campus in the coming weeks. Community members can attend forums to meet the finalists and share their thoughts.
Meet the Candidates
Elizabeth “Liz” Watkins
Watkins is the provost at the University of California, Riverside. She will be on campus on April 20 at 10:30 a.m. With a Ph.D. in History of Science from Harvard, her work looks at how medicine, culture, and commerce have intersected in the U.S. since the 20th century. She has authored important texts on topics like oral contraceptives.Ashwani Monga
Monga serves as the executive vice chancellor at the University System of Georgia and will visit on April 21 at 1:15 p.m. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. Monga has a strong background in consumer psychology and has coauthored the book “Becoming a Consumer Psychologist.”Eric L. Barker
Barker is Purdue University’s vice president for health affairs and will be on campus on May 11 at 1:15 p.m. He has a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt. He led Purdue’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has researched issues surrounding drug use and brain health.Steven Goldstein
Goldstein, vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of California, Irvine, will visit on May 12 at 1:15 p.m. He, too, holds a Ph.D. from Harvard, specializing in immunology. He has played a key role in launching new schools under UCI Health and has conducted research on sudden infant death syndrome.Eric Link
Link is the provost at the University of North Dakota and will visit on May 13 at 1:15 p.m. With a Ph.D. in American Literature, he focuses on 19th-century literature and science fiction. He has been recognized as a Fulbright Senior Scholar multiple times.
These visits are a chance for the community to connect with the candidates and share their insights. Engaging with these potential leaders can shape the future of the university.
Recent trends suggest that university leadership is increasingly focusing on health and innovation, especially in light of the challenges faced during the pandemic. According to a survey by the American Association of University Professors, 70% of faculty members believe that university leaders should prioritize mental health and well-being as part of their strategic goals.
As the selection process unfolds, community interaction will be crucial in choosing the right leader for the University of New Mexico. For more information on the candidates or event details, visit The Daily Lobo.
