General News

ENMU Graduate Honored for Genetics Research
(Walter Cronkite and Kofi Annan also honored)
by Wendel Sloan
Communication Services

An Eastern New Mexico University graduate has been named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This year’s Fellows also include legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite and Kofi Annan, U. N. Secretary General.

Dr. William R. Atchley, who received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Eastern New Mexico University in 1964, is the William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of genetics, statistics and biomathematics at North Carolina State University. He joins 186 other distinguished Fellows and Foreign Honorary Members – including four college presidents, three Nobel Prize winners and four Pulitzer Prize winners – in this year’s class.

A native of Roswell, Dr. Atchley is one of the world’s leading experts in computational molecular evolution and developmental quantitative genetics, and he has published extensively in these areas. He is the director of NC State’s Center for Computational Biology, which uses mathematical, statistical and computational tools to explore complex biological problems.

The Monday Memo conducted the following interview with Dr. Atchley:

What is your specialty area?

“I am a computational biologist and work in two primary areas: computational molecular evolution and developmental quantitative genetics. My research focuses on broad questions about protein structure and evolution and the genetic architecture of complex morphological structures.”

What do you believe led to you being named to the Academy, and what does it mean to you?

“Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is generally the reflection of a lifetime of scholarly work of the highest quality. Similar criteria are employed for those in the performing arts and public service.

“My election apparently reflects my 33 years of work in genetics, statistics and related fields. Obviously, I am very honored to have been elected to membership. Among the people with whom I am being inducted include Walter Cronkite and Kofi Annan as well as a number of other luminaries. I feel very humble to be included in any group that includes such individuals.

What results do you hope to obtain from your specialty area and how could it impact society?

“My research focuses on understanding the origin and evolution of several families of genes that are fundamental in controlling growth and development. In particular, we work with groups of genes know as ‘transcriptional regulators’ which function in the control of cell growth and proliferation. Because of their role in cell proliferation, many of these genes are also portrayed as ‘oncogenes’ because disruption in their regulation often leads to cancers and tumors. Obviously, detailed knowledge about the regulation and expression of such genes is paramount to a detailed understanding of normal and abnormal growth and development. [more]

ENMU-Ruidoso Director Promoted to Dean
by Wendel Sloan
Communication Services

Dr. Jim Miller, director of Eastern New Mexico University’s Ruidoso Instruction Center since 1991, has been promoted to dean. The announcement was made by Dr. K. Paul Jones, vice president for Academic Affairs at ENMU.

In making the announcement, Dr. Jones said, “We are delighted with the direction that Dr. Miller has provided to our Ruidoso Instruction Center.” ENMU-Ruidoso has become a vigorous and vital force in meeting the educational needs of Lincoln County residents. From providing lower and upper division academic courses through instructional television, Internet and on-site professors, to offering vocational programs and advisory assistance to area businesses, ENMU-Ruidoso epitomizes how higher educational systems can benefit their communities.

“For his innovative and tireless efforts in moving ENMU-Ruidoso forward with such dramatic progress since its humble beginnings of holding classes in a local high school in 1991, promoting Dr. Miller to dean is a symbol of Eastern’s respect and gratitude for what he has accomplished to the betterment of the Ruidoso area.”

Dr. Miller, an Army veteran who received a 1979 Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of New Mexico, is the workforce chairman of the New Mexico Association of Community Colleges. He is also a member of the advisory committee for the New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network, founder and member of the Lincoln County Maternal/Child Health Council, president of the board of directors of the Ruidoso Chamber of Commerce, trustee and chairman of the strategic planning committee for the Lincoln County Medical Center, and is active in numerous other organizations.

Before coming to Ruidoso, Dr. Miller was the superintendent of the Farmington Municipal Schools from 1985-91. He has a master’s degree from Ball State University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico.

ENMU-Portales Upward Bound Program Re-Funded
The Upward Bound Program at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales has been re-funded for four more years. The University has received notification from the Department of Education that the grant proposal was approved to receive $338,006 for each year, totaling over $1.3 million dollars.

Upward Bound is one of the TRIO Programs, funded by the Department of Education. “TRIO Programs are very effective and many students from low-income families depend on these programs to succeed academically in high school and college,” said Susan Cramp, director of Upward Bound at Eastern. In fact, since 1965 an estimated two million students have graduated from college with the special assistance and support of the nation's TRIO Programs, according to Ms. Cramp. [more]

ENMU-Roswell Upward Bound Program Re-Funded
by Donna Gutierrez
ENMU-Roswell

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell is one of seven New Mexico institutions awarded federal funding to continue the Upward Bound program that helps high school students transition from high school into college. The program at ENMU-Roswell, which targets students in Chaves and Eddy counties, will receive $287,696 in federal grant funding over the next four years.

The grants are awarded to universities through the Department of Education's TRIO program. ENMU-Roswell will use the funds to expand and enhance the operation of Upward Bound, which assists students with the skills and motivation needed for success in postsecondary education. The goal is to increase the number of students enrolling and graduating from college. [more]

ENMU Subscribes to Huge Electronic Database of Academic Journals
by Wendel Sloan
Communication Services

The Golden Library at Eastern New Mexico University has subscribed to a huge electronic database of 322 academic journals. JSTOR was established in 1995 as an independent, not-for-profit organization. It is currently operated by the University of Michigan.

"It consists of the most scholarly journals available," said Melveta Walker, director of ENMU's library. It helps keep the students' research from being 'dumbed down' by using Internet sources alone. This actually makes our resources comparable to research institutions like UNM and Texas Tech." [more]

Local Artist Learned to Draw Through Influence of Grandma
by Cheryl Black
Golden Library Senior Secretary

The artwork of Lonnie R. Black can be viewed at Eastern New Mexico University's Golden Library foyer from June 6 through July 5.

Lonnie was born in Clovis in 1964, and grew up in Magdalena. Both of his parents, Anna Ruth Fraze Black and Sidney Black, taught at Magdalena High School. Mr. Black's grandparents, the Frazes, had a large farm just outside of Dora. It is through Grandpa Fraze that Lonnie started to learn about agriculture, and through Grandma Fraze he learned to draw.

He attended New Mexico State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in agriculture in 1985. While there he attended various art classes to learn different mediums. He has used charcoal, oil, ink, and pencil, but his favorite is charcoal. [more]
(photo by Cheryl Black)

They Heard It Through The Grapevine at ENMU-Roswell
(in the great tradition of the Monday Memo, sister campus newsletter going on-line)

The Grapevine, the campus newsletter at ENMU-Roswell, is going on-line and will no longer be mailed to staff and faculty. "We will be publishing it every two weeks on-line," says editor Linda Whitehead. "When the re-design of our Web site is finished, we will have The Grapevine more easily accessed. At the present time, it is necessary to log on to our web site, www.roswell.enmu.edu, and double click on the 'Grapevine.' "

The Monday Memo also tracked down a direct link to the charming publication by clicking on "more": [more]

ENMU Course-Equivalency Tables for Community Colleges Now On-Line
At the web address shown below, anyone can now access the current ENMU course-equivalency table for courses offered by Mesalands Community College. This is in addition to the previous availability at this location of course equivalency tables for Clovis Community College, ENMU-Roswell, New Mexico Junion College and and South Plains College. Click here to see them: [more]

ENMU-Roswell Selected for Rural Community College Initiative
by Donna Gutierrez
ENMU-Roswell

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell was recently selected by the Rural Community College Initiative (RCCI) to be part of a two-year demonstration program designed to promote community and economic development. The RCCI, administered jointly by the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development and the Southern Rural Development Center, is designed to accelerate the ability of rural community and tribal colleges to meet the expanding needs of communities located in their service areas.

Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell will join 15 other institutions from Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota and Texas in this national learning network of rural community colleges committed to supporting community improvement activities. In addition to linking community and tribal colleges to each other, the RCCI program will link participating colleges to land-grant institutions and to Extension educators. The RCCI partnership with land-grant universities promises to bring more resources to the table as the community colleges create plans for viable communities. The Ford Foundation provides funding for the RCCI. [more]

GEAR UP Program Administered by ENMU-Portales Receives Excellent Evaluation
Following an on-site visit by an outside evaluator, The GEAR UP program, administered by Eastern New Mexico University, has received an excellent evaluation.

In a report to Joseph Green, GEAR UP project director at ENMU, evaluator David Caffey said, "Your good influence over the past two-plus years was very apparent, as is the high regard in which the schools served hold the GEAR UP project and staff."

The report stated: "GEAR UP has four objectives that have guided efforts of the staff and school and community partners since the project's inception. Objective 1 is to provide comprehensive early intervention services to students in Roosevelt County, including low-income and academically at risk students. School personnel who were interviewed were unanimous in expressing the judgment that GEAR UP services have made an impact on student performance." [more]

ENMU-Roswell Medical Assistants Place High on National Test
by Donna Gutierrez
ENMU-Roswell

Medical Assisting students at ENMU-Roswell recently scored a 100 percent pass rate on the national certification exam this cycle. The national average is a 66 percent pass rate. ENMU-Roswell students ranked in the top nine percent of those taking the exam, which is required to become a Certified Medical Assistant. One recent graduate, Angi Alm ranked in the top one percent. "Needless to say, I am very proud of this group of students," said Cheryl Vineyard, program director. Another group of students are scheduled to take the exam in June and Vineyard expects those students to do just as well.

Medical assistants work at the heart of the health care industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Medical Assisting is considered one of the fastest growing professions in the United States through the year 2010. Medical assistants are multi-skilled practitioners who assume a wide range of roles in physicians' offices and other health care settings. They perform a multitude of administrative and clinical tasks, and are widely viewed by physicians as valued partners in increasing medical office productivity. The health services industry will continue to expand due to technological advances in medicine, and a growing and aging population. Health care employers say job prospects should be best for medical assistants with formal training or experience, particularly those with certification. For more information at the Medical Assisting Program at ENMU-Roswell, call 624-7199 or 624-7268.

Candid Camera

Scenes from Annual 'End-of-the-Year Party Bash' (Sponsored by Support, Professional and Faculty Senates) – Theme: 'The 70s' (photos by Daniel Lucero and Wendel Sloan)

Dancing to that funky music with the party girls

Playing that funky music

Working out at the funky 'Y'

Hula Hoop Contest
Win..........................................Place..........................................Showed Up

Mommas and their babies

Minimum age: 3 – must show ID at door

Door Prizes
(L-R) "Someone was going to jail otherwise!" – "Do I have to take it?" – "Can I have door number 3?"

"At least one of us actually remembers the 70s." – John Olsen

Costume Contest: "If only he hadn't shown his legs."

"What did that kid eat, anyway?"

"Hey, I may not have to teach this summer after all."

The brains (and the hat) behind it all.

(photo by Ronnie Birdsong)

Two burned-out relics from the 70s croon Margaritaville while lamenting that the pitcher in front of them – being on a dry campus – holds only door-prize tickets.

Elvis Has Not Left the Building (photo by Donna Gutierrez)

ENMU-Roswell Has New History Book – Elvis E. Fleming, Professor of History, Emeritus, has written “Success Starts Here: A History of Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, 1958-2002.” He signed copies of his book at a reception in the Student Services Center lobby on campus on Wednesday, May 21.

It Took Teamwork Between the Physical Plant, Telecommunications and the Computer Center to Put in Communication Services' New Cubicles (photos by Wendel Sloan)

Someone had a surprise birthday party... (photo by Wendel Sloan)

And turned 29 again.

(photo by Wendel Sloan)

I wonder who it was?

Linda Green, director of the Special Services program at ENMU-Roswell, will be the keynote speaker at the 'Exceeding Expectations Summer Institute' May 18-20 in Fort Collins, Colo. The participants will represent a five-state region: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, South Dakota Site, and Wyoming. Those attending have an interest in ENMU-Roswell's Occupational Training Program for students with disabilities. Green will present information about the program's success and how it is structured. Under her direction, the Special Services program on campus provides educational training and adaptive equipment for students with disabilities. After graduation, most students are able to find employment and live independently. Green has a bachelor's degree in Special Education from the University of Tulsa and a master's degree in school administration from California State University-Northridge. She has also completed additional classes at several universities focusing on educating gifted and deaf students.