Date:
2/28/2002
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Donna Gutierre
ROSWELL – Dr. Judy Armstrong, Interim Provost at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell for the past eight months, has been appointed to the position of Provost. Dr. Steven Gamble, ENMU President, made the announcement Thursday before a gathering of
ENMU-Roswell staff and faculty. Armstrong's new title takes effect immediately.
"We are fortunate to have someone of the quality of Judy Armstrong to become the next Provost. Provost is a very important position because that person determines much of the direction of the institution," said Gamble.
"In the eight months that Judy has been interim Provost at ENMU, Roswell has done exceptionally well. I see progress in virtually every area of the institution and that must be attributed to good senior leadership. The best way to ensure a good future for the Roswell campus is to ensure that it will have good leadership. Dr. Armstrong has shown that she can provide that leadership," he said.
"I consider it a privilege to serve the citizens of Chaves County as Provost of ENMU-Roswell and to have been selected to carry on the fine tradition of quality education, extraordinary customer service, and commitment to economic development that have become synonymous with our college," said Armstrong. "I appreciate the confidence that Dr. Gamble has shown in my ability to do just that. It is an honor and a joy to work with such an outstanding faculty and staff. When I assumed the Interim Provost position, I pledged to our community and to the faculty and staff that we would not just drift in the water until a new provost came on board, and we have not," she said.
"Over the past 8 months, because of their dedication and effort, we have gone from no web-based courses to 24 on-line courses this semester, with approximately 40 scheduled for the fall; we have completed the water piping project, opened our brand new Instructional Technology Center, and just about finished the expansion of our Aviation Maintenance Technology Center; we have partnered with other community and national entities to bring the International Law Enforcement Academy, New Mexico Youth Challenge, New Mexico MESA, and the Flight Safety Training Center to our campus; and we have worked with our colleagues at Eastern New Mexico University as they developed two new degree programs -- the Bachelor of Occupational Education and the
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, both of which will allow students who complete a career-technical associate degree to complete a four-year degree - with a minimum of hassle and travel. We've done all of this and more, and I look forward to working with the campus community to accomplish even more in the years ahead." Armstrong said.
"Judy is the perfect person to lead ENMU-Roswell at this time," said Blaine Hess, President, ENMU Board of Regents. "We're very pleased with the decision Dr. Gamble made," said Otto Eachus, President of the ENMU-Roswell Community College Board. "Judy has done a terrific job in the eight months she has served as Interim Provost. We look forward to her being Provost for many years to come. We know that she has the support of the administrative team, faculty and the community," Eachus said.
Armstrong has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in English from ENMU. She received a doctoral degree in Educational Administration from UNM in 1995. A graduate of Roswell High School, Armstrong began her career as an educator in Kansas, working as a high school and junior high school English, speech and drama teacher from 1969 to 1971. For the next ten years she worked at ENMU-R as a literature instructor.
From 1981 to 1983 she was employed as assistant director of the Roswell Public Library. She returned to ENMU-R in 1983 to work as an English instructor. In 1986, she became the Director of the Developmental Studies Department, and in 1988 she was also named the Associate Dean of Planning and Instructional Support. Armstrong was appointed acting Dean of Instruction from December of 1998 to July of 1999. She has served as Dean of Instruction at the campus since September 2000. She had been serving as Interim Provost since June of 2001.
Armstrong is co-owner of ARMTEL, a business telephone systems company in Roswell, and writes a weekly library column for the Roswell Daily Record. She is a consultant-evaluator for the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accrediting organization and most recently was chosen as the first recipient of the ENMU Chester Haughawaut Exemplary Human Relations Award. Other awards include the 1996 Amigo Award from the New Mexico Library Association and the Governor's Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women in 1993.
Armstrong is a member of a number of professional organizations including the American Association of Higher Education, the National Association of Developmental Education, and the New Mexico Association of Higher Education Assessment Directors. She is also involved in numerous community organizations including Altrusa International of Roswell, the Roswell Public Library, the Roswell Symphony Guild, the Complete Count Census 2000 Committee, Chaves County CASA; and the Community Foundation of Chaves County. Armstrong has also made numerous presentations on accreditation, assessment and leadership at state, regional and national conferences.