Eastern New Mexico University’s (ENMU) Social Work Program has received nearly $2 million in federal funding to enhance its mission of supporting behavioral health in rural communities.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded ENMU a $1.96 million grant on July 16, 2025, as part of the four-year “Pathways to Excellence” initiative. The project aims to strengthen behavioral health services, particularly for children, teens, and young adults in underserved areas.
Over the course of four years, this funding will directly benefit more than 40 Master of Social Work (MSW) students (or approximately 10 students each year) by providing substantial support, including stipends, licensing assistance, faculty mentorship, and enhanced job placement opportunities after graduation. The program specifically aims to recruit students from rural and vulnerable communities, with an emphasis on Hispanic populations.
“This grant is transformative,” said Melissa Moyer, ENMU’s MSW program director. “Without it, achieving this level of training and community impact seemed almost impossible. Now, we can significantly improve the pipeline of skilled behavioral health professionals in our region.”
The grant will also enable ENMU to collaborate with 12 additional partner agencies to enhance the professional development of agency supervisors further and enrich students’ hands-on experience. Students will gain practical skills through innovative training techniques, including an advanced, AI-powered simulation program designed to simulate real-world scenarios.
Kate Bailey, CEO of Emerald Health Partners, one of ENMU’s collaborators, praised the initiative: “Eastern New Mexico University is leading the charge in addressing the rural behavioral health workforce crisis. We’re proud to partner with them on the Pathways to Excellence project and are deeply committed to its success.”
In addition to the HRSA grant, ENMU recently secured two other significant donations.
On February 15, 2024, the university received $2 million from the Allsup Family Charitable Foundation—the largest private donation in ENMU’s history at that time. This funding supported the Early Childhood Development Program and established the Allsup Family Endowment for initiatives in education, healthcare, agriculture, and business, with awards anticipated to begin in fall 2027.
Surpassing that record, in a historic act of generosity, ENMU received a further $7.5 million from anonymous donors. This funding enabled the creation of the Eastern New Mexico Learning Academy and an Endowed Chair for Literacy and Language Education, fostering year-round reading programs and literacy research.
Chancellor James Johnston expressed profound gratitude for these substantial contributions, stating, “The generous support we’ve received is pivotal. Without such heartfelt investments, our vision—particularly in rural behavioral health—could never fully materialize. These funds ensure not only brighter futures for our students but healthier, stronger communities across Eastern New Mexico.”