Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Western New Mexico University Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 8, Western New Mexico University said in a news release. For the university, her visit highlighted WNMU’s growth and its role as a regional hub for education and workforce development.
Interim President Chris Maples, Ph.D., said the university was honored to welcome the governor, calling her visit "a testament to the Western New Mexico University mission to serve as a catalyst for economic and educational excellence in the Southwest." He credited her leadership with making higher education more accessible to all New Mexicans. Dean of the College of Education Cindy Martinez, Ed.D., noted the governor’s support for the New Mexico Center of Excellence for Early Childhood Education at WNMU, which has become a model for training high-quality educators in rural communities.
Under Lujan Grisham, New Mexico has implemented tuition-free college programs that benefit WNMU students, enabling first-generation students and working adults to pursue degrees without heavy loan debt. The governor noted that the last time she stood on the WNMU campus, she signed the state’s Opportunity Scholarship into law. Since 2022, the scholarship has helped more than 118,000 New Mexicans, according to the state Higher Education Department, boosting enrollment and graduation rates statewide.
The ceremony in Silver City was set to begin at 5 p.m., with gates opening at 3:30 p.m., and organizers planned to live-stream it for those unable to attend in person.
Editor’s note: Updated Oct. 31, 2026. This story was revised to cite the Western New Mexico University news release it is based on. Learn how Brant.One reports in our editorial standards.
