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After 13 Years of Water War, New Mexico Secures a Rare Victory on the Rio Grande

Juan Oliveros
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After 13 Years of Water War, New Mexico Secures a Rare Victory on the Rio Grande

The 13-year water war over the Rio Grande threatened to become one of the most costly legal and environmental defeats in New Mexico history. Instead, state leaders this week emerged from the U.S. Supreme Court with a negotiated victory for the drought-stricken American West.

In a brief order, the Supreme Court formally accepted a settlement ending the 13-year legal battle among New Mexico, Texas, and the federal government over the management of the Rio Grande. The case carried billion-dollar risks. It matched New Mexico farmers against neighboring states and exposed the instability of water in the sweltering heat of the Southwest.

Reached after years of legal skirmishes and political brinkmanship, the settlement gives New Mexico farmers a majority share of irrigation water in the contested stretch below Elephant Butte Reservoir. It avoided what officials feared could have become catastrophic financial penalties.

Lujan Grisham: Turning point

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham described the settlement as a turning point for southern New Mexico communities. These communities rely on the river for agriculture, drinking water, and economic survival. “Water is the foundation of New Mexico’s agricultural economy and the lifeblood of communities across the southern part of our state,” the governor said on Thursday. “This settlement means farmers in the Lower Rio Grande can plan for the future, communities have certainty about their water supply and New Mexicans aren’t on the hook for a liability that could have cost billions.”

The settlement outlines a new formula for sharing irrigation water: New Mexico users get 57 percent, and Texas users get 43 percent in the disputed lower basin region. In return, New Mexico agreed to lessen groundwater pumping over the next decade. This concession aims to preserve river flows in an era of worsening drought.

Officially known as Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado, the lawsuit became the most controversial water war in the modern Southwest. It unveiled how climate change, population growth, and century-old water agreements are colliding across the region.

Roots of water war

The roots of the dispute hark back to the early 2000s. At the time, prolonged drought reduced flows along the Rio Grande and heightened tensions among irrigation districts, municipalities, and federal water managers. It began as local grievances, which eventually escalated into a Supreme Court skirmish. Texas sued New Mexico in 2013, alleging that groundwater pumping in southern New Mexico violated the 1938 Rio Grande Compact and deprived farmers of water down the streams legally owed to them. At one point, the damages sought against New Mexico could reach $1 billion.

Several observers believed New Mexico was losing ground. But the settlement arrived after 13 years settles everything.

“It’s a good settlement and a remarkable one for the state of New Mexico, given how the litigation was going in the early stages — not very well for New Mexico,” said Burke Griggs, a water law expert at Washburn University School of Law. “But New Mexico was able to recover and I think it’s achieved a lasting and durable settlement.”

The road to resolution was not easy. Last year, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to reject an earlier settlement proposal after the federal government contended it ignored federal obligations and reservoir operations tied to the Rio Grande Project. The Supreme Court decision sent negotiators back to the table.

The modified four-part agreement completed in 2025 resolved overlapping disputes between the states and the federal Bureau of Reclamation. In the same way, the revised agreement gives New Mexico more flexibility to comply with groundwater reductions.

Under the agreement, the state must reduce groundwater pumping in the Lower Rio Grande over the next 10 years. To implement the settlement, the state Legislature approved $22.5 million for conservation projects, decommissioning of irrigated farmland, and enhanced water monitoring programs.

Practical roadmap

State Engineer Elizabeth Anderson said the settlement is a pragmatic pathway for balancing legal obligations with the economics of farming communities. “This agreement gives New Mexico the tools, flexibility and time needed to meet our legal obligations while continuing to support agriculture, economic activity and responsible water management across the region,” Anderson said.

State officials view the settlement as more than the end of a lawsuit. But it is a rare moment of stability as water has become both increasingly scarce and politically explosive.

States across the West are preparing for a water war as rivers shrink and aquifers dry up. But for now, New Mexico has prevented what could be a devastating loss, and, at the same time, it secured time to adapt to a drier future.

The Disappearance of Insects is no Longer Subtle — and Scientists Warn the Collapse Could Unravel Ecosystems Humans Depend On

Juan Oliveros
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The Disappearance of Insects is no Longer Subtle — and Scientists Warn the Collapse Could Unravel Ecosystems Humans Depend On

The New Mexico desert used to be humming a soundtrack. Crickets chirped from grasses by the roadside. Grasshoppers sprang drunkenly through the heat. Monarch butterflies floated above fields in flashes of orange and black. Insects splattered windshields after long drives were once so common.

Now, scientists say, the silence itself has become obvious.

Across the state — and increasingly around the globe — insects are vanishing at an alarming rate. These tiny creatures are becoming victims of intensifying heat, prolonged drought, pesticide use, and disappearing habitat. Researchers once described the declines as isolated. But they now recognize the declines as part of a broader ecological crisis with consequences far beyond the bugs themselves.

Insects as tiny labor force

The disappearance is not only about artistry. It is about the biological machinery that sustains life. “Insects are the backbone of ecosystems,” said David Lightfoot, a research associate professor in biology at the University of New Mexico. He studied grasshopper populations for over three decades. Scientists say that without insects, food webs begin to break down, pollination weakens, and birds disappear. Without them, soil health deteriorates, and fish populations suffer. The entire ecosystem loses the tiny labor force that quietly keeps it functioning.

Worldwide, the decline has become so obvious. Entomologists now describe their vanishing population as a form of ecological erosion — incremental, relentless, and unnoticeable until collapse becomes visible. “What people are reporting globally is, in fact, happening right here in New Mexico,” Lightfoot said. “More than half of the species we’re evaluating are threatened with extinction, endangered, or critically endangered based on recent declines.”

That finding unsettled researchers because New Mexico has no sprawling urban development usually associated with ecological destruction elsewhere. The state still contains vast swathes of open land. But across the state, the insects are vanishing. Scientists frame the causes as cumulative: temperatures are getting hotter, water supplies are shrinking, herbicides, pesticides, invasive species, and habitat fragmentation combine into what one researcher called “death by a thousand cuts.”

The case of butterflies

The losses are not occurring to obscure or rarely seen species. The Monarch butterfly — perhaps North America’s most recognizable insect — has suffered one of the sharpest collapses.

Kevin Burls, an endangered species conservation biologist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, estimates that western Monarch populations are now “99 percent smaller than populations in the 1980s.” “We’re losing common things in large numbers where they’re having cascading effects in other animal communities,” said Burls. “If you talk to any songbird person in the West,” he added, “they’ll tell you the decline in insects is responsible for fewer birds.”

Bird researchers across North America have increasingly connected diminishing bird populations to dwindling insect abundance. Many migratory birds rely almost entirely on insects to feed their hatchlings. That being said, fewer insects mean fewer chicks survive.

The consequences ripple throughout in ways most people never see. Approximately three-fourths of wild flowering plants rely on insects for reproduction. About a third of food crops also rely on pollinators. These tiny laborers decompose waste, recycle nutrients, and naturally act as pesticides. Scientists say that ecosystems begin losing resilience without insects.

But because insects are small, their population decline unfolds invisibly. “There’s no headline when you lose beetles,” Burls remarked. “People notice when forests burn. They don’t notice when ecosystems slowly stop functioning.”

The case of butterflies is different because they are extensively monitored. Butterflies have become one of the clearest signs of ecological stress. A 2025 study analyzing more than 76,000 butterfly surveys found that butterfly populations declined 22 percent between 2000 and 2020. Shrinking populations outnumbered growing populations by 13 to 1.

The sharpest declines occurred in the American Southwest — including New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma. The overall butterfly abundance in these regions dropped by nearly 4 in 10.

No longer theoretical

The changes are no longer theoretical. Simon Doneski, a doctoral candidate at the University of New Mexico who studies butterflies, said this year’s extreme heat and dry winter spells triggered something unprecedented: butterflies came out from their chrysalises weeks earlier than normal. He recorded nearly two dozen species appearing about a month ahead of established patterns. “We’re in uncharted territory,” Doneski said. “This hasn’t happened in at least 100 years.”

Early emergence of butterflies might sound harmless. Scientists, however, say it is not. Butterflies rely on precise timing between temperature, flowering plants, and caterpillar food sources. If butterflies emerge before flowers bloom, they will have no food. Caterpillars born too early may face deadly summer heat before they reach maturity.

Climate change, according to a study, is causing havoc to environmental calendars that evolved over thousands of years. Increasing temperatures are becoming dangerous to insects’ life cycles: eggs dry out, vegetation withers, streams disappear, and heat waves push fragile species beyond survival thresholds.

Growing tensions

The crisis has also revealed growing tensions between agriculture, public health, and conservation policy. Pesticides and herbicides are still widely used on farms, in suburbs, and on public lands, even as studies associate them with pollinator declines. Experts argue that there is a lack of political urgency to protect insects because they have few defenders compared with industries backed by powerful lobbying groups. “Involvement with local politics and state legislatures is hugely important,” Burls said. “Other interests have really good lobby support, lots of advocates, but insects don’t always have that — so every voice counts.”

New Mexico lawmakers overhauled the state Department of Wildlife. Scientists say the move could help improve conservation efforts. But they warn that funding for insect monitoring and protection remains inadequate. “Before we protect them, we have to learn about them,” Lightfoot said.

Meanwhile, ordinary people still have meaningful ways to help to stave off the crisis. Residents can plant native pollinator species, reduce pesticide use, and preserve habitat in gardens and neighborhoods. Many researchers, however, warn that individual actions alone cannot reverse declines occurring at a global scale. The bigger challenge, they say, is whether society can recognize the ecological worth of forgotten species.

The crisis is not only about butterflies or crickets or grasshoppers. It is about the stability of ecosystems humans depend on but often overlook — until the silence becomes difficult to ignore.

Cellicion Traditional Dance Group Brings Pueblo of Zuni Heritage to Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s 50 for 50 Celebration

Victoria Padilla
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The 50 Years of Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – “50 for 50”: 1976-2026 Exhibit will include a performance of the Cellicion Traditional Dance Group of the Pueblo of Zuni. This performance will take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This headline is important because, through music and movement, the Cellicion Dance Group conveys the essence of Pueblo culture. Moreover, the group fulfills the IPCC’s purpose to celebrate and protect Indigenous culture in celebration of their 50th Anniversary.

The performance will feature traditional Zuni dances performed by the Cellicion Dance Group. The dances will be accompanied by live drumming and singing. Consequently, this creates an immersive experience for the audience about Pueblo culture. The artistic expression of the Cellicion Dance Group illustrates the ongoing practice of Indigenous traditions. It is also a defining aspect of Pueblo identity.

Cultural preservation is an example of how the Zuni connect with and preserve their traditions. This creates an educational opportunity through exposure to authentic Indigenous performance. Furthermore, opportunities for cultural exchange and interaction are created through audience participation. There is also an opportunity for tourism to draw visitors to the Albuquerque area through unique programming with a cultural aspect.

The headline illustrates that the Cellicion Traditional Dance Group’s performance goes beyond entertainment. Instead, it is a living cultural representation of Pueblo heritage that will contribute to the IPCC milestone anniversary exhibition.

In summary, the Cellicion Traditional Dance Group’s participation in 50 for 50 will help the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center create an event that embodies authenticity, artistry, and community spirit. This event will inspire the audience and represent the Pueblo’s identity.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Marks 50 Years with “50 for 50” Exhibition Showcasing Pueblo Heritage

Victoria Padilla
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To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center has launched a year-long exhibition titled 50 for 50: 1976 – 2026. This exhibition features Pueblo pottery and imagery. It also shares stories of Pueblo culture.

This exhibition is significant because the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center has served as an essential resource for the preservation and teaching of Pueblo culture since 1976. In addition, it is a gathering place for communities. Moreover, it is a destination for international visitors.

The exhibition features 50 objects from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s collections and archives, with special attention to Pueblo Pottery. Throughout the year, the Center will add gallery-based video interviews with Pueblo artists, scholars, and culture bearers. As a result, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the traditions and viewpoints reflected in the works.

In addition, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center will invite visitors to help celebrate its 50th anniversary. This will take place at a public reception on March 21, 2026, from 5 to 8 PM. The celebration will continue until February 15, 2027.

There are many advantages to the 50 for 50 Exhibition. These include conserving the heritage of the Pueblo People through representations of their objects and traditions across space and time. The exhibition also enriches educational opportunities through the diverse perspectives of artists and academics. Furthermore, it engages with the community at events and receptions. These gatherings give people the opportunity to learn about how traditional Pueblo culture can be connected to people outside of the Pueblo communities. It encourages tourism and access to the Pueblo peoples and culture. This is possible by enabling people to experience what the Pueblo culture is all about in Albuquerque for an entire year.

The title signifies that 50 for 50 is more than an exhibition…it is a true account of the Pueblo People’s identity and resilience. It connects art, community, and history.

In conclusion, the 50 for 50 Exhibition is a celebration of 50 years of preserving the culture of the Pueblo Peoples. This is represented through pottery, archives, and the voices of Pueblo Artists. This will continue to inspire many more future generations. It will also welcome the world to experience.

He Built CNN. But Ted Turner Wanted to Be Remembered for Saving the Wild.

Juan Oliveros
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He Built CNN. But Ted Turner Wanted to Be Remembered for Saving the Wild.

CNN founder Ted Turner was silently trying to save something else: the American landscape. And that was long before Americans debated through the evening on cable TV, and also before the nonstop churn of breaking news became the soundtrack of modern life.

By then, Turner had already conquered television. He had made the Atlanta Braves a part of the national consciousness, sparred publicly with politicians and moguls, and built a reputation as a flamboyant tycoon who seemed to treat controversy like oxygen. To the world, Turner was loud, impulsive, and almost impossible to ignore.

But on the vast ranchlands lies his other persona. Across Montana and the Rocky Mountains, another version of Ted Turner emerged — a persona many Americans scarcely knew existed. There, the CNN mogul became obsessed with restoration.

Beyond CNN: Ted Turner’s Quiet Crusade to Restore America’s Wild Lands

He acquired damaged ranches not to develop them into luxury subdivisions or exclusive retreats. Turner returned them to something closer to what they had once been. He rehabilitated rivers, restored native grasses, and reopened wildlife corridors. Most visibly, bison once again roamed across lands where they had nearly vanished, to a herd of more than 55,000, among the largest in the world.

Friends and biologists who worked alongside Turner say he deeply believed that private landownership has moral obligations. Property rights, in his mind, were never absolute if the landscape was being destroyed. That philosophy stunned many of his wealthy peers.

In the 1980s, residents around Bozeman, Montana, were startled when Turner placed a conservation easement on his 113,000-acre Flying D Ranch. The initiative had permanently limited future development. It was among the largest easements in the United States at the time. The decision almost cost him hundreds of millions of dollars in potential real estate revenue.

To Turner, the sacrifice seemed evident. He often contended that conservation and capitalism need not be enemies. Ranches, he believed, could remain economically viable while sheltering wolves, elk, moose, and bison. He transformed his lands into living experiments in coexistence. Wolves roamed freely on the Flying D Ranch, under a take-it-leave-it instruction from Turner: they were never to be hunted.

The Untold Story of Ted Turner’s War to Bring Nature Back

Friends still recall the image as almost cinematic. Billionaire investor Thomas Kaplan once stood beside Turner as a pack of wolves howled across the Montana wilderness. Then Turner tilted back his head and howled back to the pack.

Kaplan later claimed the CNN founder inspired him to devote his own fortune to wildlife preservation. He helped establish global conservation efforts for jaguars, reptiles and amphibians. Ranchers in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands once killed jaguars. Now, they profit from ecotourism by protecting them.

To those who knew him, Turner’s conservation work showed the emotional core beneath his swagger. The media mogul’s childhood had been one of grief and emotional brutality. His father, a demanding businessman, ended his life by suicide. His sister died from lupus at a young age. Friends say Turner masked his loneliness with humor, excess, and unparalleled ambition.

Turner’s former wife, actress Jane Fonda, once reflected that nature became a sanctuary for him. “What did he want most of all?” she said. “To be recognized as a good guy.” The desire deepened as Turner aged.

Ted Turner Tried to Heal the Land — and Himself

Biologist Mike Phillips, director of Turner Natural Resources, oversaw many of Turner’s rewilding projects. He remembered a quiet conversation during Turner’s later years, when illness had tempered the once-boisterous mogul. “We did okay, didn’t we?” Turner asked him. Phillips told him only a few private citizens in history had done more to restore native species and ecosystems. He said Turner became emotional.

The public story of Ted Turner centered on disruption — the man who reinvented television news and took delight in the show. But his lesser-known legacy is scattered across millions of acres of protected land and restored wildlife habitat. Less visible but perhaps more lasting. Not the noise of cable news. But the return of wolves, the recovery of rivers, the sound of bison moving again through open landscape.

The CNN founder spent much of his life trying to save nature. But his closest friends believe he may also have been trying to save himself.

Free Meals Await Kids and Teens This Summer

Gregg Morgan
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Free Meals Await Kids and Teens This Summer

Even during summer break, Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) continues serving children in the community. And what better way to make summer more fun than by offering free meals?

This year, APS Food and Nutrition Services partnered with the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County to expand summer meals. The program provides free, nutritious and delicious meals to anyone 18 and under at over 100 sites across the city.

These summer meal programs give children and teens access to healthy food throughout the summer. The meals aim to help them stay active and ready to learn.

The program will serve meals Monday through Friday at various times. It will close meal service on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth and on July 3 for Independence Day.

Families do not need to sign up in advance for the program. Children and teens can simply show up hungry and enjoy a meal.

Rules to Follow

Here are the guidelines to follow for the Summer Food Service Program:

  • Children ages 1–18 must be present to receive a meal. 
  • Staff will serve all meals on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Children must receive the entire meal, including milk.
  • Staff will provide each child with one meal.
  • Staff will not give meals to adults without a child present.
  • Children must eat their meal at the site, and staff will not allow meals to be taken off site.
  • Participants must clean up their area when they finish eating.
  • Participants must respect others around them and have fun!

The program seeks volunteers to facilitate summer meals at park locations across Albuquerque. Interested individuals may visit the Volunteer Opportunity Page to apply. 

Find summer meal sites here. 

“He Never Had a Chance”: A Correction Officer Was Beaten Unconscious and Tased in a 22-Second Jailhouse Attack

Juan Oliveros
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“He Never Had a Chance”: A Correction Officer Was Beaten Unconscious and Tased in a 22-Second Jailhouse Attack

The correction officer scaled the steps, expecting to monitor inmates. Instead, prosecutors say, he entered into an ambush, where three inmates allegedly cornered and assaulted him in an attack so brutal that he lost consciousness before it ended. The beating lasted for 22 seconds.

By the time other guards hurried into the housing pod, prosecutors said, the attackers had already punched the officer approximately 30 times and kicked about 15 times. They shocked the correction officer with his own taser as he collapsed, unresponsive on the floor.

Federal authorities this week accused the three inmates — Juan Gabriel Torres, Sergio Seanez and Titus Josiah McGaw Bulger — of assault with a dangerous weapon and inflicting bodily injury on a person assisting officers of the United States. All three are in federal custody pending trial. Each of the attackers faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

The court filings described the episode in stark detail, which unfolded inside a section of the jail where six inmates were supposed to be locked inside their cells. Among the inmates was a federal detainee the correction officer had been assigned to monitor for the U.S. Marshals Service.

According to newly filed federal court documents, the officer, identified only as John Doe, worked on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service inside the Doña Ana County Detention Center on the night of May 11. The prosecutors allege that Torres, Seanez, and Bulger waited at the top of the stairs — an area where inmates were not authorized to be.

By the time the officer reached the second floor, Torres allegedly lunged first. He attempted to punch Doe. The officer ducked the blow, according to court records. But prosecutors say Seanez and Bulger joined the attack, knocking the officer to the ground. Investigators say the inmates then attacked him relentlessly.

Court filings allege that Seanez pinned the officer down as Torres and Bulger punched, kicked, and stomped on his body, head, and neck. At some point during the relentless attack, the officer lost consciousness.

But the assault did not stop there. Prosecutors say the three inmates continued striking him even after he lay unconscious. Then, according to the complaint, Torres removed Doe’s taser from its holster and used it against the unconscious officer. Responders later rushed the officer to a hospital, where he regained consciousness.

The incident has intensified the review of detention facility safety standards that house both county and federal inmates — institutions where inadequate staffing, inmate violence, and security gaps have become flashpoints across the country.

Federal authorities did not publicly disclose possible motives for the assault. They also did not discuss whether additional security failures are under investigation. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, the special agent in charge of the F.B.I.’s Albuquerque field office, said the probe involved the F.B.I.’s Las Cruces Resident Agency, the Doña Ana County Detention Center, the U.S. Marshals Service and task force officers from the Las Cruces Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Gardner is handling the case. The court has yet to schedule a trial date.

More New Mexico Students are Filling Out FAFSA. Why That Could Change the State’s Future.

Juan Oliveros
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More New Mexico Students are Filling Out FAFSA. Why That Could Change the State’s Future.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid — better known as FAFSA — has been one of the most important, but underrecognized stewards of higher education pathways in America. Students who complete it are more likely to enroll in college, thrive through graduation, and earn higher lifetime incomes. And those who do not often leave awarded funds unspent.

Now, New Mexico has emerged as one of the country’s success stories.

The state documented one of the largest year-over-year increases in FAFSA completion in the nation. New Mexico joined only Alaska, Arizona, and Florida in reporting gains of at least 20 percent, according to new data from the National College Attainment Network. Nationwide, 54.7 percent of high school seniors had completed the application by May 1, a record high reached nearly two months ahead of the usual June benchmark.

In New Mexico, however, education officials say the numbers represent more than bureaucratic progress. These numbers, they say, are an early signal of a transformation in a state long strained by poverty, low educational attainment, and the outmigration of young people to seek opportunity elsewhere.

Aggressive investments

“New Mexico’s students continue to show what is possible when a state invests in its people,” said Stephanie M. Rodriguez, the state’s higher education secretary. She cited the gains as proof that aggressive investments in tuition-free college programs and student outreach have begun to reshape expectations about who gets to pursue higher education.

The FAFSA form is often seen as a technical financial aid document. But it serves as the front door to college affordability; completing it unlocks access to federal Pell Grants, state scholarships, work-study programs, and institutional aid. For a large share of New Mexico’s population — the low-income and first-generation students — failure to submit the application can result in abandoning college plans entirely.

That reality became particularly urgent after the federal launch of a redesigned FAFSA system last year was marred by widespread operational bottlenecks and technical setbacks. The problem had frustrated students and counselors, contributing to fears of declining college enrollment across the country.

New Mexico moved in the opposite direction instead.

State officials attribute the increase to a coordinated effort involving schools, counselors, educators, and community organizations that aggressively promoted FAFSA completion, pairing it with one of the nation’s tuition-free college programs. The state’s Opportunity and Lottery scholarships allow students to attend public colleges essentially tuition-free.

The strategy appears to be redefining enrollment patterns. Nearly 118,000 New Mexicans are now enrolling in certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate programs, according to state data — part of a 13.6 percent enrollment increase since 2021. New Mexico is one of only two states to record consistent growth in higher education enrollment over the past four years, a reversal at a time when many American colleges are coping with declining student numbers.

FAFSA completion matters

FAFSA completion matters because it often predicts whether students will continue their education at all. Mandatory FAFSA policies in states such as Louisiana, Texas, and Illinois have resulted in significant increases in completion rates, especially among low-income and first-generation students, according to The Century Foundation. And communities with higher college-going rates are likely to have lower unemployment levels, as more residents find stable, higher-paying jobs, the foundation added.

New Mexico’s rural communities and working-class families have historically faced high barriers to higher education; the implications could ripple far beyond college campuses. State leaders have long argued that improving access to college education is also a workforce strategy. The state has been trying to develop talent pipelines in health care, renewable energy, education, and technology sectors that need higher education credentials.

Officials say the next phase will remain focused on adult learners, loan repayment programs, and expanding affordable access to workforce training and postsecondary education. Behind the statistics is a bigger political gambit: that public investment in education can lessen inequality and create a more economically resilient future in one of America’s poorest states.

Thousands of New Mexico students may view the FAFSA form as mere paperwork. But for the state, it represents more of an economic blueprint.

Why Inclusion Matters: UNM Study Explores Experiences of Faculty Members with Disabilities 

Gregg Morgan
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Why Inclusion Matters: UNM Study Explores Experiences of Faculty Members with Disabilities 

In today’s society, persons with disabilities actively work and build careers across various fields, including the academe. A faculty member with disabilities at University of New Mexico led a study on disabled educators’ experiences in higher education.

Marissa Greenberg serves as associate professor in the Department of English Language and Literature. She co-authored the paper Confronting Disability Pasts, Constructing Disability Futures: Recommendations for Growing Access, Equity, and Inclusion for Disabled Faculty in Higher Education. 

“The initial motivating factor was my lived experience as a faculty member with disabilities and wanting to better understand how my experience related to the experiences of others,” Greenberg said. 

Greenberg combines disability studies with research on higher education and faculty experiences at UNM. She also led a 2022 survey of faculty with disabilities as the Academic Faculty Leadership Fellow with the Division for Change and Empowerment (DiCE). 

For Greenberg, the research forms part of her ongoing advocacy work at the university. She carried out the initiative while serving as academic faculty leadership fellow for DiCE. She now holds the position of Special Advisor to the Vice President and conducts  interviews with university leaders to gather research data. The research will help shape recommendations for the incoming provost and president expected to assume office in the coming months. 

Greenberg and co-author Siobhán Cully sought to publish the article to share their research. They aimed to help academic leaders understand the historical harms experienced by faculty, staff, and students with disabilities.  

“We’re hoping this sort of information can help administrators make informed choices based on past experiences in order to have a more successful future in serving everyone in our community,” Greenberg said. 

Inside the Experiences of Faculty with Disabilities at UNM

The article highlights how UNM recognizes the value of faculty with disabilities. 

“We as a university take a lot of pride in the diversity of our faculty and how that diversity reflects the diversity of our students,” Greenberg said. 

But Greenberg says many faculty across higher education experience anxiety about disclosing their disabilities. 

“There’s this culture of ableism where the idea is if you have a disability, you don’t belong in academia,” Greenberg said. “It’s this bias against any kind of body or mind that doesn’t fit a norm and is therefore seen as less-than.” 

Faculty with disabilities may avoid disclosing their conditions even when they need accommodations. They often fear that the disclosure process will be time-consuming and energy-draining. 

Study Offers Recommendations for Inclusive Higher Education

The research article identifies these shortcomings and offers recommendations to address them. The authors examine these failures and address them in ways that will improve conditions for faculty with disabilities. 

The article emphasizes shifting compliance to inclusion within institutions of higher education and beyond. It states that institutions should move beyond “checking boxes” and minimal legal compliance. They should instead foster a culture of belonging that values faculty with disabilities. 

“It starts with a conversation asking what they need and trusting that the faculty member knows themselves, knows their needs, and knows how to succeed,” Greenberg said. “Shifting away from compliance to real inclusion and having ourselves represented in our leadership and at all levels, is how institutions can serve their communities of folks with disabilities.”

Literacy Night Builds Reading Skills and Creativity

Gregg Morgan
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Literacy Night Builds Reading Skills and Creativity

How do educators inspire children to love literacy? Every school at Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) creates engaging activities that build reading confidence and encourage young learners to enjoy books. Sierra Vista Elementary School recently organized such an activity.

The school welcomed families for its annual Literacy Night and Wax Museum, celebrating reading, creativity and student learning. Librarian Sue Gonzalez and the school’s Reading Goal Team organized the celebration. The event formed part of a week-long series of activities tied to the One Book, One School initiative featuring The Wild Robot.

Students also read Macho No Machismo by Miguel Briones. Briones had visited the school earlier in the week to speak with students about the book and its themes.

During Literacy Night, students proudly presented projects inspired by The Wild Robot, showcasing their creativity and connections to the story.

A highlight of the evening was the fifth-grade Wax Museum. Students researched important historical figures and influential individuals and dressed as their chosen person. They became “living wax figures” as families walked through the exhibit, learning about each character.

School leaders said the event reflected the hard work, enthusiasm and imagination of both students and staff. It also created a memorable experience for families and the school community.

Summer Reading Program

APS has been active in strengthening literacy, especially among young learners.  

In fact, the district offers a free and comprehensive summer reading program for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It has partnered with the New Mexico Public Education Department for the initiative. This helps children use their time wisely and avoid idle moments during the period. 

The program aims to empower participating students. It has three simple goals: enhance literacy, track reading progress, and boost confidence and skills in literacy. 

This high-impact opportunity helps students who may be struggling to catch up in reading. It also provides focused instruction for those who want to get further ahead. APS said it is one of the several summer learning programs available to students.

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