Education

Dean Of Instruction Brent Pickett & UNM-LA … ‘A Perfect Match’

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UNM-LA’s new Dean of Instruction Brent Pickett. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

When Dr. Brent Pickett joined the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) team as its Dean of Instruction he said it felt like a perfect match.

“Even when I interviewed, it was such a good match,” Pickett said.

UNM-LA Chancellor Mike Holtzclaw agreed.

“It was very clear from the interview process and from the feedback from the faculty that his personality and way of interacting with people would fit nicely with Los Alamos,” Holtzclaw Read More

Private Postsecondary Enrollment Grows 6% As 95 Institutions Receive State Authorization

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NMHED News:

SANTA FE — Private postsecondary enrollment in New Mexico has grown 6% to reach 10,685 students as the New Mexico Higher Education Department completed state authorization renewal for 95 institutions for the 2026 academic year. 

A total of 95 institutions renewed their authorization, while an additional 10 institutions remain in good standing. For the 2026 academic year, the following types of institutions received state authorization renewal:  

  • 44 distance education institutions 
  • 33 licensed institutions 
  • 11 registered institutions 
  • 7 out-of-state proprietary institutions 
Read More

Former DEA Agent To Speak On Current Drug Trafficking Overview And U.S. Policy

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Michael S. Vigil

SFWAF News:

Michael S. Vigil, born and raised in Española, New Mexico, earned his degree in criminal justice at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces where he graduated with Honors. He later joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and became one of its most highly decorated agents. Throughout his career, he served in thirteen foreign and domestic posts of duty and rose through the ranks to the highest levels of the Senior Executive Service becoming the Special Agent in Charge of the Caribbean and San Diego Divisions. One of his final posts was as the Chief of International Read More

First Private ABC Suicide Prevention Training Held Aug. 16

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Bernadette Lauritzen speaking Aug. 16 at ABC suicide prevention training. Courtesy photo

COMMUNITY News:

Bernadette Lauritzen (Executive Director of Champions of Youth Ambitions), alongside Brandi Weiss (Program Manager and Anchorum Fellow for Los Alamos Community Foundation), hosted the first ABC suicide prevention training partner class at the Los Alamos Jewish Center on Aug. 16.

ABC suicide prevention training (ask, be present, and connect) recently rolled out in Los Alamos in partnership with Santa Fe Community College.

LAUNCH (Los Alamos Uniting for Community Health) is working Read More

New Mexico Bureau Of Geology Names 2025 Earth Science Achievement Award Recipient

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NMT News:

SOCORRO, NM — The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR) at New Mexico Tech will present the 2025 Earth Science Achievement Award for Research and Education to University of New Mexico Emeritus Professor Dr. Les McFadden. An influential geoscientist and dedicated teacher, McFadden will receive the award Sept. 18 at the New Mexico Geological Society’s annual Fall Field Conference in Cuba, New Mexico.

During a career spanning almost four decades—all spent in New Mexico—McFadden’s research has increased our understanding of the soils, climates (past, present, Read More

Emergency-Preparedness Exercise Scheduled At Los Alamos National Laboratory Wednesday Sept. 3

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LANL News:

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has scheduled an emergency preparedness exercise for Wednesday, Sept. 3.

The exercise will test the preparedness of personnel who would respond in the case of an actual emergency.

The exercise will last approximately six hours, beginning at 10 a.m. The event is only an exercise.

Some elements of this exercise may be observable to the public, such as increased emergency vehicle traffic, workers in protective equipment performing simulated activities and “exercise in progress” signage.

The Laboratory’s Emergency Management Division Read More

Investing In Our Future: Why UNM-LA’s Endowment Fund Matters Now More Than Ever

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By MIKE HOLTZCLAW
Chancellor
UNM-Los Alamos

At UNM-Los Alamos, we are proud of our legacy of providing accessible, high-quality education that empowers students and strengthens our community. Today, we stand at a pivotal moment — one that calls for bold action and collective investment in our future.

Thanks to a transformative opportunity through a federal Title V Grant, we have the chance to establish something UNM-LA has never had before: an endowed fund dedicated to supporting student success, faculty excellence and emerging campus needs. This fund will provide the chancellor with Read More

Jaurigue: Statement Of Candidacy For School Board

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By ANTONIO JAURIGUE
White Rock

My name is Antonio Jaurigue, and I am running for the Los Alamos School Board in District 2. I am the proud parent of three children in Los Alamos Public Schools: two in high school and one in elementary school at Chamisa. Each of my kids is engaged in a different facet of school life—music, art, and sports—giving me a firsthand view of the opportunities and challenges our students experience every day.

My spouse is a Special Education teacher in our district, and together, we are deeply invested in the success and wellbeing of all Los Alamos children. I hold a Bachelor’s Read More

Oppenheimer And The H-Bomb: A Historic Lecture With Nicholas Lewis Aug. 28

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SALA News:

The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer did not end with the atomic bomb. In the years after World War II, the famed scientific director of Los Alamos faced his greatest political and moral challenge: the hydrogen bomb. Known as the “Super,” this weapon was exponentially more destructive than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

As chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission’s General Advisory Committee, Oppenheimer strongly opposed the development of the H-bomb. He argued not only that the science was uncertain, but also that creating such a weapon would plunge the world into an Read More

April Wade Files Candidacy For Seat On Los Alamos Public Schools Board In District 1

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April Wade files to run for the District 1 seat on the Los Alamos Public Schools Board this morning in the Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office. As Director of Little Forest Playschool, Wade said, ‘I want to continue to give back to the kiddos even after they leave my school.’ She added that she would like to build bridges between early childhood and the school district. Check back at ladailypost.com for details on all of the candidates running for office this election season. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More