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Barbara Couture, who was selected as the 25th president and first female president of New Mexico State University, said she is excited to begin work at NMSU and plans to integrate feedback from the campus community to improve the NMSU experience.
Making history
Couture said she is honored to be the first female president of NMSU and is up to the challenge.
“This job involves a great responsibility to the NMSU community,” Couture said, “and it would be a significant challenge for anyone, whether male or female.”
Couture said she hopes to serve as a role model for NMSU women who aspire to be leaders, and she hopes to inspire the campus community as a whole to reach its full potential.
Courted by multiple universities
Couture was also selected as a finalist in the presidential search at the University of Albany and Southern Illinois University, but said the NMSU land-grant mission and emphasis on research, teaching and outreach to the community appeal to her.
“[NMSU] lives and breathes commitment to supporting diversity, which has always been a core value for me,” Couture said.
Where to begin
Couture said she will focus on working with the state legislature to ensure NMSU has the proper resources to move ahead with quality teaching and research. Couture said she also plans to collect input from the campus community to help with future planning.
“Also important will be my visits across the state to those sites where NMSU offers courses and services,” Couture said. “We have lots to do when I get here in January.”
Climate change
Couture said although she is sure it will take time to adjust after moving from Nebraska to the desert, she is ready for the change.
“I already am ‘enchanted’ by the beauty of the ‘Land of Enchantment,” Couture said. “I’m looking forward to learning about the natural habitats of New Mexico, adjusting to warmer temperatures, and, perhaps, taking advantage of that to update my wardrobe.”
Couture said she is excited to learn more about the multiple cultures NMSU serves and will use her years of experience educating diverse student populations to meet the needs of the NMSU community.
“I am delighted with the cultural diversity of NMSU and proud to be leading the only land-grant Hispanic-serving university,” Couture said.
Couture said she has learned a lot throughout her experiences as a university educator and leader and plans to bring that knowledge and experience to NMSU. Couture said she has learned a great deal from student leaders, including how to listen more effectively to the student voice and to work with faculty and staff to benefit students.
“I look forward to working with the NMSU student leadership and having many more opportunities to talk with students at campus events and to learn what the NMSU experience means to them,” Couture said.
Associated Students of NMSU President Travis Dulany said he spoke with the UNL student body president who said Couture is great to work with and is very inclusive of students. Dulany said he will first bring Couture up to speed on issues, including the possible merging of the student and faculty health centers and the budget for next year.
“We’re certainly looking forward to having that sort of a leader on campus,” Dulany said. “We will be [focusing on] open communication with her. [Couture is] the right kind of administrator for NMSU, and we’re glad to have her here.”
Couture was selected as NMSU president by the Board of Regents on Nov. 19 and will begin her duties on Jan.1.
Kristina Medley is the news editor and can be reached at trunews@nmsu.edu
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