New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has called for the immediate resignation of the regents at Western New Mexico University WNMU following allegations of financial mismanagement and poor oversight. In a year-end letter to the five-member board, the governor emphasized the need for new leadership to stabilize the institution, urging a “clean slate” to refocus on student priorities.
This demand came after the resignation of WNMU President Joseph Shepard, who stepped down amid an investigation into lavish spending and mismanagement.
State auditors found that Shepard, alongside the board, failed in their fiduciary duties, with concerns over his extravagant expenditures on international travel and luxury items, including furniture, as well as misuse of a university credit card by his wife, Valerie Plame. Shepard’s resignation included a controversial severance package, which guarantees him a six-figure faculty position, a $1.9 million one-time payment, and other financial benefits. This package is under investigation by the State Ethics Commission, with Attorney General Raúl Torrez questioning the regents’ adherence to their fiduciary responsibilities.
In response to the growing controversy, WNMU faculty members overwhelmingly voted no-confidence in the regents, urging state intervention to reverse Shepard’s resignation agreement. Professor Phillip Schoenberg, the faculty senate president, voiced strong dissatisfaction with the leadership and expressed support for the governor’s push for decisive action.
With additional pressure mounting, the remaining regents are expected to step down, leaving WNMU in a state of uncertainty. The university, founded in the 1890s, now faces significant challenges in restoring its reputation and regaining public trust.