Barbara Couture (Photo by Darren Phillips/NMSU)
‘I will work tirelessly to assure that NMSU fulfills its promise as the state’s great land-grant university,’ Barbara Couture says
New Mexico State University’s new president – the school’s 25th – is the first woman to hold the job, at least on a permanent basis.
Waded Cruzado held the job on an interim basis after Michael Martin left the university last year.
The Board of Regents introduced new President Barbara Couture on Thursday at a morning meeting in Las Cruces. She hit the ground running, making a quick trip to Santa Fe to meet with legislative staffers and the governor, then buzzing back to Las Cruces for a reception at the home of Regent Laura Conniff.
“I will work tirelessly to assure that NMSU fulfills its promise as the state’s great land-grant university, promoting educational access and cultural diversity, strengthening relationships across the university’s campuses and extension sites, and achieving excellence in teaching, research and engagement with the communities, businesses and industries across the state of New Mexico,” Couture said in a news release.
The immediate reaction to the regents’ selection of Couture was positive.
“With the appointment of Dr. Barbara Couture, NMSU is embarking on a new day — one that brings a permanent president who brings proven experience and the promise of a brighter future for our beloved university,” NMSU Regent Javier Gonzales said in an interview. “Her experience has made her the right fit for our university.”
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who will meet with Couture today in Las Cruces, sounded equally impressed.
“Her understanding of the mission and challenges facing land-grant institutions like NMSU make Dr. Couture uniquely qualified to lead the university,” Denish said in a news release. “I know that she will take NMSU to new heights and make sure that each year our state has a new class of educated, hard-working and motivated leaders.”
‘She immediately took to our campus’
Couture is the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and a professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Couture will start her job at NMSU on Jan. 1 at an annual salary of $385,000. Her contract also includes use of the presidential residence, a car, a country club membership and, at the end of five years, a $500,000 retention bonus funded by the NMSU Foundation.
Blake Curtis, chairman of the board of regents, said the retention bonus came “in response to the many stakeholders who expressed a desire for a long-term leader.” As I’ve reported before, the foundation doesn’t publicly release donor lists, so the funding behind that hefty bonus probably won’t be made public.
Curtis also praised Couture in a news release from the university.
“She immediately took to our campus, and her interaction during the open forums demonstrated an ability to relate to our students, faculty, staff, community members and statewide partners,” he said. “She will bring valuable insights from her experience at land-grant universities. We are confident in her leadership skills and value her commitment to being a long-term participant in NMSU’s future.”
In her position in Nebraska, Couture “initiated efforts” to create an outcomes-based general-education program that was nationally recognized, the release states. Also from the release:
“… she has led efforts to engage UNL in international partnerships, developing targeted partnership degree programs in China and increased global research opportunities. She is currently the principal investigator on a $3.8 million National Science Foundation-funded ADVANCE grant, and has led campuswide efforts to increase the recruitment and retention of a high-quality, diverse faculty. Nationally, she chairs the Executive Committee for the Council on Academic Affairs for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.”
Couture has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, where she also earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in English language and literature. An award-winning writer, Couture received the Outstanding Book Award at the 2000 Conference on College Composition and Communication for “Toward a Phenomenological Rhetoric: Writing, Profession and Altruism.”
‘Sheep dip, chile, calves and weed control’
Even Michael Swickard, an educator and columnist for this site who has long been involved with NMSU, expressed optimism about the hiring of Couture. Swickard had previously authored a commentary stating that “only professionals who have worked closely with agriculture and engineering for their entire professional lives are really qualified to lead NMSU.”
But on Thursday, Swickard had this to say after the regents announced the hiring of Couture:
“I was quite surprised in 1970 when Dr. Thomas was selected, a little-known ag dean. He became the best NMSU president ever. Could happen again. I hope our new prez values sheep dip, chile, calves and weed control as much Dr. Thomas.”