The dean of the
Waded Cruzado-Salas was named to the job on Wednesday by university President Michael Martin.
“It’s clear that any of the finalists could serve us well, but I’m convinced Dr. Cruzado-Salas is exactly the right person for this team at this time in NMSU history,” Martin said in a news release.
Cruzado-Salas was among three finalists Martin interviewed in recent weeks. She had been a finalist for the same position a year ago at the
“I am honored, pleased and humbled to be able to serve the university in this capacity,” she said. “I will do my utmost to help President Martin achieve the goals he has set forth in his vision. At the same time, I will serve the faculty, staff and students at NMSU with the deepest devotion to academics and to their success.”
During the search process, Cruzado-Salas stressed the need for better integration among the three roles of the land-grant mission – teaching, research and service – as well as the importance of higher education for elevating the quality of life for all New Mexicans. She also talked about the importance of fundraising, citing the establishment of the first three endowed chairs in the
“I have relished my role as dean of arts and sciences,” she said, “and I am sorry to say goodbye to that. But I am looking forward to serving the entire academic community and the community at large in this new undertaking.”
Prior to coming to NMSU, Cruzado-Salas served four years as arts and sciences dean at the
Cruzado-Salas will be paid about $220,000 annually – the same as her predecessor Bill Flores, who recently left the job to become deputy secretary of higher education for the state.