At Western New Mexico University, the individual members of the spring class of 2022 will again get to choose how they celebrate their accomplishment. A hybrid commencement ceremony on the evening of Friday, May 6, will give graduates and guests the option of participating virtually or in person.
The outdoor ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. in WNMU Ben Altamirano Stadium. While WNMU has held early afternoon commencement ceremonies in the past, the university moved the ceremony to later in the day for the comfort and convenience of graduates and their families.
Graduates participating virtually will be represented on a large screen. Each will be spotlighted for a few seconds, as has been the custom at recent WNMU commencement ceremonies.
Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small is the WNMU Spring 2022 Commencement Ceremony speaker. Torres Small grew up in the New Mexico borderlands and, throughout her career, has employed her experience working in vulnerable, rural communities to achieve lasting investments that combat poverty. With a law degree from UNM, an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, and an international baccalaureate from Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa, Torres Small was the woman and first person of color to be the U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s second congressional district.
Additional details about the WNMU spring 2022 hybrid commencement ceremony are available at commencement.wnmu.edu, where any updates will also be shared. The milestone event will be streamed live on Facebook and wnmu.edu.