The new student regent was not nominated by GPSA or ASUNM, but she was one of three names UNM President Louis Caldera sent to the governor.
Rosalyn Nguyen was appointed in December by Gov. Bill Richardson to replace Andrea Cook, whose term is up.
Robert Bienstock, university counsel, said the governor picks a student regent from a list provided by the president.
According to New Mexico law, "the president makes a list of candidates, giving due consideration to the recommendations of the student body president of the university."
At UNM, the Graduate Professional Student Association and the Associated Students of UNM nominate three candidates and pass those names to Caldera.
Rosalyn Nguyen was one of 12 graduate applicants GPSA interviewed.
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She said she applied in good faith, and she did not know her name was not one of the three recommended by GPSA to the president.
"All I did was go to the interviews I was called for," she said.
Nguyen said it's the president's decision to do it this way. She possesses the experience and credentials to be a good student regent, she said.
In a statement, Caldera said Nguyen has been one of UNM's finest students and has been a campus leader in everything she has undertaken.
Nguyen served on the search committee that helped select Caldera as president in 2003.
GPSA nominated Joseph Garcia, Antonia Roybal and David Sanchez out of 12 applicants. ASUNM had six applicants and nominated Trey Smith, Duff Lill and David Steele.
Smith said he received a letter saying his name was passed on to Caldera, but the president never interviewed him.
Caldera requested all the applications from GPSA and ASUNM. He sent Nguyen, Roybal and Steele to interview with Richardson.
Bienstock said the internal process is not required by law.
Buckner Creel, GPSA president, said in the past, the student regent was chosen from the nominated graduate students. ASUNM President Kevin Stevenson said there has never been an undergraduate student regent.
Creel said the process is straightforward at each level, and the governor is free to choose candidates outside GPSA and ASUNM. He said because Caldera chose from the applicants, he respected the process.
"It is not a formalized written process," Creel said. "It is up to the president's discretion."
Stevenson said it's a double-edged sword, because the president needs to consider the recommendations of the students but also has to make sure the governor receives the best candidates.
Creel said he is disappointed the student was not chosen from GPSA's nominations, but he would have been happy with any of the candidates.
"I think Rosalyn will be a very good student regent," he said.
Nguyen graduated with University honors magna cum laude in May 2003 with a bachelor's degree in finance. She served in ASUNM her junior year, was the chair of the SUB board committee for four years, was on the SUB retail committee for three years and was a Regent Scholar. She is working on a dual master's degree in law and business administration.
"I've got a good understanding of the University," she said. "I'm really excited."
The state Senate must confirm Nguyen before she can serve her two-year term.
The Student Regent
-Serves as a full member of the board
-Shares all the rights and responsibilities of the board
-Has an equal vote to the other board members
-Will fill the student regent position on the Academic-Student Affairs Committee and the Advancement Committee
-Will begin once the state Senate confirms her position
-Serves a two-year term
Rosalyn Nguyen said she will have an office in the SUB, and students can reach her by phone or e-mail. Although her e-mail is not yet set up, her office number is 277-7539.
