Jaden McKelvey-Francis - The Daily Lobo

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University seeks community input on next UNM president

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | November 24

As the search for the next University of New Mexico president continues, members of the community were invited to give their input on what qualities they would like to see the next president embody. Held on Nov. 18 and 19 — the first in UNM’s Student Union Building, and the second in the Domenici Education Center on the Health and Sciences campus — staff, faculty, students and community members presented their perspectives on the investigation to members of the search firm Isaacson, Miller, which the University has contracted to conduct the search.

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Keller earns key endorsement as runoff fast approaches

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | November 20

With the Albuquerque runoff elections just weeks away, incumbent Mayor Tim Keller has earned an important endorsement in his race against former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White. The New Mexico Working Families Party announced its endorsement of Keller on Thursday, Nov. 20, after its initial endorsement of former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Alex Uballez, during the regular election.

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Keller, White head to mayoral runoff election

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | November 10

Election Day has come and gone, but voters will soon have to return to the polls to cast their ballots for a second time this year. The Albuquerque mayoral race is headed to a runoff election between incumbent Mayor Tim Keller and former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White. The election will be held, with early voting taking place from Dec. 1 through 6. In the regular election, Keller won first place with 36% of the vote, and White came in second with 31%; a runoff is triggered if no candidate passes the 50% margin needed to win.

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UNM launches first comprehensive Sustainability Strategic Plan

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | November 10

After over a year of preparation and planning, the University of New Mexico announced its first comprehensive Sustainability Strategic Plan to organize the University’s sustainability goals into two main areas, on Oct. 29. The plan's two focuses are transforming campus operations and building sustainability engagement and culture. The first section of transforming campus operations contains measurable goals and objectives to create greater sustainability on campus, and the second section focuses on building culture and community within the University. The Director of UNM’s Office of Sustainability, Anne Jakle, said the first steps in the creation of the plan were to gather a baseline of data and to learn what the University community’s priorities are.

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Lobo food pantry feeds students during shutdown

Maria Fernandez and Jaden McKelvey-Francis | November 10

In light of federal funding for the anti-hunger Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program lapsing on Nov. 1, many people are looking for other sources to find food. For University of New Mexico students, the Lobo Food Pantry can be one of those resources. The pantry is primarily student-run and allows students with a UNM ID to take up to 10 pounds of items, including fresh produce, canned goods and hygiene items per day, the Director of UNM’s LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, Lisa Lindquist, said. “Our biggest thing that we try to think about is we want people to feel comfortable using this space. What we see a lot are students saying, ‘Well, other people deserve it more than I do.’ And the truth is that that's just not true, that's a myth. Anybody who needs its food should come in and use it,” Lindquist said.

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Search begins for next University President

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 27

With University of New Mexico’s President Garnett Stokes’ tenure coming to an end, the search for the next president has officially begun. During a Board of Regents meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Board announced that they have taken the first step in finding a replacement for Stokes, who in September announced her intention to resign at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. The Board will soon appoint an advisory committee tasked with carrying out a national search for the next president, according to a UNM press release.

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Mayoral candidates gather at UNM as election day closes in

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 20

As Election Day quickly approaches, the candidates for Albuquerque mayor continue to dash around the city with their packed campaign schedules. During their tour, they met at the University of New Mexico’s Student Union Building to discuss policing, public transit, the city’s economy and homelessness. The forum was hosted in part by students from the UNM Law School and held on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Of the field of six certified candidates, Mayling Armijo, incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Louie Sanchez and Alex Uballez were the four present, alongside write-in candidate Patrick Sais, who will not appear on the ballot.

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Alex Uballez interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

How does your experience and resume qualify you to lead the city of Albuquerque? “I was most recently the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. I was its chief federal law enforcement officer, running an office of 200 people who reported directly to me, as well as hundreds of federal ...

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Mayor Tim Keller interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

What some of your experiences over the past eight years and what some of those accomplishments have been, and why that experience tells voters that they should give you another term? “I was born and raised here, and when I was first elected, we were in tough times. We had President Trump. Crime was ...

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Mayling Armijo interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

How does your experience and resume qualify you to lead the city of Albuquerque? “I did 12 years in local government and three years at the state, so I understand how every component of local government works, and I've managed large budgets in the Navy and large battalions. I've been in austere environments ...