Jaden McKelvey-Francis - The Daily Lobo

News

KUNM programming to increase focus on local news

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | January 19

New Mexico’s largest nonprofit newsroom and National Public Radio affiliate, KUNM, is proposing a new program schedule to shift more local news segments into primetime listening slots. The changes could go into effect this spring, pending a review by the KUNM Radio Board on Feb. 3. “The top line for us is more local news for the most people, that’s why we’re making a program change,” KUNM’s General Manager Jeff Pope said.

News

UNM ARTSLab merges technology and art

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | January 19

Across University Boulevard from the University of New Mexico main campus sits the UNM ARTSLab, a place that many students have not entered, but likely noticed due to the large mural painted on the outside of the building. The ARTSLab provides technology and support to interdisciplinary research conducted within the College of Fine Arts, ARTSLab Director Stewart Skylar Copeland said. “We try to support and maintain cutting-edge equipment and technology that researchers can use and incorporate in the research they’re doing, and we support it and provide access to multiple users to that equipment,” Copeland said.

News

Valeria Brenes shares passion for photography, movement and individualism

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | December 8

Valeria Brenes will be graduating this fall with a Bachelor of Arts degree, having majored in dance and psychology while at the University of New Mexico. Brenes is a freelance photographer for The Daily Lobo, and said that it was one of her favorite jobs she had while in college. Some of the other jobs she held while working towards her degree were as a lifeguard and as a Spanish-language interpreter, though she said she did not feel like either of those jobs made an “impact,” and she hopes to go into a job in which she can help vulnerable communities. Brenes also said she wants to continue her studies related to art and therapy, perhaps by applying to a master’s program in the future, though she hasn’t applied to any just yet.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.