FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Susan Hammons – Feb. 24, 2004

(936) 468-2041

Guerrero Among Finalists for New Mexico State Presidency

            Stephen F. Austin State University President Tito Guerrero III is among five finalists for the presidency of New Mexico State University, the Las Cruces, N.M., school announced Monday.

            “I would like for the campus community and the citizens of Nacogdoches to know that I was approached about this position,” Dr. Guerrero said. “My wife and I are very happy in Nacogdoches and being associated with SFA. We are enjoying our experience here and are proud of the accomplishments we’ve been able to achieve in collaboration with our colleagues. But it’s hard to ignore an opportunity like this one when it presents itself.”

“The other four candidates have impressive backgrounds and would appear to be formidable contenders for this position,” Dr. Guerrero said.

“I want my colleagues and supporters to know that I plan to continue working on the challenges facing the university,” he said. “I’m still president at SFA, and that’s what I’m focusing on.”

Kenneth James, chairman of the SFA Board of Regents, said that it’s not surprising that Dr. Guerrero would be sought out by a university such as NMSU in light of SFA’s progress under his leadership.

“Stephen F. Austin State University is extremely fortunate to have someone of Tito Guerrero’s caliber at the helm,” he said. “We have mixed emotions about his being a finalist for this position. While we can understand why he would want to consider this career opportunity, we would hate for him to leave SFA.”

Dr. Guerrero has been president of SFA since 2001. Since that time, the university increased admission standards, resulting in a fall 2003 first-time freshman average SAT composite score of 1,000, which equaled the highest score in 25 years. Additionally, the president formed a salary equity committee to help guide the elimination of salary inequities over time and initiated an employee assistance tuition program.

Under his leadership, the university completed a strategic plan, and he has appointed an implementation committee to help ensure that commitments made in the plan are achieved. He also started a residence hall scholarship program to help attract high achieving students and twice-a-year Pizza with the President sessions for students and employee picnics.

Construction completed since he came to SFA or that is ongoing or planned totals $57 million. This includes completion of the Human Services/Telecommunications Building; expansion and renovation of the Homer Bryce Stadium press box; construction of four state-of-the-art broiler houses; campus infrastructure and technology upgrades; and initiation of construction of an athletic training facility, an equine center at the beef farm and the design phase of the University Center expansion and remodeling.

“I am particularly proud of new administrators hired, specifically the provost/vice president for academic affairs, the dean of the College of Education, the executive director of enrollment management, and the director of public affairs,” Dr. Guerrero said.

NMSU is a land grant university that enrolled a total of 23,578 students in fall 2003 on its main campus and four branch campuses, according to the university’s Web site. Enrollment at the main campus in Las Cruces is 16,174, including 3,377 graduate students.

            The university offers 73 bachelor’s, 51 master’s, three specialist in education and 24 doctoral programs, according to the Web site. Recently, its research and public service expenditures surpassed $165 million.

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