ENMU boss plans to retire July 1

Eastern New Mexico University’s 11th president will be retiring July 1.

Patrice Caldwell informed the university’s board of regents of her plans during an executive session Friday in Ruidoso.

In a news release following the meeting, Caldwell expressed appreciation for her 42-year career at ENMU.

“The talent and commitment of the Regents and the Portales, Roswell, and Ruidoso administration, faculty and staff impress me every day. I greatly appreciate the ENMU students across our System and our three great communities that generously support our campuses,” she stated in the release.

Regents President Lance Pyle said the university’s search for Caldwell’s successor has begun.

“Our search timeline will allow the Regents to (receive) campus and community input, advertise the position, identify candidates, and bring in finalists for campus and community interviews,” Pyle stated in the release.

Caldwell’s ENMU career had spanned four decades when she announced plans to retire July 31, 2020, as vice president for planning, analysis and governmental relations.

University regents asked her to delay that retirement and accept the role as interim chancellor for the university system following the unexpected resignation of Jeff Elwell for health reasons.

Caldwell agreed to the interim role, but initially insisted she had no interest in the job long-term. Two months later, citing her “encyclopedic knowledge” of ENMU, regents convinced her to accept a two-year deal to be president. Last April, her contract was extended through the 2022-2023 school year.

Caldwell first joined the university in 1980 as an assistant professor and was dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences for nearly a decade before being asked to fill the chancellor position on an interim basis.

News of her appointment was met with widespread approval from the university community.

“On the same day that our nation was saying its final goodbyes and honoring Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg for her legacy advocating for gender equality and women’s rights, ENMU appointed its first female chancellor. I must admit, I teared up with joy when I learned this momentous news,” Noelle Bartl, executive director of the ENMU Foundation, wrote in an Op-ed for The Eastern New Mexico News.

“She may not be an alumna herself, but after 40 years serving ENMU students, faculty, and staff in various roles, not to mention endless hours of volunteering in the community, Caldwell ‘bleeds just as green and silver’ as those of us with ENMU degrees. This remarkable woman has left a mark on nearly every aspect of this campus.”