Westhafer Award for Excellence
The Westhafer Award is presented in memory of Robert L. Westhafer, Professor in Mathematical Sciences from 1946 to 1957. The Westhafer is the highest NMSU award for teaching or for research and creative activity.
The Westhafer Award is presented in alternating years for excellence in teaching or in research and creative activity.
Teaching
Eligibility: All NMSU Faculty on the Las Cruces campus who have worked here ten years and who devote a portion of their time to teaching are eligible to apply for this award, if they are in good standing with the university. This lifetime honor is granted only once per candidate and includes a $3,000 stipend.
Recipients of the Westhafer Award for Excellence in Teaching
| Year | Name | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Betsy Stringam | Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management |
| 2021 | Mary Ballyk | Mathematical Sciences |
| 2019 | Lois Stanford | Anthropology |
| 2017 | Kenny Stevens | Engineering Technology |
| 2015 | Nathan Brooks | History |
| 2013 | John B. Wright | Geography |
| 2011 | Michèle Shuster | Biology |
| 2009 | David J. Pengelley | Mathematical Sciences |
| 2007 | Nina Compton | Finance |
| 2005 | Nancy V. Baker | Government |
| 2003 | Sherry K. Mills | Accounting |
| 2001 | Louis Ocepek | Art |
| 1999 | Kevin C. McIlvoy | English |
| 1997 | Elise "Pookie" Sautter | Marketing & General Business |
| 1995 | Robert Levi Gallegos | Curriculum & Instruction |
| 1993 | Dennis Hallford | Animal & Range Sciences |
| 1991 | Lowell B. Catlett | Agricultural Economics & Agricultural Business |
| 1989 | Reta Beebe | Astronomy |
| 1987 | N. Scott Urquhard | Experimental Statistics |
| 1985 | M. Dale Alexander | Chemistry |
| 1983 | Allan H. Savage | Accounting |
| 1981 | Isabel M. Crouch | Speech |
Research
Eligibility: All NMSU faculty on the Las Cruces campus who have worked here ten years, and who devote a portion of their time to research or creative activity are eligible to apply for this award, if they are in good standing with the university. This lifetime honor is granted only once per candidate and includes a $3,000 stipend.
Recipients of the Westhafer Award for Excellence in Research
| Year | Name | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jessica Houston | Chemical and Materials Engineering |
| 2023 | Elizabeth Horodowich | History |
| 2020 | Abdu Abdelkefi | Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering |
| 2018 | Kathryn A. Hanley | Biology |
| 2016 | Hongmei Luo | Chemical & Materials Engineering |
| 2014 | Mary O'Connell | Plant & Environmental Sciences |
| 2012 | Shuguang Deng | Chemical Engineering |
| 2010 | Jeffery Atrerburn | Chemistry & Biochemistry |
| 2008 | James W. Herndon | Chemistry |
| 2006 | Matthias Burkhardt | Physics |
| 2004 | Gary Alan Eiceman | Chemistry |
| 2002 | Jaime Ramirez-Angulo | Klipsch School for Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| 2000 | Hung t. Nguyen | Mathematical Sciences |
| 1998 | Wenda R. Trevanthan | Sociology & Anthropology |
| 1996 | Joseph D. Zund | Mathematical Sciences |
| 1994 | Cookie White Stephan | Sociology & Anthropology |
| 1992 | Gerald M. Flachs | Electrical & Computer Engineering |
| 1990 | Joseph Wang | Chemistry |
| 1988 | Ralph G. Wilkins | Chemistry |
| 1986 | Guadalupe Valdez | Foreign Languages |
| 1984 | Walter Whitford | Biology |
| 1982 | Peter J. Wierenga | Agronomy |
| 1980 | Fred richman | Mathematical Sciences |