By Staff Writer Morganne Guhl
While deliberations for the Chancellorship of Eastern New Mexico University continue, the Chase has had the opportunity to speak on the phone with Dr. Bruno Hicks, one of five final candidates for the position of Chancellor of Eastern New Mexico University, on his candidacy and his invaluable work experience.
Hicks is currently the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Dalton State College in Georgia. Dr. Hicks earned his two bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Maine. He went on to earn a Master’s of Environmental Education as well as a doctorate in Education from the University of Maine.
We started with his view on the role of Chancellor, Dr. Hicks on how he viewed the position as helping set the direction for the university but also to bringing students, staff and the overall local community together for the benefit and success of those who attended ENMU. We brought up ENMU’s plethora of online degree programs and asked for his perspective of such programs. Hicks pointed out that while many programs work in an online environment, there are many degrees that require hands-on training. He explained that finding the correct balance is critical to sending out well-trained and experienced graduates into the work force and ensuring the future success of ENMU. “I do think there’s sort of a national stress that, if, when you bring students to campus to do something, you should make sure that it’s worthwhile to be sitting in that class and not doing that kind of things you can do online,” Hicks said.
We also spoke to Dr. Hicks on how he would continue to foster positive relationships with ENMU’s surrounding communities. He spoke of intersectionality in ensuring fruitful community relationships and his prior experience as dean of a college and as a member of community advisory boards relevant to his administration should he be elected Chancellor.
We asked Dr. Hicks for his views on the extracurricular programs and their effects on students such as the theater or athletics programs at ENMU. He highlighted that these programs allow students to continue participating in activities that they were involved in during high school, as well as the ways in which these programs can benefit the community overall, not just ENMU. He also pointed to national research which has shown that students who are engaged in extracurricular programs are more likely to continue with their education.
In closing our interview, we asked if there were any messages he would like to share with ENMU. “I guess I would say, you know, Eastern is a happening place,” said Hicks. “And it’s tangibly an exciting environment to be in. So, that’s what my visit gave me. That was true even at the outlying campuses in Roswell, Ruidoso, is that energy, you know, it’s appealing.” He emphasized his support for continuing the current success of ENMU’s programs and helping those programs find new resources to improve.
(Dr. James Johnston has been announced as the new chancellor of ENMU, he will take over the position on January 3, 2023.)