The New Mexico State University Foundation has received a $1 million charitable gift from New Mexico Mutual to support the NMSU College of Engineering, College of Business and Arrowhead Center. New Mexico Mutual is the leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance in New Mexico, covering more than 30% of all businesses in the state.

“Making New Mexico a better place to live and work inspires everything New Mexico Mutual undertakes, from strengthening the economy to partnering with dynamic institutions such as New Mexico State University to help lift the lives of New Mexicans,” said Kellie Mixon, New Mexico Mutual president and CEO. “As a proud NMSU Aggie myself, I am so excited to help accelerate student success and social mobility, while elevating research and creativity in the region.”

Included as part of its gift, New Mexico Mutual gains the naming rights for a new Metal Additive Manufacturing Center for the College of Engineering to be built on the NMSU Las Cruces campus. The center will bring metal additive manufacturing to the southern part of the state, enabling students and faculty to conduct research that meets the local and state manufacturing needs. The donation also encompasses entrepreneurship practices, skill development and the exploration of innovations.

NMSU College of Engineering Dean Lakshmi Reddi expressed gratitude for the contribution.

“From our humble beginnings more than a century ago to the era of continual transformation, the New Mexico State University College of Engineering has always embraced hard work and mutual support,” Reddi said. “We deeply appreciate this gift from New Mexico Mutual to equip our students for success, particularly as we develop a highly-skilled workforce for the growing needs of new technologies and advanced products in the 21st century.”

The College of Business will receive support to establish a New Mexico Mutual Program Current Use Fund to strengthen student recruitment and outreach in the Risk Management and Insurance Studies program at NMSU. This will help reduce the talent gap facing the insurance industry.

“As the first Insurance Studies program in the western mountain states region, New Mexico State is renowned for our highly qualified faculty and industry support,” said Bryan Ashenbaum, NMSU College of Business dean. “This gift will enable our insurance faculty to continue serving students and companies seeking to fill career or internships and co-op positions in the field of insurance.”

Finally, the NMSU Arrowhead Center will receive funds for competitive innovation and entrepreneurship events. This includes the New Mexico Mutual Speaker Series for the Arrowhead Program, aimed at elevating research and creativity by connecting students with business professionals.

Arrowhead Center Director and CEO Kathryn Hansen reiterated the impact of New Mexico Mutual’s gift.

“Our mission at the Arrowhead Center is to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, creating economic opportunity for our region,” she said. “New Mexico Mutual’s speaker series and networking events will connect NMSU students to innovators and entrepreneurs, encouraging new innovations and businesses.” 

New Mexico Mutual is the largest underwriter of workers’ compensation insurance in the state, providing quality, cost-effective workers’ compensation coverage to New Mexico businesses for more than 30 years. Over the past two decades, New Mexico Mutual has supported NMSU through a series of internships, scholarships and career day activities. With this new million-dollar gift, New Mexico Mutual is paving the way for a successful future for even more students in engineering, business development and insurance.