Portales, NM – October 18, 2023 – ENMU Assistant Professor of Wildlife Biology, Dr. Drew Davis, was recognized as the NM-AMP Advisor of the Year last week at the NM-AMP Student Research Conference held this past week in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The New Mexico Alliance for Minority Participation (NM AMP) Mentor of the Year award is awarded to a STEM faculty member who has exceeded the call to mentor students among New Mexico’s 13 institutions. Each year, two mentors, one from the northern part of the state and another from the southern part of the state, are selected by NM-AMP students and Institutional Coordinators.

“Dr. Davis exemplifies the personal attention and mentorship ENMU offers,” said Dr. James Johnston, ENMU Chancellor. “We are particularly proud of Dr. Davis for receiving this recognition and being a great representative of ENMU.”

NM-AMP Mentors volunteer to work with students on the mentors’ research projects as Student Research Assistants. Often, mentors make a difference in students’ lives, transforming their focus and directing them to a future career. Researching with a faculty mentor in a lab with other students provides a place of belonging and acceptance. It often helps with retention and, eventually, graduation with a bachelor’s degree and beyond to graduate school and/or the workplace.

“Drew has excellent skills in engaging and working with students,” said Juchao Yan, ENMU Physical Sciences Department Chair. “It is truly impressive for him to receive the honor in his first year as an assistant professor at ENMU.”

The New Mexico AMP Student Research Conference brings together students and faculty from across the state and students and teachers from the New Mexico Math, Engineering, Science Achievement, Inc. program (NM MESA) and Upward Bound. The conference provides the opportunity each fall for students to present research, gain presentation experience, network with other students and faculty, and participate in workshops and panels.

For more information on the 2023 NM AMP Student Research Conference, visit https://nmampconf.nmsu.edu/.