FEBRUARY 18, 2022- Portales, NM – The Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents announced today that ENMU System Chancellor Dr. Patrice Caldwell will retire July 1, 2022.
Caldwell discussed her retirement plans with the ENMU Board of Regents at their February 18 meeting in Ruidoso. Her plans to retire were shelved when she assumed campus leadership in April 24, 2020.
The Board of Regents have already begun planning a national search for the 12th president of the ENMU System. “We greatly appreciate Dr. Caldwell’s willingness to defer her retirement to lead the campus during this difficult pandemic period,” stated Board of Regents president Lance Pyle. “Our search timeline will allow the Regents to campus and community input, advertise the position, identify candidates, and bring in finalists for campus and community interviews.”
Caldwell expressed her appreciation for her 42-year career at ENMU, noting, “The talent and commitment of the Regents and the Portales, Rowell, 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.”
“Eastern is fortunate to have a strong reputation for Student Success and excellent academic programs,” noted Pyle. “We look forward confidently to the next chapter of ENMU’s history.”
Caldwell came to ENMU in 1980 as a faculty member in the Languages and Literature Department. She served as department chair, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, executive director and then vice president for Planning and Analysis/Governmental Relations before assuming the office of the president. Under her direction, the Freshmen Year program, the BSN nursing and social work programs were launched.
