Silver City, NM (KKOB) – Western New Mexico University has a new president. The university’s Board of Regents have named Jose Coll as the next leader of the Silver City campus.
Coll comes from Western Oregon University, where he served as provost and vice president of academic affairs. He was born in Havana, Cuba, and immigrated to the United States in 1980.
Coll’s contract includes a $310,000 annual salary, retention incentives, and a tenured faculty position as a professor of social work and social sciences. He will live in the on-campus president’s residence and receive a vehicle allowance.
Coll commented on his Linkedin page that he is very honored to be the next President at WNMU, “I am deeply honored and humbled to be named the next President of Western New Mexico University. Western New Mexico University stands as a pillar of student-centered excellence with a unique cultural spirit. I am eager to get to work alongside our dedicated faculty, staff, and community to drive innovation and opportunity for all Mustangs across New Mexico.”
He replaces former president Joseph Shepard, who resigned following investigations and legal disputes tied to university spending and a controversial severance agreement. Coll’s first day on the job is July 1.
