Five Finalists Named for WNMU President Role

Candidates from five states to visit campus in late February and early March

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Western New Mexico University has named five finalists in its search for a new university president. The candidates, who come from higher education backgrounds across the western U.S., will visit the WNMU campus in late February and early March, with a final selection expected by mid-March. The finalists include administrators from universities in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania.

Why it matters

The selection of a new WNMU president is a critical decision for the university, which has faced leadership challenges in recent years including controversies over spending and a cyberattack. The new president will be tasked with guiding the university through these difficulties and positioning it for future success.

The details

The five finalists are: Jose Coll, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Western Oregon University; Sharon Jones, vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Washington Bothell; Mario Martinez, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Fort Lewis College in Colorado; Carlos Romero, associate vice president for research at New Mexico Tech; and Cameron Wesson, provost and vice president of academic affairs at La Salle University in Pennsylvania. Each candidate will participate in campus forums and an open house to meet with students, faculty, staff, and the public.

  • The campus visits will take place from February 25-27 and March 3-4, 2026.
  • A final decision on the new WNMU president is expected by mid-March 2026.

The players

Jose Coll

Provost and vice president of academic affairs at Western Oregon University.

Sharon Jones

Vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of engineering at the University of Washington Bothell.

Mario Martinez

Provost and vice president of academic affairs at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

Carlos Romero

Associate vice president for research at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro.

Cameron Wesson

Provost and vice president of academic affairs at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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What they’re saying

“These are bright, talented people who have chapters and books they've written, they're all Ph.D. prepared, all of them have been in the VP of academic affairs. There's some real talent there. Now it comes down to what do we see when they walk on campus.”

— Dean Reed, Chair of the WNMU Board of Regents search committee (scdailypress.com)

What’s next

The WNMU Board of Regents will meet in executive session after the campus visits to discuss the candidates, and an open meeting to announce the selection of the new president is expected to be held on March 17, 2026.

The takeaway

The selection of a new WNMU president is a crucial decision for the university as it looks to move past recent leadership challenges and position itself for future success. The diverse group of finalists brings a wealth of experience in higher education administration that could help guide WNMU through this transition period.