UNM Leads Community Engagement Efforts Across New Mexico

University's Office of Community Engagement bridges faculty expertise with local challenges

Mar. 27, 2026 at 6:39am

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The University of New Mexico (UNM) is at the forefront of a growing trend in higher education, where universities are moving beyond traditional research silos to forge meaningful partnerships with their surrounding communities. Led by Tim Castillo, Director of the Office of Community Engagement, UNM's approach emphasizes the 'co-production of knowledge' and leveraging faculty expertise to address real-world challenges faced by New Mexicans.

Why it matters

This community-engaged approach strengthens UNM's research, fosters economic development, and builds stronger relationships with the communities it serves. By recognizing universities as 'anchors' within their regions, this shift represents a significant evolution in how academic institutions can create more impactful and sustainable solutions.

The details

UNM's Office of Community Engagement acts as a bridge, connecting faculty expertise with community needs. This isn't simply about applying research to communities, but rather co-creating knowledge with them. The office's emphasis on 'lived experience' ensures solutions are culturally sensitive and effective. Early initiatives like the 'Plata Studio,' which leveraged design to stimulate rural economic growth, paved the way for the broader Office of Community Engagement.

  • In 2015, UNM founded the 'Plata Studio' program to address regional challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • In early 2026, UNM was reclassified under the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, a national designation recognizing the university's strong commitment to partnerships and reciprocal relationships with surrounding communities.

The players

Tim Castillo

Director of the Office of Community Engagement and a Professor of Architecture at the University of New Mexico.

University of New Mexico (UNM)

A public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that is at the forefront of the trend in higher education to forge meaningful partnerships with surrounding communities.

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What they’re saying

“The co-production of knowledge is really the core of community engagement. We value our community partners as much as our researchers since they bring lived experience we don't have.”

— Tim Castillo, Director of the Office of Community Engagement

What’s next

UNM is actively working to expand interdisciplinary collaboration across departments to better address complex challenges, as well as leveraging digital storytelling and outreach to increase visibility and facilitate connections between faculty and community members.

The takeaway

UNM's commitment to community engagement, exemplified by the work of its Office of Community Engagement, demonstrates how universities can evolve beyond traditional research silos to become true anchors within their communities, co-creating knowledge and driving sustainable solutions to local challenges.