NMSU Regents approve amended contract for Interim President Jay Gogue

Ernesto Cisneros, Las Cruces Sun-News
·2 min read
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New Mexico State University Board of Regents approved a month-to-month contract renewal for Interim President Jay Gogue until a permanent university president is chosen in 2024.

Gogue, who previously served as president of NMSU in 2007, assumed the role as interim president in early April after former chancellor Dan Arvizu stepped down amid Regents not renewing his five-year contract.

Gogue held positions at Auburn University and the University of Houston prior to returning to Las Cruces.

The proposal, which passed unanimously at the regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 7, will give the authority to Regent Chair Amu Devasthali to approve Gogue’s contract without having to go before the entire board. In her absence, the vice chair of the Regents Christopher Saucedo will also have that authority.

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Interim President Jay Gogue listens to other board members speak during a NMSU Board of Regents meeting on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at New Mexico State University.
Interim President Jay Gogue listens to other board members speak during a NMSU Board of Regents meeting on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at New Mexico State University.

According to the original agreement, Gogue was expected to serve a six-month commitment at a monthly base salary of $25,000 paid out semi-monthly. After the initial sixth months were completed, the board would have discretion over the possibility of adopting a month-to-month agreement with Gogue.

The original agreement expires Oct. 7, 2023, but the university has yet to select a permanent leader. The amended agreement will last until Sept. 7, 2024, at the latest.

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“I appreciate the willingness of President Gogue to operate with a month-to-month contract. That is absolutely service to the university and it is greatly appreciated that that willingness is there,” Saucedo said during the meeting.

Chair Ammu Devasthali speaks during a NMSU Board of Regents meeting on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at New Mexico State University.
Chair Ammu Devasthali speaks during a NMSU Board of Regents meeting on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, at New Mexico State University.

Devasthali echoing Saucedo’s comments said Gogue “has been a great help” to the Regents and the university during its search for a permanent leader.

The search for a permanent president is ongoing and expected to last into early 2024. Updates can be found by visiting nmsu.edu/president-search.

Ernesto Cisneros is a UNM NM Local News Fund Fellow covering education. He can be reached at ECisneros@lcsun-news.com Follow him on Twitter at@_ernestcisneros.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NMSU Regents approve amended contract for Interim President Jay Gogue