WNMU president says he will fight litigation over $1.9M payout
As he prepares to step down amid ethics investigations, Western New Mexico University President Joe Shepard told the campus community on Friday that he'll fight litigation the state attorney general
New Mexico Attorney General suing WNMU leaders after outgoing president gets $1.9M payout
The New Mexico Attorney General is taking aim at Western New Mexico University and sending the message that rewarding the former president’s questionable behavior, will not be tolerated. On Thursday,
Controversy erupts as WNMU pays $1.9m buyout to outgoing president despite state’s legal effort to block it
Western New Mexico University (WNMU) has sparked controversy after paying outgoing president Joseph Shepard a $1.9 million buyout despite legal efforts by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez to block it.
NM AG Torrez seeks to stop WNMU president from spending his $1.9 million payout
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is seeking to stop outgoing Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard from spending a $1.9 million severance payment issued to him a week ago. Torrez filed a supplementary restraining order Thursday and a new complaint alleging additional violations on the part of Shepard and the university board of
New Mexico attorney general seeks to claw back WNMU president's $1.9M buyout
Raúl Torrez also filed a complaint seeking to end Joseph Shepard's separation agreement, which the lawsuit calls an "unconscionable contract."
AG tries to pause severance pay for WNMU President
Since 2011, Dr. Joseph Shepard has been the president of WNMU. This past year, he has been questioned for using university money on international trips and expensive furniture. During a board meeting in December, Shepard resigned as president days after getting a new agreement with a $1.9 million buyout.
State AG seeks to restrain WNMU president from spending payout, invalidate contract
Learning that Western New Mexico University processed the $1.9 million severance payment to departing President Joseph Shepard, state Attorney General Raúl Torrez said Thursday that he filed a motion
Inside Higher Ed2d
4 of 5 Western New Mexico U Regents Resign Amid Controversy
Mounting scrutiny over a multimillion-dollar exit package for an outgoing president prompted the regents to resign.
KOB 421h
New Mexico AG files lawsuit against WNMU board of regents
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez says nearly $2 million was already paid out to former Western New Mexico University President Dr. Joseph Shepard despite Torrez taking action to stop those ...
After a year of scrutiny, Joseph Shepard to resign as WNMU president
Shepard and the regents have been under the microscope for more than a year after a 2023 Searchlight New Mexico investigation ...
Albuquerque Journal3d
Western regents meeting canceled with only one member remaining
A meeting of the Western New Mexico Board of Regents was abruptly canceled Tuesday after more members heeded the governor's ...
Inside Higher Ed3d
Western New Mexico U President’s Golden Parachute Irks Lawmakers
The president, who led the university for 13 years and faced criticism for his spending, received an exit package that will ...
The Santa Fe New Mexican23h
Ka-ching: Western president collects $1.9 million payout
Attorney General Raúl Torrez is bringing a revised lawsuit in hopes of voiding Shepard's deal and recovering the money.
Governor calls WNMU board 'tone-deaf' and calls for reforms to public severance packages
After accepting the resignations of the five-member Board of Regents at Western New Mexico University, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Tuesday that the board's decision to award departing university ...
Albuquerque Journal4d
AG files temporary restraining order to halt WNMU president's severance package
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed an emergency temporary restraining order Monday to halt embattled Western New ...