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Senate panel advances Yolanda Jones King for reappointment to New Mexico Tech Board of Regents
Summary
Dr. Yolanda Jones King, a long-serving regent and STEM outreach advocate, was advanced to the full Senate for confirmation after supporters highlighted her technical background, national-lab ties and student outreach work.
Dr. Yolanda Jones King, a regent at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, was advanced by the Senate Rules Committee for reappointment to the board after supporters and university partners praised her decades of STEM outreach and technical leadership.
Senator Stefanik introduced King and summarized her scientific and management background, noting her 32 years with the Department of Defense and leadership roles in NATO technical panels. King told the committee she has “loved being a regent at New Mexico Tech” and emphasized her commitment to STEM outreach and recruitment of historically underrepresented students.
Several current and former university and research leaders spoke in support, including Mark Fidel of CNM Ingenuity, Dr. David Lepri (former president-level advisor) and Dr. Mike Timmons of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology. Supporters praised King’s ability to connect students, faculty and national-lab opportunities and underscored her work helping commercialize Tech research.
Committee members asked questions about university governance, investment policy, policy review and training for regents. King said the university follows a financial-investment policy that the board reviews and that the board is undertaking a review of multiple policies; she also described existing training and outreach efforts for regents and higher-education leadership.
Senator Stewart moved King’s reappointment. By roll-call vote the committee recorded nine affirmative votes and one excused member and advanced the nomination to the full Senate for final confirmation. The committee’s discussion included a reminder from a member to avoid asking nominees to comment on pending litigation; King did not address any legal matters at the hearing.
