NMSU dean Rick Marlette outlines HEST enrollment gains, clinic expansion and partnership needs for Las Cruces

Dean Rick Marlette of New Mexico State University presented the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation’s latest enrollment and program updates to the Las Cruces City Council during a work session.

Marlette said HEST recorded an all-time headcount high in fall 2025 of 4,224 students and nearly 38,000 student credit hours; he also reported FY26 research expenditures of $17,500,000 and noted HEST is NMSU’s second-largest college with about 200 faculty and nearly 200 staff. "We welcome the opportunity to serve all students and invite all community members in the borderland and beyond to join our academic communities," Marlette said.

The dean described a cluster of on-campus clinical and public-facing services that will be centralized in a planned 28,000-square-foot O'Donnell Hall expansion, which he said is on track for a fall ribbon-cutting. He listed on-site resources including a nursing skills and simulation lab, a mental health clinic, the Papenopendramos Autism Diagnostic Center and the Edgar R. Garrett Speech and Hearing Center, and said placing clinics together will increase access for children, families and adult clients.

Marlette highlighted workforce outcomes and pathways: many HEST programs lead to professional licensure and clinical placements, and the teacher-education program has shown steady enrollment growth since a 2019 baseline. On regional supply he said the Southwest Region—"South of Socorro," including Las Cruces—has about 35 educator vacancies. He added that the nursing program currently admits up to 64 students per cohort and that NMSU graduated 25 DNP students in December.

Council members pressed Marlette on retention and partnership opportunities. Councilor Harris asked what prevents graduates from staying in the region; Marlette pointed to pay (which he said has improved), paid student-teacher placements, intensive mentoring and targeted recruiting programs, including grants geared to recruiting and retaining Native American teachers, social workers and school counselors. "We really want to support our students," Marlette said, stressing paid practicum and mentorship as retention strategies.

Councilors suggested concrete city-university collaborations. Councilor Matisse asked whether Las Cruces Fire Department and police programs might provide employment or practicum placements; Marlette encouraged tailoring internships and apprenticeships to meet local needs. Mayor Bogdan asked how many nurses graduate annually and suggested community-engagement ideas to encourage them to stay; Marlette confirmed program capacity and cited clinical partnerships such as La Clinica de Familia.

Marlette closed by inviting continued collaboration and follow-up; the mayor noted that the city’s public-health coordinator, Anthony Turner, was present and could be a contact for joint work on homelessness, mental health and substance-abuse strategic planning.

Next steps: staff and council members expressed interest in deeper, project-level coordination on internships, clinic capacity and community placements to retain HEST graduates in Las Cruces.