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,
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
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
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.
WNMU president 'refuses' to turn over $1.9 million severance payout amid growing criticism
"We reached out to his attorney and asked him to voluntarily submit that payment to the court — he refused to do that," NM Attorney General Raúl Torrez said.
New Mexico AG seeks to block $1.9M buyout for WNMU president
Raúl Torrez called the payment to Joseph Shepard “an egregious misuse of public funds and a betrayal of the Board's responsibility."
New Mexico AG files motion to halt $1.9M buyout for WNMU president
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a motion to block a $1.9 million buyout for the departing president of Western New Mexico University.
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.
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."
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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.
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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 ...
Governor works to replace ‘tone-deaf’ regents at Western New Mexico University
More members of the embattled board of regents at Western New Mexico University have resigned. Their departures were ...
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 ...
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 ...