Dr. Lique Coolen (left) and Delilah Walsh will join New Mexico Tech in 2025

New Mexico Tech is ushering in a new chapter of leadership with two key appointments: Dr. Lique Coolen as Vice President of Research and Delilah Walsh as Vice President of Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Both individuals bring impressive backgrounds and extensive experience to their respective roles, reinforcing the university’s commitment to excellence and innovation.

Dr. Coolen, who will begin her tenure on Jan. 21, comes to NMT from Kent State University, where she has a remarkable scholarly and academic record, underscored by her dedication to advancing research in neurobiology and her proven leadership in developing interdisciplinary programs.

“Her experience as both an administrator and a faculty member reflects her commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation, making her an outstanding choice for this role,” NMT President Amouzegar said.

Jennifer Raney, deputy director of the PRRC (Petroleum Recovery Research Center), will serve as interim Vice President of Research starting Jan. 6, 2025, until Dr. Coolen has settled into the new role.

Delilah Walsh will take over as Vice President of Administration and Finance/CFO on March 24. Walsh comes to NMT with a wealth of experience in public administration and financial management. She currently serves as the City Manager of Ketchikan and Ketchikan Public Utilities in Alaska, where she has managed diverse portfolios involving finance, utilities, and public services.

“Delilah distinguished herself from the impressive pool of finalists for her vast understanding of finance, a keen aptitude for administration, an abiding appreciation of collaboration, and an unwavering belief in transparency. Her prior portfolios have been large and varied, and that combination of breadth and depth also should serve NMT well,” said President Amouzegar.

Before her current role, Walsh held positions including Utilities Director for the City of Las Cruces and County Manager of Socorro. She is also an NMT alumna, holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in engineering management.

The outgoing VP of Research is Dr. Mike Doyle, a renowned expert in spatial biology, will return to NMT’s Biology Department faculty as a tenured full professor. Likewise, Dr. Van Romero, VP of Special Research Programs, will return as a tenured full professor in the Physics Department. The Office of Special Research Programs will re-merge with the Office of Research under one VP.

For the Spring 2025 semester, Dr. Romero will be serving as a Senior Fellow to the Office of the President while Dr. Doyle will be serving as a Provost Fellow in the Office of Academic Affairs.

Richard Cervantes will retire next spring after a two-year stint as NMT’s VP in Administration and Finance. Cervantes has served ably in other roles for NMT, including as Vice President of Finance and Administration for a year and prior to that as Treasurer of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute.