UNM's Faculty Senate used its last meeting of the year to recognize the work of outgoing President Chris Garcia.
"I'd like to thank you all for your service for the Faculty Senate," Garcia told members during his report.
He also applauded the work of the faculty during the last year and expressed his hope that professors will aid UNM's next president as much as they helped him.
"You've rendered an invaluable service," he said.
Garcia also read from an e-mail he wrote before he was officially appointed president a year ago.
In the e-mail, Garcia declined the presidential nomination, citing family and health reasons, but he said it was the overwhelming expression of support he received from the faculty that helped him to accept the one-year nomination.
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"Thank you for the year," Garcia said just before he received a chorus of applause from the Senate.
Hugh Witemeyer, professor in the English Department, said Garcia's experience in the classroom gave him a valuable perspective to have as the University's top administrator - a perspective he thinks the Senate appreciates.
"He prizes that activity [teaching] more than his activities as an administrator," Witemeyer said. "It is important for the president of a university to understand and to appreciate the activities of the faculty."
University Provost Brian Foster gave a report updating the Senate about various searches for open positions including the director search for the Gallup branch, which has been reduced to a pool of four finalists.
"Also, I would like to thank everyone for participating in the presidential search," Foster said.
Faculty Senate President Beverly Burris said she is proud of the participation of the faculty in the presidential search and that each of the candidate forums for faculty have been well attended. She added that there will be a special Senate meeting at noon today in Mitchell Hall, Room 122.
