WNMU Regents Votes to Invalidate Former President's Contract Payout

WNMU President severance rescinded after board meeting

This comes after a $1.9 million severance was approved by former Board of Regents members in December 2024.

WNMU regents votes to invalidate former president's contract payout

WNMU Board of Regents votes to invalidate former president’s contract payoutWNMU regents unanimously voted to invalidate the contract that gave a nearly $2 million payout to Joseph Shepard. SILVER CITY, N.M. – The new board of regents at Western New Mexico doesn’t agree with the old board about the former university president. On Wednesday, WNMU regents unanimously voted to invalidate the contract that gave a nearly $2 million payout to Joseph S…

WNMU regents ax Joseph Shepard’s severance and teaching contract

Western New Mexico University. Courtesy of Western New Mexico UniversityUnanimously, the newly appointed regents at Western New Mexico University have approved a plan to strike down former President Joseph Shepard’s previously awarded $1.9 million severance payment and five-year teaching contract, on the grounds that they were awarded in violation of the state’s Open Meetings Act. Regents at the July 31 meeting acknowledged that they aren’t sure…

Western New Mexico University regents void severance agreement with former President Joseph Shepard

SILVER CITY — Western New Mexico University regents effectively voided a controversial separation agreement with the university’s former president Thursday.

UPDATED: WNMU Regents kill Shepard deal in revote - Silvercity Daily Press

The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents voted Thursday morning to disapprove the separation and faculty appointment agreement with former President Joseph Shepard after determining that the agenda for the December meeting at which it was approved did not meet public notice requirements.What that might mean for getting back the $1.9 million severance paid out to Shepard before he departed the job in January is as yet unknown, Regent Jo…

WNMU regents say $1.9 payment to former president violated open meetings law

Regent John Wertheim said the previous regents failed to comply with requirements of the state Open Meetings Act when they voted on the payment Dec. 20.