Mickey Best, the vice president for learning at South Arkansas Community College, has been appointed president of New Mexico State University – Grants, effective June 1.
“I think Mickey Best is an outstanding choice to lead our Grants campus,” said NMSU Chancellor Garrey Carruthers. “I was particularly impressed with how quickly he connected with the faculty and staff, as well as the Grants community. That bodes well for his future in New Mexico, where relationships are key to success. I look forward to seeing him lead the campus.”
At South Arkansas Community College, Best was the chief academic officer and coordinated with academic leadership and faculty to oversee the procedures for the annual assessment of student learning outcomes. He has also served as the executive dean of liberal arts at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster, Texas, and as dean of arts, humanities and career technology at New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, New Mexico.
“I’m extremely excited to begin working at NMSU Grants,” Best said. “When I had the opportunity to interview with Chancellor Carruthers, we talked about the important work ahead, especially the need to grow our enrollment. I’m looking forward to continuing our efforts to build and strengthen connections between the college and the community. I want everyone in our community to understand that this is their college and by working together, our future generations of students will benefit.”
Best said he plans to work to develop additional 2 plus 2 programs between NMSU Grants and the university’s Las Cruces campus, where students can attend the first two years of their studies in Grants and finish their degrees in Las Cruces or by taking distance education programs offered by the university.
Best has a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University as well as a Master of Fine Arts and a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University.
Information from NMSU