By KRWG News
Las Cruces – New Mexico State University has appointed Robert C. McNiel as Interim Chief of Staff.
As chief of staff, McNiel serves as a liaison between NMSU President Barbara Couture, the Board of Regents and the communities they work with. He previously served as the special assistant to the president, where he developed outreach opportunities to the communities in eastern New Mexico.
"This position is an opportunity to help a new president and the university in a leadership transition. My goal is to lay a framework and develop a structure for the position. I always want to ask myself, How can this job be improved?'" McNiel said.
McNiel also has held numerous positions at El Paso Electric. Before retiring from the company in 2007, he held the position of vice president of New Mexico Affairs, where he worked as a liaison to the communities the company served. He also has held the positions of vice president of public affairs and marketing, vice president of New Mexico operations and energy marketing manager.
McNiel is involved extensively in the community. He is a past chair of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Corp. and the Las Cruces Forum. He also is the past chair of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce and vice chair of the New Mexico Border Authority.
McNiel grew up in El Paso, Texas, and attended NMSU before attending Loyola University in New Orleans, La., where he received a bachelor's degree in business. He also worked for a utility company in Louisiana and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve.