Every fall, for a brief but shining moment, NMSU Alumni shines a spotlight on a select few of the thousands of remarkable alumni who have graduated from New Mexico State University through its Distinguished Alumni Awards.
On November 7, 2025, more than 200 Aggies came together for an evening of celebration, recognition, and a powerful display of Aggie pride as eight accomplished alumni received their honors. Since 1956, these awards have recognized more than 400 alumni, with the James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service added in 1966 and the Young Alumni Service Award introduced in 2019.
Anyone can nominate a Distinguished Alumnus of New Mexico State University whose achievements and service bring honor to the university. Each nomination is carefully reviewed by the NMSU Foundation Alumni Committee, which selects the awardees during the summer. The honorees are then celebrated at a special dinner and awards ceremony, where university leaders and distinguished guests share inspiring stories of their accomplishments, leaving attendees energized by the impact and legacy of these extraordinary Aggies.
Receiving the James F. Cole Memorial Award for Service is Cynthia Bejarano ’95, ’97, Ph.D. A Regents Professor and holder of the Stan Fulton Endowed Chair at NMSU, Bejarano is a national leader in border justice, youth advocacy and gender-based violence. As principal investigator of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), she has helped more than 600 first-generation students who are children of farm workers graduate from NMSU. A published author and international human rights advocate, she has secured more than $10 million in federal support and remains deeply engaged in both scholarship and community impact.
The Young Alumni Service Award recipient is Keagan Karnes ’14, an Emmy-winning filmmaker and co-founder of Inspirado, Karnes supports the growth of New Mexico’s creative economy. He frequently partners with NMSU’s Creative Media Institute (CMI) to mentor students and co-teach courses. He also serves on the Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries and recently co-produced Santa’s Cousin with Creative Media Institute faculty member Ross Marks.
The Distinguished Alum from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is Edward M. Avalos ’74, ’96. A national voice for agriculture, Avalos served as Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, leading national programs in food marketing and trade. He helped launch New Mexico’s Specialty Crops Program and promoted U.S. agriculture in global markets, including Japan, China and Latin America. His expertise in policy, regulatory frameworks, crisis management and stakeholder engagement — including responses to major events like the Deep Horizon Gulf Oil Spill and avian influenza outbreaks — further underscores his distinguished career in agricultural leadership.
The first College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alum (Fine Arts and Humanities) is SGM Mike Cano, US Army (Retired) ’93. A retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant and former leader of the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, Cano performed with the United States Army Band known as “Pershing’s Own” for three decades. Memorable engagements include the 2013 presidential inaugural parade and playing “Taps” more than 15,000 times during his career. Now back in Las Cruces, he continues his passion for music as an educational consultant for White’s Music Box.
The second College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alum (Sciences and Social Sciences) is Dawn M. Gelino ’99, ’01, Ph.D. Program manager for NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Gelino is a pioneer in astrophysics leadership. She has overseen national research collaborations, fellowships and workshops, and played a vital role in shaping NASA’s search for Earth-like planets. Her work contributes to advancing scientific understanding of our universe and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Joe Christian ’84 is the Distinguished Alum from the College of Business. After 39 years with Nusenda Credit Union, most recently as president and CEO, Christian retired in 2025. A member of NMSU’s College of Business Advisory Council, he played a key role in strengthening Nusenda’s partnership with NMSU, the College of Business and Arrowhead Center. Under his leadership, Nusenda committed $3 million over 10 years to launch two major initiatives: the Nusenda FinTech Lab at Arrowhead Center and the Nusenda Center for Financial Capability at the Student Success Center.
Frank A. Kozeliski ’67, ’69, is the Distinguished Alum of the College of Engineering. Kozeliski, P.E., is a civil engineer and internationally recognized authority on concrete. He has delivered more than 150 professional presentations across 30 states and nine countries. As co-owner of Gallup Sand and Gravel Co., he championed innovation and sustainability in concrete throughout the Southwest. A proud patriarch of four generations of Aggies, he continues to mentor aspiring engineers and serves as a trusted advisor in materials science.
The Distinguished Alumna from the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation is Aisha Jones ’03, DNP. A dual-certified nurse practitioner, Jones has dedicated her career to advanced care, psychiatric services and community health leadership. She has chaired numerous clinical committees and earned multiple awards for excellence in healthcare. In 2023, she received the University of New Mexico’s Distinguished Alumni Award for her impact on healthcare in New Mexico.
Find full biographies at alwaysanaggie.org/awards-recognitions. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards. To submit a candidate, visit alwaysanaggie.org/alumni/da-award-nomination/.