The School of Nursing at New Mexico State University has appointed Nikki May, DNP, to a newly established faculty position aimed at preparing registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and nurse leaders to meet the evolving health care needs of New Mexico.
May, who has a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of New Mexico, began serving in the position in January.
May’s position – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico Nursing Professor of Practice – is part of a strategic partnership between NMSU’s College of Health, Education and Social Transformation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico.
In 2024, BCBSNM awarded a $500,000 gift to support this initiative, funding the new faculty position and 40 scholarships for senior undergraduate students in nursing and social work who have committed to working in New Mexico for at least one year after graduation. This investment builds on BCBSNM’s prior $500,000 donation to NMSU in 2020, which expanded educational opportunities and strengthened the state’s health care and social services workforce.
In her new role, May leads outreach initiatives to rural and tribal communities, focusing on nursing workforce development. She will also play a critical role in expanding teaching capacity within the School of Nursing and increasing enrollment in both undergraduate and graduate programs – efforts essential to addressing the state’s ongoing shortage of health care providers.
“Dr. May is deeply committed to improving health care access and addressing workforce shortages in rural New Mexico,” said Alexa Doig, interim dean of the College of HEST and director of the School of Nursing. “Having grown up in Silver City and worked as a nurse in both Silver City and Ruidoso for eight years, she understands firsthand the challenges faced by these communities. Her leadership will be instrumental in advancing statewide efforts to increase the number of nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and other health care professionals in underserved areas.”
Doig noted that approximately 40% of students in NMSU’s undergraduate nursing program are from rural regions of New Mexico.
“Our goal,” she added, “is to make NMSU the top choice for nursing education among individuals from these communities and to equip them with the skills and opportunities needed to make a lasting impact in their hometowns after graduation.”
May expressed her enthusiasm for the role and her passion for serving rural communities.
“I’m excited to partner with BCBSNM to recruit and retain nurses in rural New Mexico, especially as someone who grew up in Silver City, where I first developed my love for rural healthcare,” May said. “Throughout my career, I’ve worked to expand access to care in rural communities, and I’m equally passionate about mentoring new nurses and encouraging them to serve in their own communities. I look forward to collaborating with local public schools and clinical partners as we launch this important initiative.”
To support this mission, the School of Nursing will strengthen its collaboration with the NMSU American Indian Program and the College Assistance Migrant Program, two organizations dedicated to recruiting and supporting students from rural areas across the state.
“Partnering with the School of Nursing at NMSU reflects our commitment to addressing the health care needs of underserved communities in our state,” said Nancy Smith-Leslie, vice president of Medicaid at BCBSNM. “Investing in nursing education and workforce development is essential to ensuring that rural and tribal populations have access to high-quality care. We are excited to support Dr. May in her crucial role and look forward to this initiative's positive impact in New Mexico communities.”
For more information about the School of Nursing and its initiatives, visit https://schoolofnursing.nmsu.edu.
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CUTILIN: Nikki May, left, and Alexa Doig from the School of Nursing at New Mexico State University. May has been selected serve in a newly created faculty role dedicated to preparing nurses for New Mexico’s workforce. (NMSU photo by Ralph Diaz)