New Mexico State University wants to acknowledge people and organizations working to positively impact economic development in New Mexico with its first Kevin B. Boberg Excellence in Economic Development Award.
The award is named after Kevin Boberg, who helped launch Arrowhead Center at NMSU and was its first director and CEO. Boberg passed away in March 2021.
“Kevin was a creative force whose vision knew no barriers, and who was dedicated to elevating economic development as a significant element of NMSU’s land-grant mission,” said Kathy Hansen, director and CEO of Arrowhead Center.
The award is sponsored by NMSU’s Arrowhead Center and the Border Industrial Association, and seeks to recognize those with a track record of collaboration with the university and community. Nominations should highlight how nominees amplify NMSU’s economic development impact through active partnerships and excellence in innovation.
Awardees will receive a $1,000 prize. Nominations will be accepted from Aug. 15 to Sept 30. Nomination forms will be available here beginning July 1.
The winner or winners will be honored at the 2023 Fall Outreach Conference Nov. 14-15 at the Las Cruces Convention Center.
Boberg made a significant impact on NMSU’s economic development and community engagement projects during his 30 years with the university. Not only did he help launch Arrowhead Center along with Hansen and former New Mexico Gov. Garrey Carruthers, Boberg was the first to hold the Garrey E. and Katherine T. Carruthers Chair in Economic Development in the College of Business.
“Kevin had a major impact on developing New Mexico’s foreign trade and provided training opportunities for students throughout the state to gain experience in international positions. He was a mentor to countless students who kept in touch with him as they developed their careers,” said Jerry Pacheco, president of the Border Industrial Association.
Boberg was credited for helping the university establish the Arrowhead Park Early College High School, which was developed through a community partnership between the public schools and NMSU. He also helped spearhead efforts to bring the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine to the NMSU campus.
In 2013, Boberg was named NMSU’s vice president for economic development under Carruthers, who was NMSU’s president at the time. Hansen then took over as Arrowhead Center’s director and CEO.
Throughout his years working to build the university’s economic development and community engagement efforts, Boberg continued to work as a professor and mentor to students. He was a member of the Pete V. Domenici Institute Advisory Council and a mentor for the Domenici Public Policy Conference Student Panelist program. He also helped create the Domenici Scholars program.
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PHOTO CAPTION: New Mexico State University is recognizing the legacy of Kevin Boberg, who served as the university’s vice president for economic development, with the Kevin B. Boberg Excellence in Economic Development Award. NMSU is seeking nominees for the first award, which will honor an individual or organization with a connection to NMSU and a demonstrated impact on economic development in New Mexico and the region. (NMSU photo)
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Head and shoulders of a man.