After a distinguished career in public service, former Mescalero Apache Tribal President Arthur “Butch” Blazer continues to dedicate himself to facilitating important connections for tribes across New Mexico and the United States.
Though semi-retired, Blazer is still actively engaged with his alma mater, serving on the Tribal Advisory Committee for Indian Resources Development at New Mexico State University and as a trusted adviser on tribal issues to Rolando A. Flores Galarza, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.
He views that role like many others in a career that saw him parlay the range science bachelor’s degree he earned at NMSU in 1975 into appointments as New Mexico state forester and deputy undersecretary for the United States Department of Agriculture: It’s all part of a network of resources, and he can help ensure those resources reach the people who can benefit from them.
“New Mexico State University is an important part of my network in the work that I do on behalf of tribes,” Blazer said. “All of it is education-related, and what I’ve seen is that in order for those tribal entities to continue to develop and continue to provide quality services to their people – it’s all tied to education, and that’s why I do what I do.”
Blazer uses his expertise and network to help create opportunities for NMSU students and the tribes he advises as a consultant. He has served on numerous boards related to conservation efforts and national resource management, and as an NMSU delegate to the Council for Agriculture Research, Extension and Teaching – a national grassroots organization made up of agricultural producers, local officials, consumers and land-grant university advisory groups.
“I’m there for the university. It’s a great school,” Blazer said of NMSU. “It gave me the opportunity to do what I’ve done my whole career, because of the education that I got there. I’m going to continue to do what I can to support NMSU.”
A version of this story first published in the fall 2023 issue of ACES Magazine. For more stories, visit nmsu.news/aces-magazine-fall-2023.