New regents approved

SANTA FE — Three new regents have been approved for Eastern New Mexico University, with all three gubernatorial nominations receiving unanimous votes Monday afternoon.

Phillip Arthur Bustos, a former vice president at Central New Mexico Community College, was confirmed on a 31-0 vote for a six-year term.

Trish Ruiz, a former Public Education Committee member and a counselor with Hobbs Schools, was confirmed on a 33-0 vote for a six-year term.

Chandlar Head was confirmed on a 32-0 vote to the two-year student regent position. Head has been active in student government, and she has won numerous awards with the school’s music department.

The regents will join Dan Patterson and Lance Pyle on the five-member board, and the confirmations mark the official departures of Terry Othick, Ed Tatum and student regent Joseph Gergel.

The university has scheduled a Tuesday work session for training its new regents, and has its regular meeting scheduled for March 26.