Faculty Experts

Peter Kierst is a senior lecturer in political science who teaches Constitutional Law and theory.  He joined the political science faculty full-time in 2005 after teaching these subjects for many years part-time. Kierst was a trial lawyer in New ...

Dr. Emile Nakhleh is a research professor and coordinator of National Security Programs at UNM. Nakhleh is a retired Senior Intelligence Service Officer, a National Intelligence Council Associate and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Since ...

Biography Nancy López is a professor of sociology at the University of New Mexico  López directs and co-founded the Institute for the Study of “Race” and Social Justice, RWJF Center for Health Policy, which is in the process of creating a ...

Research interests include teacher inquiry and practitioner research, K-12 school/university partnerships, and curriculum and instruction in K-12 settings. Dr. Torrez is the new Interim Chair of the Department of Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy.   She teaches undergraduate and graduate teacher education classes Her research emphasis is...

Ziarat Hossain is a professor of Family Studies in the UNM College of Education & Human Sciences (COEHS) in the Department of Individual, Family and Community Education. He is also the program director for the Family Studies program at UNM and the Chair of the Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education (IFCE). Regents’ Lecturer. His...

Richard L. Wood, professor of Sociology, most recently served as interim provost at UNM and previously as president of the Faculty Senate, co-chair of the Committee on Governance, chairperson of the Department of Sociology, director of the Religious...

Professor in the Department of Biology and Curator of Birds at the Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) of the University of New Mexico. Areas of research interest include avian systematics and molecular evolution; evolutionary inference ...

Professor Melissa Thompson's research focuses on interactions of ecology, health, reproduction, and behavior in apes and humans. Seeks to better understand the sources of variation in life history within and between species as a way of...

Mahmoud Taha is a distinguished professor and Regents’ Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering. Taha, who has been at UNM for 10 years, specializes in structural engineering and materials, bridges, concrete structures and materials, pre-stressed concrete,...

Ph.D. in history from Georgetown University in 2008. Attended Point Loma Nazarene University and California State University, Fullerton. Authored "When Baseball Went White: Reconstruction, Reconciliation, and Dreams of a 'National Pastime," His...