NMT President resigns (updated)

New Mexico Tech President Mahyar Amouzegar abruptly resigned Monday, less than two weeks after regents restricted his hiring authority and asked him to reverse a vice presidential appointment that had already brought the new hire and his family to the area.

Amouzegar submitted a formal notice of resignation dated June 30, citing a Board of Regents’ emergency meeting on June 19 in which a resolution was passed that limited his authority.

“After careful reflection, I submit this letter as formal notice of my resignation from my position as President of New Mexico Tech, in accordance with Section 12.2 of my employment agreement, which requires at least nine months’ advance notice. Unless the Board and I mutually agree to an alternative date, my final day will therefore be March 31, 2026, allowing me to assist with continuity through the conclusion of the legislative session. Should the Board prefer an earlier departure, I expect the compensation and benefits stipulated for termination at the Board’s request (as outlined in Section 12.6 of my employment agreement) to be honored,” Amouzegar’s resignation letter said.

In the letter, he said he did not take his decision lightly and remains committed and grateful for the support from faculty, staff, students, and the community.

The Board of Regents “reversed an accepted offer for the Vice President for University Advancement without prior consultation with my office,” Amouzegar wrote. “This action — taken during a last-minute emergency meeting, just days before the Office of the President candidate’s start date and following his relocation — deviates from professional norms and undermines institutional trust.”

The vice president for university advancement position was offered to Patrick Stewart. According to his LinkedIn account, Stewart most recently served as the vice president of philanthropy and alumni relations for New Mexico State University’s Foundation. He previously held university advancement leadership roles at the University of California San Diego, the University of Miami, Imperial College London, the University of New Orleans and California State Polytechnic University Pomona.

Amouzegar, who has been president of the university for 14 months, said the search process was rigorous and inclusive, guided by the university policy and best practices, and felt that rescinding the offer at such a late stage risked reputational harm and made future recruitment more difficult.

The resolution adopted on June 19 requires board approval for all personnel actions involving directors, associate vice presidents and vice presidents; suspends advertising of any such vacancies; and mandates board review of any reorganization efforts.

In the resolution, it states:

1. Effective immediately, all personnel actions applied to all directors, associate vice presidents, vice presidents, and staff with a salary of $100,000 or higher, including hiring, promotions, demotions, transfers, performance payouts, out-of-cycle pay adjustments, and dismissals, shall be referred to the Board for review and approval.

2. Effective immediately, reorganization of any of the University’s budgetary units or positions within budgetary units will require approval from the Board.

3. Until the Board’s regular September Board meeting, no vacancy of any director, associate vice president, or vice president position shall be advertised unless approved by the Board.

4. The President or his designee is directed to take necessary corrective action as soon as possible and no later than end of business June 20, 2025, i.e. rescission of any employment offer or termination of employment, as it relates to the newly created Vice President of University Advancement and to take no further action on filling this vacancy until or unless authorized by the Board.

5. Cost saving measures and appropriate resource allocations to address

declining enrollment, starting with administrative overhead, shall be addressed by the Board with recommendations and/or action by the Board not later than the end of calendar year 2025.

In a letter to Mr. Patrick Stewart from Amouzegar reporting the rescission of his employment offer as Vice President for University Advancement, he expressed regret at the timing of the decision and said he still stands by his recommendation.

“Earlier yesterday, the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents passed a formal resolution (attached) directing the immediate rescission of the employment offer extended to you for the position of Vice President for University Advancement. As President, I am compelled to comply with this directive.” Amouzegar wrote to Stewart, “I want to be clear that this decision was not made by my office and was not the result of any performance issue, procedural error, or lack of qualification on your part.”

He acknowledged the disruption to Stewart and his family, who had already taken steps to join the community.

“I am concerned that such late-stage reversals may undermine confidence in our recruitment processes and affect our ability to attract strong candidates in the future.” Amouzegar wrote to Stewart.

Jerry Armijo, a member of the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents, said he anticipates the board will call a special meeting to determine the process going forward.

“We will continue to work with him to ensure a smooth transition and that all affairs at the NMT are properly administered. In the meantime, this remains an ongoing personnel matter,” Armijo said.

In December 2023, New Mexico Tech regents announced Amouzegar as the university’s 18th president. He was appointed to a five-year term with an annual salary of $425,000. He began his tenure on April 15, 2024.

Editor's note: this article was updated at 11:30 a.m. on July 2.