Departmental News

Posted:  Nov 25, 2024 - 12:00am

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of faculty emeritus Fred Harris. Senator Harris, known for his work championing civil rights for all Americans, was 94. The Department of Political Science is forever grateful to Senator Harris for his work and the time spent here enriching our student's lives while teaching at the University of New Mexico.

We look forward to continuing his legacy of excellence through the Fred Harris US Congressional Internship Program, which sends UNM students to live in Washington DC and work in the offices of New Mexico's representatives.

In 2024, the department, working with the Harris family, was able to create an endowment fund for this internship to ensure program funding in purpetuity. If you would like to donate to the endowment through the UNM Foundation, please visit this link or scan the QR code below.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday December 14, 2024 at 2:00p and the Hispanic Cultural Center, more details will be provided as soon as they are available. Our thoughts are with the Harris family & all who knew Senator Harris during this difficult time.

Click here to read Senator Harris' obituary in the New York Times, published Saturday November 23, 2024. This link is provided by the Internet Archive and has no paywall.