The New Mexico State University governing board named Valerio Ferme as their pick to helm the university system Thursday after more than a year without a permanent leader. Ferme beat out former state Public Education Department Secretary Arsenio Romero,

New Mexico State University announced Thursday that the Board of Regents has selected the university's next president.

Valerio Ferme has been hired as New Mexico State University's president. Ferme joined UC in 2019 as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He became UC's provost in 2021. The University of Cincinnati 's provost is departing that role to become the president of another institution.

Ferme is the executive vice president for academic affairs and provost of the University of Cincinnati. He will replace NMSU's last permanent president and chancellor, Dan Arvizu, who left in 2023.

A new president has been selected at New Mexico State University. The university selected Dr. Valerio Ferme as the new president. The selection comes after finalists for the position visited the university last week.

After a lengthy, and at times controversial search, New Mexico State University announced its new president on Thursday.

LAS CRUCES — Valerio Ferme was chosen Thursday as the new president of New Mexico State University. Ferme had been the executive vice president for academic affairs and provost of the University of Cincinnati since 2021.