Western New Mexico University Alum J. Dean Reed has built a career defined by leadership, financial discipline, and service, and he now brings those strengths back to the institution that helped shape his professional path. Reed graduated from WNMU with both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration in Finance, while also being a member of the Mustangs track and Field from 1981-1982. Decades later, Reed has recently joined the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents, where he serves as Regent, Treasurer.
 
Reed was appointed to the Board by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and confirmed by the New Mexico Legislature in March 2025. Most recently, Reed served as Vice President for Cornerstone Diagnostics, where he developed sales and training initiatives and strengthened organizational performance through a strong command of budgeting, planning, and operational oversight.
 
His connection to WNMU, however, stretches back long before his appointment to the Board. During his time as a student, alongside running for Track, Reed served as student body president for two years, demonstrating an early commitment to leadership and advocacy. Since graduating, he has remained actively involved with the WNMU Alumni Association, including service as Secretary of the Alumni Board.
 
In his role as Secretary, Reed also supports compliance, procedural integrity, and effective governance. He is committed to making sure Board actions remain aligned with state statutes and university bylaws while supporting open meetings, ethical conduct, and transparent decision-making. His approach reflects a belief that trust in leadership is built through clarity, consistency, and accountability.
 
Beyond formal responsibilities, Reed has made it a priority to stay connected to campus life. Since joining the Board, he has maintained a strong in-person presence in Silver City, using those visits to engage with administrators, faculty, staff, and students. That direct engagement has given him a clearer understanding of the university's challenges and opportunities and reinforced his commitment to representing the WNMU community with care and perspective.
 
Alongside his service to WNMU, Reed continues to contribute to higher education more broadly as an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Mexico, a role he began in July 2025. His continued work in academia, paired with his leadership in business and governance, reflects a career rooted in mentorship, strategy, and public service.
 
For Reed, serving WNMU is both a professional responsibility and a personal mission. His journey from student leader to accomplished executive to university regent illustrates the lasting impact of a WNMU education and the powerful role alumni can play in shaping the institution's future. His story is one of loyalty, leadership, and a lasting commitment to helping Western New Mexico University thrive for generations to come.

Stay tuned for our next Alumni Spotlight. 
 

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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).