UNM Honors College to celebrate annual Homecoming and Open House event on Oct. 18

The UNM Honors College will host a Homecoming and Open House event on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This family-friendly event will feature an art exhibition at the Spectra Gallery, a kids' room with fun crafts, and a silent auction fundraiser to support Scribendi, the Honors College Literature & Arts Magazine.

Distinguished Alumni Recipients

This year, the Honors College is proud to recognize two Distinguished Alumni Award winners and one Young Alumni Award recipient whose careers reflect the very best of UNM Honors values: creativity, community, and curiosity.

Garrett Sheldon, Ph.D. ('77)
Sheldon is a retired Professor from the University of Virginia, where he held an Endowed Chair and continues as a part-time Church minister. He earned his PhD in Political Schience at Rutgers and went on to serve as a Visiting Professor at Oxford, the University of Vienna, Moscow University, Istanbul, and Trinity College Dublin. Author of ten books in political philosophy, religion, and law, he has received numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Faculty in Virginia Award and the UNM Bernard Rogey Award. Sheldon credits his Honors College experience as the foundation for his distinguished academic and professional journey, and he continues to mentor and minister even in retirement.

Professor Verónica Gonzales ('08)
Professor Gonzales, a first-generation college graduate, is now a tenured law professor at the UNM School of Law. She has distinguished herself as a gifted teacher, scholar, and advocate for equity in the legal profession. Known for her engaging and rigorous classroom methods, she empowers both traditional and nontraditional students-including first-generation, BIPOC, and underrepresented communities-to envision themselves as leaders in law. Beyond the classroom, Professor Gonzales has published widely, chaired the AALS Poverty Law Section, provided pro bono services across New Mexico, and serves on the Local Civil Rules Committee for the U.S. District Court. In 2023, she was honored with the Best All-Around Support Award for faculty of color at UNM.

Young Alumni Award

Muhammad Haris Tanvir ('23)
Haris Tanvir, founder of HIVE Food Co. and executive director of the Tanvir Foundation, is recognized with the Young Alumni Award for his entrepreneurial leadership and dedication to service. A licensed pilot and global citizen who speaks seven languages, Haris embodies the Honors College spirit of innovation and community engagement. His company is transforming the U.S. honey industry with sustainable practices, while his nonprofit combats hunger and poverty and funds scholarships for Honors College students. In just two years since graduation, Haris has become a model of resilience, creativity, and social responsibility-demonstrating the transformative power of Honors education.

Join the Celebration

The Honors College invites alumni, students, and the UNM community to join us on Oct.18 to celebrate Homecoming, connect with fellow Lobos, and honor these outstanding alumni whose accomplishments continue to inspire.