Lopez, NMSU AES named Boberg Award recipients

In fall 2024, NMSU’s Arrowhead Center and Office of Research, Creativity and Economic Development recognized two recipients of the Kevin B. Boberg Excellence in Economic Development Award. 

Davin Lopez, president and CEO of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, and the NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station were honored for their work in positively impacting economic development throughout the state and region, and for their track record of collaborating with the university and the community.

The Kevin B. Boberg Excellence in Economic Development award is named after Kevin Boberg, who helped launch Arrowhead Center at NMSU and was its first director and CEO. Boberg died in March 2021.

Under Lopez’s leadership, MVEDA has developed and implemented a comprehensive regional marketing plan highlighting the area’s unique advantages, attracting new businesses and encouraging the expansion of existing businesses. MVEDA is credited with coining the term “Borderplex” more than two decades ago, setting off a regional branding strategy that has aligned interests across state and international lines.

“Our efforts at MVEDA over the years are a tribute to the man who this award is named after, Dr. Kevin Boberg,” Lopez says. “He believed in the greatness of our region, from our workforce to our students and to our assets. As a board member and mentor, he inspired me to be bold and visionary in our pursuit of economic development growth for our region.”

NMSU’s AES was nominated for its large research and agricultural productivity impact on the state. As the principal research unit of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, the AES system supports fundamental and applied science and technology research to benefit New Mexico’s citizens in the economic, social and cultural aspects of agriculture, natural resource management and family issues.

“The agricultural research conducted by the Experiment Station, consistent with the vision of Dr. Boberg, is helping strengthen New Mexico communities and ensuring that agriculture in the state thrives. At the same time, we conserve our precious natural resources,” says Jay Lillywhite, College of ACES associate dean and AES director.

“The impact of AES in New Mexico is extremely relevant to the economic and rural development with direct benefit to all New Mexicans,” says College of ACES Dean Rolando Flores Galarza, who nominated AES for the award. “This is a well-deserved recognition to the hard work of faculty, staff and students in ACES.”