Get to Know FLOE: ENMU's First Lady Discusses Being a Greyhound

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PORTALES, NM (08/30/2018) Edwina Gower reflects on her first year as the first lady of Eastern New Mexico University (FLOE), her goals and what being a Greyhound means to her.

Describe your first year as FLOE:

As I contemplate the highlights of the past year, a myriad of imagines flash through my mind. However, the ones that stand out above the others are graduations. It is such a privilege to be involved in what is a seminal moment is people's lives.

In December, I was seated on the floor during the ceremony (the first time since my own college graduation) as I also got see the realization of my husband's goal of becoming a University President. We've been married 33 years, and the pride and pleasure of watching him invested as Eastern's 10th President in the midst of all those others achieving their own dreams was a highlight of my life.

The May graduation allowed me to sit back and soak in the beauty of seeing so many families celebrating the milestone that graduation represents.

My connection with students was facilitated by the events attended. We strive to attend as many University events as possible. At times, that means "divide and conquer." There are times when I am at an event by myself because Jeffery is traveling on University business. Whether as a couple or solo, we always engage with others at the event. Those daily connections are what build relationships and make folks more likely to share successes and concerns.

What goals do you have for your role as FLOE?

My primary goal is to assist in building and maintaining relationships with students, employees, alumni, community members and donors. I hope to be someone who everyone feels they can come to for a hug, smile, friendship, advice or help. I don't have an official "job" at the University, but that gives me a lot of latitude to work across departments to help make things happen.

A secondary goal, or project, right now is trying to help highlight the art we have here. ENMU is fortunate to have a number of significant pieces. The hope is to find information on all of them and create a place on the website where folks can see a picture and read the story with just a click. Additionally, I'd like to have plaques made for the larger pieces to enable anyone who walks by to know the basic information about it.

Favorite thing about ENMU and Portales:

That's easy… the people! It may sound trite, but the people here are undoubtedly the greatest strength of both the gown and town.

What does being a Greyhound mean to you?

It means joining a family. This feels a bit like marriage; you might not have known everyone in your spouse's family before the wedding, but you get the bonus of immediately having them in yours now. That is true for anyone at ENMU, and it is a truly wonderful thing. We've been at a number of schools, and that feeling of family is pretty rare.

Read more of Edwina's interview: https://www.enmu.edu/about/news-and-events/enmu-news/general-news/2669-get-to-know-floe-enmu-s-first-lady-discusses-being-a-greyhound