Joseph Shepard
{{short description|American academic administrator}}
{{about||the Texas pioneer|Joseph W. Shepard}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Joe Shepard
| birth_name = Joseph Shepard
| office = 15th President of Western New Mexico University
| termstart = July 5, 2011
| education = Northern Arizona University (BS)
University of North Texas (MS)
Florida International University (PhD)
}}
Joseph Shepard is an American academic administrator serving as the 15th president of Western New Mexico University. Appointed on April 27, 2011, he assumed office on July 5, 2011.{{Cite web|title=Inauguration!|url=https://wnmu.edu/inauguration/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=wnmu.edu}} Following long-standing accusations of corruption and wasteful spending substantiated by the State Auditor,{{cite web|title=State AG to investigate Shepard's WNMU exit|url=https://www.scdailypress.com/2024/12/24/state-ag-investigate-shepards-wnmu-exit/|website=Silver City Daily Press|date=24 December 2024 }} Shepard agreed to resign effective Jan. 15, 2025, having been awarded a severance package of roughly two million dollars by the WNMU Regents.{{cite web|title=A University President Accused of Squandering Public Money Resigns in Exchange for a $2 Million Payout|url=https://reason.com/2024/12/31/a-university-president-accused-of-squandering-public-money-resigns-in-exchange-for-a-2-million-payout/|website=Reason Magazine|date=31 December 2024 }} Joseph Shepard is married to Valerie Plame, a former CIA operations officer and author. Plame has faced scrutiny for her use of a university purchasing card, which state investigators have deemed a violation of university policy, as she is not a university employee.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-20 |title=Auditor cites improper use of public funds at Western New Mexico University |url=https://apnews.com/article/western-new-mexico-university-president-spending-cbd466dc5b29c8ad85db2400b538883c |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=AP News |language=en}}
Education
Shepard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in math education from Northern Arizona University, Master of Business Administration in finance and banking from the University of North Texas, and a PhD in public administration from Florida International University.{{Cite web|title=Joseph Shepard :: Council of University Presidents|url=http://nmcup.us/council-members/joseph-shepard.html|access-date=2020-10-04|website=nmcup.us}}
Career
Prior to being president of Western New Mexico University, Shepard worked as an administrator at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he was chief student affairs officer, chief business officer, and chief financial officer.{{Cite web|title=Joseph Shepard inaugurated as Western New Mexico University's 15th president|url=https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/3112-joseph-shepard-inaugurated-as-western-new-mexico-universitys-15th-president|access-date=2020-10-04|website=www.grantcountybeat.com}}{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=UPDATED: WNMU Regents Name New President|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/27081/updated-wnmu-regents-name-new-president.html|access-date=2020-10-04|website=www.abqjournal.com|language=en-US}} As president of Western New Mexico University, Shepard is responsible for the university's main campus in Silver City, New Mexico and three additional satellite locations. In September 2019, Shepard's contract was extended for three years by the university's board of regents.{{Cite web|author=Staff Reports|title=WNMU regents extend president's contract three years|url=https://www.scsun-news.com/story/news/local/2019/09/24/wnmu-board-regents-presidents-contract-extension-joseph-shepard/2429450001/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=Silver City Sun-News|language=en-US}}
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shepard, Joseph}}
Category:Northern Arizona University alumni
Category:University of North Texas alumni
Category:Florida International University alumni
Category:Florida Gulf Coast University faculty
Category:Western New Mexico University faculty