Congresswoman Stansbury Highlights Importance of Diversity in Higher Education During Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON – During a hearing of the House Committee on Space, Science, and Technology this morning, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) worked to advance critical funding for research institutions like the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University while highlighting the important contributions of international students to scientific advancement. 

In 2020, 3,208 international studentscame to New Mexico for their education, with 1,512 attending UNM and 918 attending NMSU.

Rep. Stansbury’s questions highlighted the critical contribution of international students to the state’s rich multicultural heritage at a time when racist incidents, particularly targeting Asian and Asian-American communities, have increased nationwide due to the COVID pandemic. Rep. Stansbury questioned the witness panel, including Dr. Maria Zuber, Co-Chair of the National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable from the National Academies of Sciences and Candice Wright, Director of the Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics office of the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

“Both of New Mexico’s premier research institutions, UNM and NMSU,  are strengthened by their diversity, not just as Hispanic-Serving Institutions, but due in part to the international students that come from around the world to study in New Mexico, ” said Rep. Stansbury. “The majority of these students stay in the United States after graduating and continue contributing to our research advances and local communities. We should celebrate the contributions of these individuals and continue to encourage them to come and share their expertise with our country.” 

Rep. Stansbury continued by questioning Zuber on the impact of policies discouraging international student enrollment. “For smaller universities or those with less resources, what does the risk landscape look like? Are universities equipped to defend themselves, and how is the federal government helping to strengthen collaboration between universities to address these threats?”

“Making the most of research in the U.S. means getting everybody involved,” Zuber responded. “There are many institutions that are capable of participating in the research enterprise and we need them all fully locked in. But disclosures, cybersecurity – all these safeguards require a level of sophistication, a lot of staffing, and a lot of resources. And by putting these policies in place, it actually impedes all universities, particularly universities such as those in New Mexico, from participating.”