NMSU President on leave

Barbara Couture

The president of New Mexico State University is on leave, but a campus spokeswoman and the NMSU Board of Regents is not releasing any information about the circumstances behind her absence.

A university spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday night that Barbara Couture, NMSU’s president since January 2010, is on leave, but she declined to say more than that.

“The NMSU Board of Regents has no comment regarding President Couture, and no statement will be released at this time,” NMSU spokeswoman Minerva Baumann said in an email. “Dr. Couture is currently on leave. As a public institution, the Board of Regents will follow the rules of the Open Meetings Act regarding any personnel decisions.”

Several regents could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night.

The board has met twice behind closed doors in recent weeks, most recently on Saturday, to discuss unspecified legal and personnel matters. 

NMSU President on leave