Professor Melissa Emery Thompson, vice president for research at The University of New Mexico, will leave the university this summer after dedicating 18 years to its research community. Thompson is set to become the next chair of the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University, according to a May 22 announcement.
Thompson’s long tenure at UNM is notable for her contributions as a researcher, administrator, and mentor. Her departure marks a significant transition for both her career and the university’s research enterprise. The University of New Mexico boasts more than 200,000 alumni worldwide, including fellows of national academies and contributors to major publications, according to the official website.
“I came to New Mexico from Boston because I needed a change of pace from a big city, and I thought (correctly) that I’d like the culture here,” Emery Thompson said. “And I stayed because UNM has always been good to me.” Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher said: “I’m incredibly honored to have worked collaboratively with Melissa. She is a dedicated professor and mentor, passionate researcher and administrator, and most importantly, someone I am proud to call a friend.”
Emery Thompson joined UNM as a postdoctoral fellow in 2008 before serving in various roles such as faculty member and research administrator. Reflecting on her administrative work outside her department she said: “While I learn something every day as a researcher, taking on administrative roles outside of my department was a real eye-opener because, like most faculty, I really didn’t know much about how the University worked… The opportunity to learn from them has made me better at all aspects of my role as a faculty member.”
As an anthropologist specializing in primate health and behavior studies through projects like Kibale Chimpanzee Project in Uganda—where she coordinates non-invasive studies—Emery Thompson has gained recognition within academia for innovations in biological measurement techniques. In 2024 she was named fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), honoring her contributions in biological anthropology.
Thompson played key roles overseeing initiatives such as WeR1 Faculty Success Initiative and Grand Challenges Program through UNM’s Office of The Vice President for Research (OVPR). Fisher said: “As assistant vice president for research, Melissa made it her goal to reduce barriers to research participation across the university…and promote effective communication between faculty, staff, students, and administration.”
The University of New Mexico serves more than 24,000 students across its main campus and branches each year; it also acts as an important cultural resource through libraries museums galleries performance spaces while promoting diversity engagement according to the official website.
Reflecting on leaving UNM after nearly two decades Emery Thompson offered advice: “We earn our degrees our careers our reputations not by all things that go as planned but by way we respond unexpected…I think it is very important not take yourself too seriously.”
