History of Black Programs

Black Programs was established at New Mexico State University in the 1970's to meet the needs of our black students. Our mission is to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation of black students at NMSU. Black Programs was established at New Mexico State University in the 1970's to meet the needs of our black students. Our mission is to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation of black students at NMSU.

Mrs. Clara Belle Williams was the first black student to graduate from New Mexico College of Agriculture & Mechanic Arts in the fall of 1928 (now know as NMSU). Mrs. Williams taught at Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Las Cruces, New Mexico for more than 20 years, during a time when Las Cruces’s public schools were segregated. While teaching she was taking courses only offered during the summer and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English from NMCA&MA in 1937 at the age of 51. Clara Belle Williams continued her education well beyond her graduation date, taking graduate level classes into the 1950s.
She succeeded despite significant obstacles of discrimination placed before her while pursuing her higher education. In 1961, New Mexico State University named Williams Street on the main campus in her honor. She received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from NMSU in 1980.

Clara Belle Williams Day was celebrated on Sunday, February 13, 2005 at NMSU. Included in the festivities was the renaming of the NMSU English Building as Clara Belle Williams Hall. New Mexico State University renamed its English building as Clara Belle Williams Hall “in honor of a person who was unquestionably a pioneer,” in the words of university President Michael Martin.

Mrs. Williams passed away July 3, 1994 at the age of 108