Abdallah met with international university administrators to help establish global connections for UNM. 

President Chaouki Abdallah greets students as part of UNM's Welcome Back Days last fall.

Faculty, staff and students raise their glasses in a toast to outgoing President Chaouki Abdallah, thanking him for his leadership during the last year and a half. The toast took place at a gathering honoring Abdallah in the Popejoy lobby.

When Chaouki Abdallah steps aside as the 22nd president of The University of New Mexico later this week, he’ll probably do so with both a little sense of accomplishment and a big sense of relief. Accomplishment coming in the form of knowing that he...