By Thomas Tierney, Ph.D.
Los Alamos

I am writing in my personal capacity to endorse Dr. Bryan Fearey for the UNM-Los Alamos Advisory Board. I have known Bryan for about 15 years by working with him at Los Alamos National Laboratory. I have also seen his contributions to local music through the Community Winds and other organizations. I believe he would serve UNM-LA with distinction.

During his 30+ years at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bryan frequently hosted and mentored undergraduate and graduate students, helping them connect rigorous classroom learning with real-world research and public-service missions. I have seen this firsthand in several cases where those students have revered his tutelage as formative for their careers. Several of his former students have risen to distinguished leadership positions within the national security community.

Bryan’s own statement emphasizes UNM-LA’s mission of preparation for transfer, career pathways, and lifelong learning—a mission I share. At a time when New Mexico higher education faces funding uncertainty and rapid change, we need board members focused on student success, workforce alignment, and fiscal stewardship. UNM-LA provides local degree-seeking students and the broader community with opportunities to access higher education locally. I believe Bryan’s experience and expertise will help grow UNM-LA beyond its current successes while leveraging the knowledge of leading scientists at LANL.

Beyond his professional achievements, Bryan has invested in local students and families—from scholarship fund work to volunteer service. In Los Alamos and across northern New Mexico, that kind of steady, practical leadership makes a difference. He is impassioned about seeing students succeed not only in their academic pursuits but in their broader life.

For these reasons—his mentoring record, his deep commitment to higher education, and his ongoing service to our community—I support Dr. Bryan Fearey for the UNM-LA Advisory Board.