Richard Coltharp began his career in professional journalism in 1984, as a student at Oklahoma State University. He has worked for newspapers and media organizations in Oklahoma, Arkansas and, since 1995, Southern New Mexico. His job titles have included sports editor, advertising copywriter, features editor, special sections editor, business editor, managing editor, general manager and publisher. For his work at Las Cruces Bulletin, Las Cruces Sun-News and Alamogordo Daily News, he has won 36 awards from the New Mexico Press Association. In 2021, he became an adjunct professor at NMSU, teaching a course he created — “Is Fake News Real” — for the Honors College. He began teaching full-time at NMSU in the Fall of 2024, and has taught courses in media writing, copy editing, sports writing, multi-media and advertising. He earned his degree in journalism at Oklahoma State University, majoring in advertising with a minor in marketing. He has two daughters who have studied and earned a degree at NMSU. He has an endless fascination with the state of New Mexico and has long been addicted to green chile.