ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Former United States Senator with ties to New Mexico, Fred Harris, died over the weekend. He was 94. Dozens of people across the nation speaking out on the impact he's had on the country, including his work sending UNM students to D.C. "He was so funny, so charming, and so authentic," said Jami Nunez, chair of UNM Political Science Department. Harris began his career in politics in 1957 serving the Oklahoma Senate then moving on to the U.S. Senate in 1964. After two unsuccessful presidential bids, Harris brought his work to New Mexico. "He worked to develop a way to imbed students in the offices of the New Mexico delegation in Washington, D.C.," said Nunez. Story continues below News: New Mexico city reaches $20M settlement in the death of a woman shot by officer Trending: Battle continues for East Mountain residents as Campbell Ranch development moves forward Community: Fees waived on Black Friday at New Mexico state parks Sports: Lobos linemen purchase turkeys for families in need with NIL funds Working as a political science professor at the University of New Mexico, Harris launched the Fred Harris Congressional Internship in 2006. "I think it's an eye-opening experience and has the power to transform student's lives," said Nunez. Nunez said Harris believed in equality and opportunity, and this internship is one way he made it happen. "It has this huge impact in the State of New Mexico to be giving these people opportunities to bring new perspectives and their experience," said Nunez. Over the last year, Nunez said Harris worked to secure the program's future. "I had the privilege of working with him and his family and his colleagues to see what we can do about building this endowment," said Nunez. "He also really believed in democracy and for the transformative experience for students to be part of that and the role that they could play for the rest of their lives." If you are interested in supporting the internship program endowment, you can donate here. In a post on X, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called Harris a "towering presence in politics and academia."