2024 Distinguished Achievement Awards Dinner

The UNM School of Law and the Board of the UNM School of Law Alumni/ae Association hosted the 2024 Distinguished Achievement Awards Dinner on October 18, 2024. The 2024 Distinguished Achievement Awards were proudly presented to Gloria Valencia-Weber, F. Michael Hart, and The Honorable Deb Haaland. The Alumni Promise Award was presented to Noell Sauer Huffmyer.

In 1993, School of Law Alumni/ae board members began a tradition of honoring people who have served the legal community in a significant way at an annual dinner and awards ceremony. The purpose of the Distinguished Achievement Awards Dinner is to celebrate notable accomplishments and dedicated service by lawyers and others in the legal community to the School of Law, the New Mexico legal community, and the greater community inside and outside of New Mexico. Since the dinner started, over 70 honorees, more than 7,000 attendees, and hundreds of sponsors have participated in the event. The dinner has raised over $500,000 for law school initiatives, including full-tuition Alumni Association scholarships and other scholarships presented to incoming law students. Class of 2027 Alumni/ae Association Scholarship recipient Jane Tabet-Kirkpatrick shared, “Receiving the New Mexico School of Law Alumni Association Award allowed me to fully commit to the state that I love. I am (at least) a sixteenth-generation New Mexican, and during my law application journey, I applied to schools across the country and had enticing offers to leave the state. When I found out that I had been awarded this full scholarship opportunity, it fully sealed my commitment to the UNM School of Law and allowed me to freely commit to the state and issues that I am passionate about unburdened by the economic hardship that accompanies law school and the debt that later dominates career choices. I feel extraordinarily lucky be able to stay in my home state and continue dedicating my career to la lucha.”

The School and the Alumni Association would like to express heartfelt congratulations to all honorees and thank the event sponsors and guests.

Event photos can be accessed here.



Nominations are now open for the 2025 awards. Closing date is February 17, 2025.

The School of Law and the Law and Indigenous Peoples Program Host the Gathering of Communities and Nations Convocation

On October 16, 2024, the School of Law and the Law and Indigenous Peoples Program hosted the Gathering of Communities and Nations Convocation, featuring Distinguished Alumnus John Echohawk of the Pawnee Nation.

The UNM School of Law was founded in 1947 with the first class enrolled including 53 students, 51 of whom were World War II veterans. In 1967, the School of Law welcomed its first Native American law student, John Echohawk. Three years later, in 1970, Echohawk made history as the School’s first Native American graduate.

Echohawk’s journey began with the Special Scholarship Program for American Indians, which later evolved into the Pre-Law Summer Institute for American Indians and Alaska Natives (PLSI). As a member of the inaugural PLSI class, he was exposed to courses in Federal Indian Law, which sparked his passion for advocacy.

Following his graduation, Echohawk co-founded the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) in 1970 to address the legal needs of impoverished Native Americans and advocate for their rights. NARF has become a leading organization in Native American legal advocacy, taking on landmark cases such as United States v. State of Washington, Keystone XL Pipeline, Cobell v. Salazar, and Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe..Echohawk’s work has inspired generations of Native American attorneys and reinforced the importance of Indian law in the legal community.

Today, the School of Law is recognized for its comprehensive Indian law program and was ranked as the top law school for Native American law students by preLaw Magazine in 2022. Additionally, the Law and Indigenous Peoples Program is designed to prepare students for meaningful careers in Indian law. This program provides both Native and non-Native students the opportunity to specialize in Indian law through the Indian Law Certificate.

The recent convocation served as a celebration of Echohawk’s legacy and the ongoing efforts of UNM to support Native American legal education. Program faculty at the School of Law currently includes Professor of Law and Director of the Law and Indigenous Peoples Program Aliza Organick (Navajo Nation), Associate Professor of Law Samuel Winder (Southern Ute Indian Tribe), Assistant Professor of Law Nadine Padilla (Navajo Nation and Isleta and Laguna Pueblos), and Professor of Law Sherri Thomas (Taos Pueblo).

The Justice Pamela Burgy Minzner Award in Professionalism and Legal Ethics and the Salazar Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement Awarded to Third-Year School of Law Students



The School of Law is excited to announce two outstanding student achievements. Damon Nieto has been awarded the 2024 Justice Pamela Burgy Minzner Award, and Rebecca Myers has received the 2024 Salazar Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

The Justice Pamela Burgy Minzner Award is awarded annually to a School of Law student entering the final year of law school who demonstrates excellence in professionalism and legal ethics. The Justice Pamela Burgy Minzner Award was established in 2014 by Richard C. Minzner, Of Counsel at the Rodey Law Firm, in honor of Pamela Burgy Minzner, the first female Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. “Receiving the Justice Pamela Burgy Minzner Award in Professionalism and Legal Ethics has been one of my greatest accomplishments in law school. It is truly a privilege and an honor to be recognized in such a meaningful way. I wish I had the pleasure of meeting Justice Minzner, as I have heard nothing but the most admirable things about her. Based on what I have heard and read about Justice Minzner, she exemplifies traits that I hold near and dear to my heart: respect, grace, integrity, and, most importantly, humility. I hope to follow in Justice Minzner’s footsteps and inspire others in the way she has inspired so many, including myself. I look forward to carrying this honor with pride as I work toward making a positive impact in the legal field in New Mexico,” said Nieto.

The Salazar Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement is awarded each year to the School of Law student with the highest cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of the second year of law school. The Salazar Prize was established in 2013 by John P. Salazar, an attorney with the Rodey Law Firm, and his wife, Terri. The prize was created in memory of Salazar’s late uncle, Tibo J. Chavez, who inspired lives of service and excellence in the law. “I’m so grateful to Mr. Salazar and his family for their support of the law school. I’m honored to have received the Salazar Prize and to be associated with Tibo Chavez’s reputation for hard work and dedication to New Mexico. I’d like to acknowledge that my success is only possible because of the support of my family, and the staff and faculty of the School of Law,” said Myers.

Congratulations to both Damon and Rebecca on these well-deserved honors. The School of Law would also like to thank John Salazar and Dick Minzner for their generosity and continued support of our law students.

The Utton Transboundary Resources Center Celebrates its 25th Anniversary 



Friends of the late Professor Albert E. Utton from New Mexico’s water management community and the University of New Mexico gathered at the School of Law on September 19, 2024, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Utton Transboundary Resources Center. Special guests included Mary Utton, Professor Utton’s widow, and John Utton, Professor Utton’s son and a water law attorney in Santa Fe. The event also welcomed former Utton Center Directors Marilyn O’Leary and Susan Kelly, as well as the Deputy State Engineer and Governor’s water policy adviser, Tanya Trujillo. 

Professor Utton was renowned for his diplomacy and charisma which helped him build strong relationships to solve challenging water issues both locally and internationally. Well known for his work on transnational resource collaboration, Professor Utton founded both the International Transboundary Resources Center and the Natural Resources Center at UNM. These projects were combined and renamed in his honor as the Utton Transboundary Resources Center by the UNM Board of Regents on August 10, 1999. The Utton Center has taken pride in continuing Professor Utton’s spirit and legacy through projects promoting the equitable and sustainable management of transboundary resources. 

The School of Law Hosts the Annual Homecoming Diner en Rouge 

On September 18, 2024, the School of Law, in partnership with the UNM Alumni Association, hosted the annual UNM homecoming event, Diner en Rouge. Students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members attended the festivities dressed in their favorite cherry red attire. Held on the back lawn of the School, attendees enjoyed live music, tethered hot air balloon rides, food, and networking opportunities. 

The School of Law extends a thank you to all who attended and contributed to the event’s success, particularly the UNM Alumni Association and the members of the Legislative Finance Committee. 

The Mexican American Law Student Association Changes its Name to The Latiné American Law Student Association 

The Latiné American Law Student Association (LALSA) recently changed its name from the Mexican American Law Student Association (MALSA) to better reflect its multifaceted membership. Founded in the 1970’s by a group of law students at the University of New Mexico, LALSA has become one of the largest and most active student organizations in the New Mexico legal community. The student association is a vibrant and diverse community of students representing various backgrounds. It focuses on mentoring law students, offering LSAT preparation for undergraduates, and supporting professional development opportunities.   

After careful consideration and community-wide discussion, LALSA members voted to change the association’s name to promote growth, inclusivity, and alignment with its mission. President Alicia Ulibarri (3L) explains that the “recent name change reflects the ongoing evolution of our community, and I am honored to be part of a generation that is both carrying forward our rich history and embracing a future that is more inclusive and representative of the diversity within our organization.” The focus of LALSA is to foster a community where everyone belongs and can contribute to a more just and equitable future, explained Ulibarri. 

LALSA is enthusiastic about building a network with alumni to enhance connections with students. The association warmly encourages all alumni to reach out directly to the LALSA board to facilitate engagement, as increased alumni involvement will provide students with invaluable connections to experienced professionals.

The Board is excited to extend an invitation to Malseros/as and members of the legal community eager to be mentors to the new generation of LALSA members for our upcoming Matanza event on the evening of November 8, 2024 from 5:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. This celebration highlights New Mexico’s rich cultural traditions and provides a special opportunity to build meaningful connections. Historically, Matanzas have served as communal gatherings where families and friends come together to not only share food but to also reflect on their roots, engage in meaningful conversation, and strengthen their bonds through the richness of tradition.

LALSA’s Matanza event draws inspiration from that same sense of unity and celebration, offering students an opportunity to reflect on their cultural identities, share in traditions, and enjoy each other's company in a welcoming environment. The event will showcase a Mariachi performance by students from Albuquerque High’s Mariachi group, and is honored to feature Professor Margaret E. Montoya for a speech and a storytelling exercise. This event will not only benefit students, but also strengthen the connections between alumni and current members.

Attendees can RSVP at this link.

Contact Us

LALSA President, Alicia Ulibarri: aulibarri356@law.unm.edu

LALSA Alumni Liaison, Lorena Ortiz: lortiz29@law.unm.edu

Constitutional Amendment Contemplates Flexibility for UNM School of Law Dean 



New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 3 is on the ballot this November. It can be found here. Passage of the amendment would allow the Dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law to appoint a designee to chair judicial nominating commissions when needed. The Dean will continue to oversee all judicial nominating commissions and will continue to chair most commissions. This change would allow the Dean to designate a faculty member, retired faculty member, associate dean, or former dean of the UNM School of Law to chair a commission in the case of the Dean’s illness or if pressing matters require the Dean’s presence at the School of Law.

The John Field Simms, Sr. Lectureship in Law

The School of Law invites you to attend the John Field Simms, Sr. Lectureship in Law on January 30, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. The lecture “Covering the Supreme Court in 2024—One Journalist’s Perspective” will be presented by Amy Howe, Independent Contractor and Reporter for SCOTUSblog.

The event will take place in the School of Law Forum.