Raymond G. Sanchez is President of Sanchez, Mowrer and Desiderio, P.C., an Albuquerque Law Firm.He served 30 years in the New Mexico State Legislature, and was Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives for a historic 16 year tenure, where he was a champion for higher education.His knowledge of the complex issues and needs of every corner of the state has proven invaluable to the University. He received a bachelor’s degree in government in 1964 and a juris doctor degree in 1967 from UNM. Sanchez was appointed to the Board of Regents in February 2005.
The President of the Board shall serve as a nonvoting alternate, and may serve as a voting member whenever any of the Regent members are not present.
Jack L. Fortner, is an attorney in Farmington, NM, where he has served as San Juan County Commissioner and an alternate municipal judge. He received his bachelor's in political science from UNM and his juris doctor from University of Michigan. Fortner has been a regent since 1999.
Carolyn J. Abeita is a partner in the Van Amberg, Rogers, Yepa, Abeita & Gomez law firm in Albuquerque. The firm specializes in Indian law matters and tribal representation. Ms. Abeita provides legal counsel to tribal governments and tribal organizations on a variety of governmental, corporate and public welfare matters. She is a New Mexico Board Certified Specialist in Federal Indian Law. Abeita received her B.A. from UNM in 1984 and she is a 1988 graduate of the UNM School of Law. She is an Isleta Pueblo tribal member. Abeita currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer to the Board of Regents. Abeita was appointed by the Governor in January 2007.
Don L. Chalmers owns auto dealerships in Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and Albuquerque. A member of numerous boards and commissions, Chalmers has served on the UNM Hospital Clinical Operations Board and the UNM Foundation. He also served on the NM Commission on Higher Education. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's degree in marketing. He was appointed to the board in December 2005.
J.E. (Gene) Gallegos is President of the Gallegos Law Firm, P.C. He has achieved widespread recognition for his experience in commercial and antitrust litigation, with particular emphasis on complex natural gas matters. He is recognized by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in the area of Natural Resources - Oil and Gas Law. Mr. Gallegos is also President of Pro NM Energy Inc., a small independent oil and gas producing company which focuses its business in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico.
Mr. Gallegos received two degrees from the University of New Mexico: a B.A. in government and psychology in 1956 and a J.D. in 1960. He entered the private practice of law in 1963, after service as an Assistant United States Attorney and assistant Attorney General of New Mexico. He was a senior shareholder in the Santa Fe law firm of Jones, Gallegos, Snead & Wertheim since the firm became a professional corporation in 1975. He left that firm in the spring of 1987 and started the Gallegos Law Firm. Regent Gallegos' appointment began April 2009.
James H. Koch is president of Daniels Insurance in Santa Fe. A former legislator, Koch was the original author of the Inspection of Records Act, the New Mexico equivalent of the national Freedom of Information Act that protects the rights of all people to access public information and records. Koch has continued to remain active at the highest levels of New Mexico, serving as state chair of the Democratic Party in 2002 and as a key advisor to current and former Governors for four decades. He received his bachelor's degree in education from UNM in 1959. He was appointed to the board in January 2003.
Cate Wisdom is an undergraduate student majoring in Chemical Engineering and Biology. She is the student regent appointed by Governor Bill Richardson in December of 2008. Cate is active in both the Biomedical Engineering Society and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. She is also a student researcher at the Center for Micro Engineered Materials. Cate is a student alumni ambassador with the group UNM Trailblazers and volunteers with ASUNM Community Experience and ASUNM Lobo Spirit.
She is also active in her sorority Alpha Chi Omega and has participated with ASUNM on the Lobbying Committee. Cate is a presidential scholar and is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Mathematics Honor Society and the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. She was a member of the Safe Teen New Mexico Board and a member of the NM Youth Alliance. Cate's appointment began April 2009.