Gov. Susana Martinez has made appointments to fill the two vacant seats on the University’s Board of Regents, one of them being veteran Regent Jamie Koch.
The second appointment is former federal prosecutor Marron Lee, whose family has strong ties to UNM and the Board of Regents.
Martinez announced the new appointees on April 3.
Koch had already been appointed by Martinez and was unanimously confirmed by the state Senate in March. However, he resigned shortly after because Koch said he disagreed with the Senate’s decision to reject fellow appointee Matt Chandler for what he said were political reasons.
Martinez accepted Koch’s letter of resignation at the time, but apparently changed her mind and convinced him to return to the position.
“Regent Koch is an experienced and talented leader, and I firmly believe that he will be a strong servant on the University's governing board as they seek to increase our graduation rate and prepare a stronger workforce in New Mexico,” Martinez said. “He's the right person for this position and that's why I've chosen to reappoint him.”
Koch told the Albuquerque Journal that his decision to return was not easy. In a UNM press release, he cited the University’s impending budget troubles as a major reason for his return.
Koch was previously a member of the board’s Finance and Facilities Committee, and has already scheduled an F and F committee meeting for April 7.
“This is probably the toughest budget I’ve seen in my days as a regent,” Koch said in a press release. “We have some difficult decisions to make in the next few weeks, and I am pleased to be able to return and utilize my experience on the University’s Finance and Facilities committee.”
Both appointees will begin serving as regents immediately and are scheduled to be present at the board’s regular meeting on April 10 when UNM’s budget summit will begin.
Lee, the governor’s second appointee, is a former assistant U.S. attorney and was a legislative assistant to Sen. Pete Domenici. According to a UNM press release, Lee’s great-grandmother Frances Halloran Marron served as one of the University’s first female regents in the 1930s. Marron Hall, which houses the Daily Lobo’s offices, was named in honor of her. Lee’s grandmother was also a regent in the 1940s.
“I am excited to appoint Marron as a regent at the University of New Mexico, where she will be able to continue her family's legacy of effective service to the institution and our state,” Martinez said. “I know Marron well, and I believe she will bring a reform-minded approach to the university; she's tough but fair, and will work tirelessly to ensure the education our students receive at UNM is exactly what they need to succeed in the workforce and in life.”
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According to UNM, Lee has served on the boards of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation and the Albuquerque Museum Foundation, as well as chairing the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission and the New Mexico Sentencing Commission.
President Bob Frank said in a press release that he is grateful to Martinez for making thoughtful selections to the board.
“I am thrilled to have Regent Koch back in a time when we need his vast experience, and Marron Lee has a four generation history with UNM,” Frank said. “What stellar qualifications she brings to the table!”
Both appointees will serve as regents until the next legislative session, when the state Senate will vote on their confirmations. Koch’s is a four-year position, and Lee’s is for six years. If Martinez calls for a special session before that, a confirmation hearing could be held then.
Jonathan Baca is the news editor at the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @JonGabrielB.
