Our Leadership

Katrina Hotrum-Lopez served as the director of behavioral health services at Bernalillo County from 2016 to 2019 and previously served as the director of the county’s substance abuse programs. From 2007 to 2010, Hotrum-Lopez was deputy Cabinet secretary of the state Department of Health, one of several roles she held there.  

Jeff M. Witte currently is President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, a past president of the Western United States Agriculture Trade Association and on the board and past president of the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Alisha Tafoya Lucero has nearly two decades of experience in the New Mexico Corrections Department, beginning in 2001 as a classification officer and serving as Deputy Warden and Interim Warden of the Penitentiary of New Mexico and Interim Warden of Springer Correctional Facility.

Debra Garcia y Griego was previously the director of the city of Santa Fe Arts Commission, a position she held since 2012, during which time she led the city’s efforts to support arts and cultural affairs. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.

Alicia Keyes was previously the film liaison for the city of Albuquerque, a role in which she initiated and oversaw the $1 billion agreement with Netflix to establish a landmark studio. She established a workforce training program with both the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College and was responsible for all film permitting and recruiting.

Sarah Cottrell Propst previously served as the Executive Director of the Interwest Energy Alliance, a non-profit trade association that represents the nation’s leading companies in the renewable energy industry, from 2012 to 2018, bringing them together with non-governmental organizations in the West (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).

Debbie Romero is a dedicated public servant with nearly 40 years of experience in state government. In addition to having worked in budgeting and finance across a wide variety of fields relating to public government, Romero most recently served as the Director of the State Budget Division at DFA.

Ken Ortiz was previously the administrator of business services in the Secretary of State’s Office, where he served from 2011 through 2018. As administrator, he was directly responsible for the Business Services Division, which includes business-related filings for corporations, LLCs, partnerships and more.

Kate O’Neill is a proven leader and innovator in New Mexico higher education, previously serving as chief executive officer of the University of New Mexico at Taos for 12 years, beginning in 2006, and as special assistant to the chief executive since her retirement in 2016. 

David R. Scrase, MD, is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He is a Board Certified Internist and Geriatrician, and previously served as the Interim Division Chief for General Internal Medicine and the Chief of Geriatrics at UNM.

John Salazar brings more than 25 years of experience in the information technology and management field to the role of State CIO, having served as a longtime chief information officer with specialized experience leading information technology organizations, including the information technology divisions of several New Mexico state government agencies.

Major General Kenneth A. Nava serves as the Adjutant General for the State of New Mexico. As the Adjutant General, he serves as senior military advisor to the Governor and is responsible for providing the State of New Mexico and the United States with a ready force of citizen Airmen and Soldiers.

Ryan Stewart is an educator with diverse classroom and leadership experience in public education and education reform. He previously served as executive director of the Partners in School Innovation mid-Atlantic region and as executive director of the Office of School Improvement and Innovation at the School District of Philadelphia, the eighth-largest school district in the country.

Mark Shea was previously the undersheriff of Valencia County and has worked in law enforcement for more than four decades, including nine years at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. Shea also served as Deputy Chief of the Albuquerque Public Schools Police Department.

Pam Coleman previously worked in various White House roles in the administration of President Barack Obama. Coleman was special assistant to the president for leadership development; a special assistant for energy and the environment; and served as the director of the outreach and recruitment team in the presidential personnel office.

Stephanie Schardin Clarke has over fifteen years of experience working in New Mexico state and local government administration. She served as Deputy Secretary for the Department of Finance and Administration, where she oversaw the agency’s internal administration and was a member of several State policymaking boards and councils.

Michael Sandoval has spent more than 20 years at the New Mexico Department of Transportation, most recently serving as executive manager of modal divisions, a role in which he oversaw 300 contracts and 12 ports of entry and major programs such as the Railrunner, commercial vehicle permitting and traffic safety.

Brig. Gen. Judy Griego is the first woman to ever be promoted to such rank in the New Mexico National Guard. She retired from a 36-year career in National Guard as the chief of staff of the New Mexico Air National Guard and also served as chief of the joint staff at New Mexico Joint Force Headquarters.