Advisory Board

The Utton Center Advisory Board provides guidance and support to the Center on its programs and direction. The board includes national, state, and local in water and other natural resource issues.

The guidance of board members from a variety of sectors and disciplines provides the Center with a cutting-edge and multi-disciplinary approach to the development of its programming. Members represent a broad swath of professional backgrounds, including lawyers, hydrologists, academics, and government officials.

The Advisory Board Chair is Marilyn O’Leary, who served as the Director of the Utton Center from its inception until her retirement in 2007. She served as interim director for the Center from 2012–2014, during which time she led a strategic planning effort and the search for a new director. As a lawyer, she worked in the areas of water law and utility law in both the public and private sectors. She also served five years on the New Mexico Public Service Commission, as assistant counsel, executive director, commissioner, and commission chair.

Marilyn had the vision to shape the organization of the Center's work around several major themes: Transboundary Preventive Diplomacy, New Mexico Water Law and Policy, International Projects, and Education. After her retirement, Marilyn continued to be associated with the Utton Center, especially with the Winters Centennial Conference which was held in June 2008. In 2014, she transitioned to a role as visiting research professor and assisted in planning the Water Resilience and Management Conference held in October 2014.