UNM School of Law to Honor Alice King Legacy on May 21

From >UNM Today: Alice King, the former first lady of New Mexico, will be honored for her role in modern New Mexico public policy at a public reception and panel presentation, Thursday, May 21 from 4:30 to 6:00 PM at the UNM School of Law Forum. King, wife of Gov. Bruce King, died in early December 2008 after suffering a stroke. She worked tirelessly throughout her adult life to improve the lives of New Mexico's children.

She is credited with creating the state's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), was chair of the New Mexico Children’s Trust Fund and was a major supporter of the Carrie Tingley Children’s Hospital.

The event features a panel discussion focusing on Alice King’s contributions to the state. Laura Threet, co-chair of the Bruce King Reading Room and Archives Committee, will chair the panel. Threet served as cabinet secretary of the New Mexico General Services Department during the 1991-1995 King Administration.

Panelists include:

• Nancy Jo Archer, CEO of Hogares, Inc. and chair of Voices for Children. She also served on the task force that created CYFD.

• Caroline Gaston, a consultant with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. She was an assistant to Alice King in the last King Administration.

• Jolene Maes, an Early Childhood Program consultant for the City of Albuquerque. She was staff director for the task force that created CYFD.

• Wayne Powell, associate director of the Office of the Vice President for Community Health at the UNM Health Sciences Center. He was the first cabinet secretary of CYFD.
• David R. Schmidt, director of the New Mexico Council on Crime and Delinquency. He worked with Alice King on rewriting the Children's Code.

The reception will follow the panel presentation. Both events are free and open to the public. Parking will be available in the L lot. For more information contact Ramona Garcia at 277-8649.