The University of New Mexico has renewed Camille Carey as dean of its law school following several months of criticism from some students, alumni and faculty members who sought her removal.

Public criticism, often expressed through open letters to UNM officials, has centered on admission criteria, enrollment diversity, faculty retention and student support services at the law school. UNM Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Rodriguez announced the renewal of Carey five-year contract on Monday evening.

As the sole law school in New Mexico, the Albuquerque institution enrolls roughly 300 students and employs about 30 faculty members.

The School of Law plays a vital role in preparing lawyers who serve communities throughout New Mexico. I am committed to supporting Dean Carey in advancing the School priorities while working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and our legal community partners to build on the School strengths, Rodriguez said in a statement.

Carey has held the dean position since 2022. The renewed contract begins July 1, 2027.

We are disappointed, Sarah Gorman, a criminal defense attorney, UNM alum and president of the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association, said in an interview. This was not the outcome we wanted. We had hoped that the provost would take not only our concerns but the concerns of other community members, alum and legislators seriously and consider new leadership for the law school.

Diversity and test scores

In a March letter, Gorman association criticized what it described as a drop in the share of UNM law students who are Hispanic or from New Mexico.

Faculty members of the UNM School of Law Admissions Committee responded in a June 28 open letter, noting that New Mexico residents account for 266 of the school 296 attendees, including those who gained residency after enrollment. For the 2025 first-year class, the committee received 214 in-state applications, an increase from 167 the prior year, according to the letter.

Over the past 15 years, in-state applications reached a high of 345 in 2011.

We continue to admit New Mexico residents at a rate much higher than their representation in the applicant pool; we do this through the same holistic, mission-driven review that has always defined this school, the letter reads.

Among those awarded law degrees in the 2024-25 academic year, 43 UNM law graduates were white and 42 were Hispanic of any race, based on an American Bar Association report. Three graduates were American Indian or Alaska Native; one was Asian; four were Black or African American and three were multiracial.

Some alumni have also raised concerns about what they view as an undue focus on LSAT scores during admissions.

It seems that students with high LSAT scores now get preference, immigration attorney and UNM alum Jessica Martinez wrote in a June op-ed. This shift does not serve New Mexico. It serves rankings and a vision of excellence that measures students by standardized tests instead of the whole picture, including their background and commitment to communities that need them most.

The UNM School of Law Admissions Committee has rejected this view as well. In the letter, members stated they consider the full range of who a person is: academic achievement, life experience, Tribal affiliation, commitment to public service, obstacles overcome, and the potential to contribute to the profession and the communities that need them.

Gorman said the Hispanic Bar Association will keep pushing for a transparent admissions process. The group also wants recruitment efforts to target New Mexico students, especially those at smaller colleges or in rural areas.

I would hope that the dean now understands that communication with the students and with the alum and with the New Mexico Hispanic Bar and other community members is important, and that she will be open to conversations, Gorman said.

We love our school

A February letter to the school from the New Mexico chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union indicated the group had heard from many students and staff regarding alleged civil rights issues.

The ACLU has represented at least two clients in recent cases against the school. One case, settled last year, claimed a student was denied due process rights during a retaliatory disciplinary investigation following her report of sexual assault by another student.

Another case involved a student who faced disciplinary proceedings after publicly responding to an email about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. That investigation ended in February.

Leon Howard, the executive director of the ACLU of New Mexico, said in a statement the organization has raised serious concerns about the treatment of UNM law students.

We hope to see a path that rebuilds trust, protects students well-being, and ensures that the future of the legal profession in New Mexico reflects the diversity of our beautiful state, Howard said. Based on the concerns that have been raised, that path may be difficult to see right now, but it must remain the priority.

More than a dozen law student groups sent an open letter in March asking UNM leadership not to renew Carey contract. Professor emerita Margaret Montoya submitted another letter on June 17.

Gorman hopes these efforts conveyed a message, even with Carey reappointment.

We love our school and we want to see it thrive and we want to see our students thrive, and we have felt that that has not been happening, Gorman said.