Board of Regents

Bob Gallagher has been the President of the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association since January 2000. Mr. Gallagher earned his bachelor’s degree in Police Science (aka Criminal Justice) from New Mexico State University and is also a member of the NMSU Alumni Association. He served as City Manager in Hobbs for eight years, and was a senior adviser on energy matters for then-U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Educate New Mexico and was selected in 2006, and again in 2007, as one of the "Top 100 Power Brokers" in the State of New Mexico. He also presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Rio Rancho Economic Development Corporation.

Term Expires Jan 1, 2009

Blake Curtis is a Clovis businessman. He attended New Mexico State University, then graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1982. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the American Seed Trade Association, Leadership New Mexico, and the Association of Commerce and Industry. He served in the New Mexico Legislature from 1986 to 1995 and was House Minority Leader from 1993 to 1995. He is a former member of the New Mexico State Fair Commission, the Board of Directors for the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce’s Balloon Rally, and New Mexico Seedmen’s Association.

Steve Anaya presently serves as Executive Vice President of Realtors Association of New Mexico, having recently left his position as State Director of the New Mexico Fannie Mae Partnership Office. Mr. Anaya formerly served as the State Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from New Mexico State University and is a member of the Moriarty City Council.

Laura M. Conniff graduated with honors from New Mexico State University with a degree in Business Administration. She is a qualifying broker and co-owner of Mathers Realty Inc., and co-owner of Leveldale Farms and Conniff F Cross Farm. She currently serves on the Board of the First National Bank and was a founding board member of the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico.

Ed Kellum graduated with honors from New Mexico State University in May 2006 with a bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and a minor in communication studies. Before his appointment to the Board of Regents, Ed served as the Associated Students of NMSU Director of Governmental Affairs and worked for the New Mexico Rural Development Response Council. He is now a graduate assistant in the Department of Government and also serves on the Board of the Doña Ana County Head Start Program. His terms ends January of 2009.