UNM School of Law professor recognized at the Roundhouse for her historic first moment

Warigia Bowman, a University of New Mexico School of Law professor and affiliated faculty member in the Africana Studies department, was recently recognized as part of African American Day at the Legislature, in observance of Black History Month.

Rep. Pamelya Herndon, from New Mexico's House of Representatives, presided over the opening celebrations, which recognized and celebrated 10 outstanding African American women for their historic first moments that have impacted communities across the state.

"Each of these women represents a historic first in her community or in her field and we honor those firsts," Herndon said. "We recognize what these firsts truly mean, progress that opens doors wider than they ever were before."

W.E.B. Du Bois, an activist for African Americans in 1903, spoke about an intellectual approach to achieving equal rights for all. He called this idea the "Talented Tenth," which held that the top 10% of educated African Americans would lead the race toward social, economic and political equality.

Rep. Herndon recognized each of these 10 women as part of Du Bois' Talented Tenth, including Bowman, who was specifically honored as the first African American elected to the Albuquerque Public School Board, an institution that has been around since 1891.

Her term began in Jan., when she was sworn in by Justice Stan Whitaker, a graduate of Sandia High School and UNM Law School. She will chair the APS Finance Committee. APS is the largest school district in the state, serving 70,000 students with a budget of $2.2 billion.

Bowman couldn't be more excited or proud to represent District 6 for APS. She and her sisters went to Los Alamos Public High School, while her sons currently attend Sandia High School.

She has 18 years of teaching experience, which she tirelessly shares with her community from each conversation with students to every community interaction. Bowman earned her bachelor's degree from Columbia University, her J.D. and M.P.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. from Harvard's Kennedy School. She practiced as an Honors Trial Attorney in the Environmental Division at the U.S. Department of Justice under President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno, and has consulted for the United Nations, the US State Department, and many other international organizations

She is a proud third-generation New Mexican. She comes from a long line of educators, with a family history of perseverance, courage, and an unwavering philosophy about the power of education.

"A public education is critical for everyone," said Bowman. "Education is crucial in reducing the inequality in America, ensuring informed voters at the polls and supporting a functioning society overall."

The legacy of education comes from both sides of Bowman's family. Her mother grew up near Mount Kenya as a member of the Kikuyu linguistic group. Her grandparents converted to Christianity to learn how to read. Persuaded that reading was important, made the radical decision to sell half of their land to send their daughters to a Presbyterian Mission School, Alliance, where her mother and aunts were among the first five Black African women in Kenya to attend high school

However, women were not allowed to study past the 10th grade. Wairimu, Bowman's mother, became a translator for the World Health Organization. With assistance from the Presbyterian Church, her mother and uncle immigrated to California, where her mother earned a bachelor's degree from Occidental College and a master's degree from the University of California at Los Angeles. She later became an anthropologist and taught as an adjunct professor at UNM-Los Alamos.

"A public education is critical for everyone. Education is crucial in reducing the inequality in America, ensuring informed voters at the polls and supporting a functioning society overall."

- Professor Warigia Bowman

Bowman's paternal grandmother was the first woman in her county to attend college and taught in Manuelito, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation during World War II, where Bowman's father attended kindergarten.

Additionally, one of her maternal uncles was a principal in Kenya, and another maternal uncle founded the Afro-Ethnic studies as a professor at California State Fullerton.

Her father was a scientist at Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos National Labs and Oak Ridge National Labs.

"I am honored and proud to be teaching at UNM law school, where I work with many first-generation, Native American and Hispanic students," Bowman said.

In addition to the historic first celebration, Rep. Herndon spoke with great pride and admiration about Masha Hardeman, Sonia Gipson Rankin and Alfred D. Mathewson.

Hardeman and Gipson Rankin, both law school professors and affiliated faculty members of the Africana Studies department, are well known for their community engagement.

Mathewson was also spoken of fondly and recognized for his historic first: being the first African American dean of The University of New Mexico's School of Law.

With March being Women's History Month, Bowman's historic first feels even more significant. Every woman recognized has elevated New Mexico and their communities, making a difference for generations to come.

For more information about each professor's work, visit their faculty webpages below.

Warigia Bowman

Sonia M. Gipson Rankin

Marsha Hardeman

Alfred D. Mathewson