Three honorary doctorates to be awarded at UNM undergraduate commencement

Three individuals with deep connections to the University and the community will receive honorary doctorates at The University of New Mexico spring 2026 undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 16.

The 2026 recipients are Roberta Cooper Ramo, attorney and former member of the UNM Board of Regents; Barry Ramo, a physician, educator, researcher and community leader; and Esther Tenorio, a Pueblo of San Felipe elder and community advocate.

Roberta Cooper Ramo | Honorary Doctor of Laws
Roberta Cooper Ramo has had a long relationship with UNM. She served on the Board of Regents from 1989 to 1995 and was president of the board from 1991 to 1993, providing visionary leadership during a pivotal period for the institution. Through her service, she has demonstrated a clear commitment to the University's mission and to advancing higher education in New Mexico.

Ramo has focused on improving healthcare policy and governance in New Mexico. Her legal expertise has benefited healthcare and senior care facilities, and her work in nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations has supported the state's most vulnerable populations. As board chair of Think New Mexico, a nonpartisan think tank, she has championed policy solutions that have improved the quality of life for New Mexicans. She has held leadership roles in organizations such as Albuquerque Economic Development and the New Mexico Board of Finance.

Ramo was the first woman to serve as president of both the American Bar Association and the American Law Institute (where she is currently chair). In 2015, she received the American Bar Association's highest honor, the ABA Medal. She is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the American Bar Foundation and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in Arbitration and Mediation, including being named Lawyer of the Year in Albuquerque for both arbitration and mediation.

Ramo also was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds honorary memberships in the Bar of England and Wales and Gray's Inn.

Ramo will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws.

Barry Ramo | Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Dr. Barry Ramo has served as a clinical professor of medicine and emergency medicine, as well as an attending cardiologist at UNM School of Medicine from 2003 to 2016 and continues to contribute as a clinical professor.

He was the founder, president and chairman of the New Mexico Heart Institute and has provided cardiovascular care to New Mexicans since 1972. He was also the medical director for numerous community health initiatives, including Project Heart Start and Be Good to Your Heart, which have educated and empowered thousands of New Mexicans to improve their heart health.

Ramo has served on a variety of community boards, including the Albuquerque Community Foundation, Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health.

In addition, he has been a health reporter for KOAT-TV and a columnist for the Albuquerque Journal, where he provided medical information for the public for over 30 years.

Ramo will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

Esther Tenorio | Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Esther Tenorio, an elder of the Pueblo of San Felipe, holds over three decades of experience in behavioral health service system development and implementation, including leadership as a project director for numerous federal grants and collaborations with diverse community programs. Her professional career has focused on overseeing youth suicide prevention, children's mental health, and behavioral health and primary care integration initiatives for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Tenorio has substantial experience in community leadership, facilitation, mediation and training across several areas, including parenting, substance abuse and Native supportive services. In addition, she worked for 22 years at Santa Fe Indian School in residential guidance and behavioral health.

Currently Tenorio works as a cultural consultant, ensuring the coordination of federal grant activities with cultural protocols, such as tribute consultation and traditional/innate modalities. She also offers guidance for training primary care and behavioral health personnel, which enhances cultural competency and helps improve patient outcomes.

Tenorio will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

Honorary degrees are awarded to recognize individuals' contributions to a specific field or to society in general. Strong candidates are eminent individuals and scholars whose contributions are of general significance and transcend geographical limitations. Nominations of individuals who have contributed significantly to the cultural or scientific development of the Southwest or the spiritual or material welfare of its people are especially welcome.

A successful nominee must have an exemplary record of academic or public accomplishment in keeping with the University's standards of rigor, quality and significance. Honorary degrees are awarded at spring commencement.

For information on UNM's Honorary Degree Policy and a listing of past honorary degree recipients visit the University Secretary's website.