Empowerment for women through pay equity, safety and health equity is the focus of the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission was resurrected by Governor Lujan Grisham and funded by the Legislature beginning July 1st. 13 bipartisan Commissioners have been appointed by the Governor.
Lisa Curtis
Chair
Lisa Curtis, 28-year trial lawyer/business owner, married mother of four, Zane, India, Paris, and Alexandra Vigil/grandmother of three, women and children’s advocate, on Citizen’s Redistricting Committee, former State Senator (D-ABQ).
Erin Armstrong
Vice Chair
Erin Armstrong, proud auntie, sister, and daughter. Longtime advocate for healthcare access, and recognized policy expert with a focus on women’s health and rights (D-SF).
Maryann Ustick
Treasurer
Maryann Ustick, entire career working in government and current City Manager for the City of Gallup, married mother of two, grandmother of four, big proponent of women in government (I-Gallup).
Arianna Parsons
Secretary
Arianna Parsons is the mother to two rambunctious boys, Thomas, 4 and Vincent 2. She and her husband have owned and operated Beck’s Coffee since 2013, which now has three locations in Las Cruces. In September of 2021 they opened a boutique bistro and wine bar, Willow+Blaine, next door to their flagship coffee location in the Mesquite Historic District. Ms. Parsons also served as the Executive Director of the Downtown Las Cruces Partnership for three years, focusing on economic development in the Main Street district (D-LC).
Kate Ferlic
Kate Ferlic, attorney practicing in the areas of sexual abuse, harassment and equal pay, married mother of two boys, board president of NewMexicoWomen.Org - a philanthropic fund for women and girls in NM, worked with Gov. Richardson to create the Commission (D-SF).
Christina Herrera Furst
Christina Herrera Furst, is a teacher at Amy Biehl High School, a social-justice and service-focused charter school in downtown Albuquerque. She serves on the board of Organizers in the Land of Enchantment/OLE 501(c)3. She is a New Mexico native, with family roots tracing back to the Atrisco land grant. Christina is the mother to two inquisitive elementary-aged kids.
Leigh Ana Eugene
Leigh Ana Eugene, decade long social justice advocate, served victims of crime and their families on the Eastern side of New Mexico as the director of a rape crisis center and child advocacy center. Currently serving military service members and their families heading up the social resilience pillar of an integrated resilience team. Wife, mother, daughter, with the deepest passion for change and inclusion (R-Clovis).
Brenda Saiz
Brenda Saiz is a Director and Practice Group Leader at the Rodey Law Firm with a focus on medical malpractice, trucking law, and professional liability. She’s also a mom of three boys and serves as an adjunct professor and lecturer at UNM School of Law (R-ABQ).
Gabrielle Begay
Gabrielle Begay from Silver City, NM. Educator and ready to help all women be successful and confident (D-Silver City).
Denise Torres
Denise Torres, 13-year Member, 10-year Chair of Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, National Mediator for complex litigation, attorney, ranching family from Southern New Mexico (R- LC).
Mary Lane Leslie
Mary Lane Leslie, married, grandmother of 2; 25-year Taos resident and attorney. Developing a lower income housing project in Taos. Also serving on the NM Commission on Human Rights and the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District (D-Taos).