Commissioners

My name is Constance Williams. I am a licensed Master Social Worker and currently serve as the Vice Chair for the State Martin Luther King Commission. I was appointed in October 2024. Born and raised in Pampa, Texas, as a teen, my mother and I moved to the inner-city community of South Oak Cliff in the Dallas, Texas area. After graduating from high school, I joined my two older brothers at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.  At ENMU, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Criminal Justice minor. I met my amazing husband, Jamaal who is a native of Clovis and a proud Navy veteran. We reside in Clovis where we are raising our three wonderful children and actively participate in organizations that help build a strong community.

Throughout my time in social services, I have worked for various agencies in Texas and New Mexico. From my first professional role, I learned the profound impact that policy has on The People. These experiences motivated me to use my skills and abilities to impact policy with the purpose of improving lives. While my career has been largely centered in the social services field, after having our first child, I was fortunate to spend time as a stay-at-home mom. This spurred my adventure into entrepreneurship as a league operator and now, former roller derby rock star. While raising our children and caring for my husband, I worked into the wee hours of the night pursuing my personal education and life goals. I attended Western New Mexico University for the Masters in Social Worker program.  I applied the knowledge gained from my courses to meet new people, research and work on community issues in real time.  I am excited to pursue future goals of higher education and licensure.

Since 2012 I have been a volunteer with the Clovis Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission. In 2019, I was appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to a 4-year term on the New Mexico Community Development Council where I served as Vice Chair. We were tasked to review potential projects and award Community Development Block Grant funds to communities across the state. In March 2024, I completed a multi-year volunteer term with the City of Clovis’s Senior Services Committee. I was grateful to participate in this committee which was successful in the planning and building of the new Hillcrest Senior Life Center which opened in May 2024. Since 2020, I have been a field representative and caseworker for a U.S. Senator helping to provide constituent services for New Mexicans.

Reflecting on my journey here, as a mom, a wife, and a passionate community advocate, I feel fortunate for the opportunity to participate in work that encourages and nurtures connections among individuals, communities, and agencies to find innovative solutions that improve quality of life for The People across the state.

Ahdohny Routheni’s professional and personal story embodies tenacity, grit, and commitment to developing community and building generational wealth.

Ahdohny grew up in California and the DMV in an immigrant and military household before becoming a New Mexican. He overcame the school-to-prison pipeline and his struggles in the streets to mentor youth in developing entrepreneurship skills outside of crime and selling drugs. Ahdohny has also worked with people of color, at-risk, and disabled populations to create their own jobs and businesses.  After prevailing over homelessness, Ahdohny became active with his four nephews, prompting him to pursue college to be a better role model.

Ahdohny is completing his Master’s in Public Administration at UNM and aspires to bring a fresh perspective to administrative governance and to bridge access to resources to those who need it the most. He serves as the Board President of Juneteenth Renaissance Institute (JRI), which he co-founded in 2020. JRI’s mission is to foster economic parity and unity in the black community and beyond, and JRI is best known as the creator of the Black is Enough symposium.

Ahdohny has been an Associate Real Estate Broker since 2021- previously working at Homewise, Inc., where he supported homeownership among disenfranchised populations. Ahdohny is now at Simply Real Estate, empowering clients from all walks of life and continuing to help first-time homebuyers realize the American Dream. Ahdohny recently received the Community Service Award at his brokerage and serves in many capacities, including on the CABQ Office of Black Community Engagement Homeownership Strategy Team, as co-founder of the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtor’s Advancing Belonging, Community and Diversity Council, and on the YDI advisory board. Ahdohny loves to cook, garden, spend time with his family, and be active. He is a proud member of his neighborhood association, church, and a family man.

Patrick O’Connell is Chair of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC), appointed to a six-year term starting on January 1, 2023.  Patrick currently sits on SPP’s Regional State Committee, WECC’s Member Advisory Committee, the FERC-NARUC Current Issues Collaborative, and NARUC’s Energy Resources and the Environment Committee.  Prior to joining the NMPRC, Patrick worked for 22 years at the Public Service Company of New Mexico, directed PNM’s Integrated Resource Planning team, and led natural gas procurement planning efforts when PNM owned New Mexico Gas Company.  Patrick also led the Clean Energy program at Western Resource Advocates. Patrick is a Civil Engineer, graduated from the University of New Mexico and lives in Albuquerque. 

Throughout my life, I’ve taken on leadership roles that have allowed me to make a difference. As a retired resident of Lea County, I’ve served as a foster parent. I currently serve as a board member of the Guidance Center of Lea County and Covenant Hospital. My civic involvement is a testament to my leadership, serving as the local Hobbs and State NAACP President and on the NAACP National Board of Directors. The NM Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also appointed me to sit on the racial justice council in the wake of George Floyd’s tragic death. I’ve served on the Advisory Council for the Office of African American Affairs and the hiring committee for the Chief of Police in Hobbs.

A dedicated resident of Lea County for 45 years, I actively contribute to the well-being of our residents. I have been involved in various community projects, from organizing food drives to advocating for better healthcare services. My goal is to make Lea County a better place for everyone.

As the founder of the non-profit organization Your Safe Space, I am committed to creating a supportive environment for our community. Our organization focuses on providing resources and support for policies that promote safety and well-being in our community.

At my core, I am a man of faith and family. My wife, Melva, and our adult children are the bedrock of my life. As a grandfather, I enjoy watching the next generation grow. This personal connection fuels my journey of service, leadership, and making a positive impact on the lives of others.

As a lifelong resident of New Mexico and a proud alumnus of West Mesa High School, I have always held a deep commitment to our community’s growth and prosperity. My academic journey led me to New Mexico Highlands University, where I earned a degree in Management Information Systems in 2002, followed by a Master of Science in Information Technology from Capella University in 2004.

My dedication to public service was ignited during my tenure as a Constituent Representative for U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman in early 2002. This experience instilled in me a profound dedication to serving the people and addressing their needs.

I embarked on a successful career at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) as a Graduate Research Assistant, rising to a management role overseeing the accelerator complex for Weapons Facility Operations. Through this work, I have honed my leadership skills and commitment to innovation and excellence.

Beyond my work at LANL, I have accumulated valuable industry experience with companies like Earthlink, ClientLogic, and WorldCom MCI, and have pursued entrepreneurial endeavors by owning and operating small businesses, including consulting firms and restaurants.

I am blessed with a wonderful wife and six sons, who inspire my dedication to our community. Together, we are actively involved in coaching and volunteering within public schools, reinforcing my unwavering commitment to leadership, education, and civic engagement.

As I step forward to serve our community, I pledge to bring the same dedication, experience, and innovative spirit to our shared future, ensuring that New Mexico continues to be a place of opportunity and growth for all.

Dr. Hazel Mella was appointed to the New Mexico Martin Luther King Jr. Commission by Sarita Nair, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. She earned her Ph.D. in Education, focusing on Leadership for Higher Education from Capella University, and obtained a graduate degree in History from the University of Illinois.

With over 25 years of varied experience across private and public sectors as well as academia, Dr. Mella is passionate about promoting excellence in workplace learning and development. She is dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment in all her professional endeavors.

A frequent participant and presenter at professional conferences, she emphasizes leadership while championing diversity, equity, inclusiveness, accessibility, faith, and social justice. Her appreciation for beauty and harmony, inspired by her interest in Japanese houses and Zen gardens, reflects her daily dedication to creating a more just and equitable world.

Dr. Mella’s contributions resonate with the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., striving to uplift and empower every individual through education and professional growth.

Josett Monette is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. She currently serves as the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department (IAD). As Cabinet Secretary, Josett oversees IAD’s programs, including tribal environmental, tribal consultation, and MMIP initiatives. Prior to joining IAD, Josett was the New Mexico Legal Aid Native American Program Director. The Native American Program serves indigent clients living on or near the Pueblos and provides legal services, mostly in tribal courts, in many areas of law including jurisdictional issues, violations of due process, custody, divorce, child support, defending against debt collections, probate matters, tribal criminal defense, ICWA, tribal housing matters, tribal employment matters, and representing respondent parents in Child in Need of Care matters. Josett is an Adjunct Professor for the University of New Mexico School of Law National Native American Law Student Association (“NALSA”) Moot Court Team. She recently served as a Commissioner for the Pueblo of Tesuque Gaming Commission. Previously, she worked as a Staff Attorney at NMLA Native American Program, an Associate General Counsel for the Pueblo of Isleta, and as an Associate Attorney with Barnhouse, Keegan, Solimon, & West, LLP, an Indian Law Firm in Albuquerque which provides representation to tribes and tribal businesses throughout the country. Josett served on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico State Bar Indian Law Section for seven years and sits as an Attorney Bar Exam Coach. She has assisted with planning several CLE Conferences, most recently including helping to plan the Federal Bar Indian Law Conference. She holds a JD, with a certificate in Indian Law from UNM School of Law, a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education – Social Sciences, and B.A. in (American) Indian Studies from the University of North Dakota. Prior to her legal career, Josett was an educator and worked in education mostly on her home reservation in the Turtle Mountain Community. She has three amazing children that she raised as a single mother, and she loves to do Zumba.

Raised and educated in Northern New Mexico, Treasurer Laura M. Montoya broke barriers as the first female State Treasurer in New Mexico and the first elected Latina State Treasurer in the U.S. Treasurer Montoya has dedicated her career to serving New Mexicans at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels with dedication, commitment and skill. She works tirelessly to bridge the gap of inequity through various initiatives, including outreach for financial literacy, the New Mexico State Treasurer’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (NM STABLE) program, Baby Bonds, and thoughtful discussions on implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies in New Mexico and nationally. Treasurer Montoya’s dedication ensures that financial policies and practices pave the way for a more equitable and inclusive future for all New Mexicans.

Maggie Toulouse Oliver, NM Secretary of State

505-827-3628

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MAGGIE TOULOUSE OLIVER

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver has spent her career as a public official working for greater transparency and ethics in government, fair and efficient elections, and increased voter access.

First elected in 2016, Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver is focused on providing increased transparency in financial disclosure and campaign finance reporting, modernizing the online campaign finance system, encouraging New Mexicans to get registered and vote, and advocating for good government and stronger ethics legislation.

A lifelong New Mexico resident, Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver previously served as Bernalillo County Clerk from 2007 to 2016. She attended Albuquerque Public Schools and earned both her BA and MA in Political Science from the University of New Mexico. Currently living in Santa Fe, the Secretary of State is the proud mother of two sons.

Anthony Henry Umi grew up in Hobbs, NM where he attended Hobbs High School. He is a Social Work retiree from the State of New Mexico. Umi received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Religion from ENMU, and a Master of Social Work from NMHU. He has been a radio disc jockey for over 40 years, his DJ name is “Ijah,” and hosts the Iyah Music show on KUNM and Soul Notes on KSFR radio stations. He is the leader of the Iyah band performing lead vocals, keyboard, and percussion. Anthony enjoys family life, tai-chi, and meditation.

He feels it is an honor to serve on the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission. Umi endeavors to imbibe spirituality, advocate for human rights, and strive for social justice.

Brandi Wells-Stone works as the Director at UNM African American Student Services and Special Advisor to the President on African American Affairs. Her passion is to assist Black students in their collegiate navigation. She is currently working on her Ph.D. at New Mexico State in Educational Leadership with a research interest focusing on Black Culture Center leadership.  Additionally, Brandi serves as a national board member for the Association of Black Culture Centers and as an advisory member for the NM Black Education Act Council.  She is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Outside of work, Brandi enjoys spending time with her husband and kids working on local film projects and spending time outdoors.

“Mclee Kerolle (pronounced Mac-lee Ca-roll) J.D. LL.M Esq, a New York native, is a graduate of the International Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University. His master’s thesis examined the regulation of commercial spaceports worldwide, inspired by Spaceport America and focusing specifically on proposed spaceports in Hawaii and Curaçao.

During his time at Leiden, Mclee worked at the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS), where he researched third-party liability issues related to commercial human spaceflight. He also served as the Executive Secretary for the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) and was an inaugural member of its Effective and Adaptive Governance for a Lunar Ecosystem (E.A.G.L.E.) Action Team. His work with E.A.G.L.E. contributed to the Lunar Charter Report, which was presented at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs’ Legal Subcommittee in the summer of 2021.

Mclee also served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Space Court Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting space law and policy education. In 2023, after working as a legislative analyst for Senator Duhigg, he joined the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission as a technical advisor to Chair O’Connell.”