Universities operate in inherently risky environments. At the University of New Mexico, these risks run the gamut from the meticulous management of thousands of hazardous materials and chemicals in research laboratories, to insuring against lightning strike damages at UNM golf courses. The Department of Safety & Risk Services (SRS) manages the unique risks of each department at UNM.

The Risk Management staff at SRS is composed of Carla Domenici, director; Michael Tuttle, associate director; Miguel Delgado, interim manager of Insurance and Claims; Emilee Soto and Joel Jackson, claims specialists; and Joshua Padilla, professional intern, Claims.

Before joining UNM, Delgado was a senior workers’ compensation and multi-lines adjuster with Farmers Insurance. He is currently working toward obtaining his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation, the gold standard in the insurance industry. Additionally, he serves on the Loss Prevention and Control Committee, the Facilities Access Committee, the International Travel Committee, and the Smoking on Campus Committee.

Soto recently obtained her Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School. She previously clerked for a Denver workers’ compensation litigation law firm and a federal fair housing litigation non-profit.

Jackson, an Oklahoma State University graduate, comes to SRS from Farmers Insurance, where he spent eight years as a Senior Liability Claims Adjuster.

Padilla, a graduate of UNM, previously worked with SRS as a General Services Assistant before accepting his new position in Claims.

Together, these individuals strategically handle the myriad of risks that endanger the university community, so that UNM may reduce the frequency and severity of loss, or prevent future losses altogether.

The Risk Management staff processes, documents and investigates worker’s compensation claims for all UNM faculty, staff and student employees. Additionally, they handle all property claims filed by UNM, UNM Hospital and the Sandoval Regional Medical Center, as well as all Casualty claims filed by third parties against any of these entities.

SRS processes insurance bills for all of UNM and also administers several programs that allow departments to purchase other lines of insurance, such as volunteer insurance, group accident insurance and travel insurance.

For more information, visit Safety & Risk Services.