Gov. Susana Martinez today announced the nominations of Don Tripp and John Ryan for appointment to the Board of Regents at The University of New Mexico.
“I’m pleased that the governor’s nominees have such extensive experience in the state legislature,” said acting UNM President Chaouki Abdallah. “I look forward to working with them on issues such as our budget challenges and lottery scholarship solvency. Their experience in public service and knowledge of our state will be a great asset to UNM.”
Tripp, of Socorro, served as the speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 2015-17. He was first elected as a state representative for New Mexico’s 49th House District in 1999.
A jeweler by trade, Tripp has served on the Board of Directors for State National Bank and is a former director of the Association of Commerce and Industry. He is a former regent for Western New Mexico University.
Tripp holds a Bachelor of Arts from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
A native of Albuquerque, Ryan is a UNM alumnus who recently retired from the New Mexico State Senate after serving three terms for District 10. He is also a former executive director of the Republican Party of New Mexico.
Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts from UNM and a Certification of Masters in International Management from the University of Maryland in College Park, Md.
Tripp and Ryan, if confirmed, would replace current Regents Jack Fortner and Brad Hosmer, whose terms are set to expire later this year.