A public reception and book signing for the new biography of Al Utton will be held Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. at the forum of the UNM School of Law. The event is open to all and especially anyone interested in the publication of a new biography of Utton.
Utton, was a UNM School of Law professor who established transboundary natural resources and international border studies as a new academic endeavor. The Utton Center was created to continue his work and named for him in 2001.
The biography, written by Michelle Minni, describes the experiences and decisions that exemplified Utton’s success as a professor for 36 years and as a negotiator and convener of international conferences on border resources. Utton anticipated the crises over land, air and groundwater use that are now playing out throughout the region.
The book, “Al Utton – Aztec Eagle: International Waters, Research, Diplomacy and Friendship,” will be on sale at the event.
The author was one of the founders of the University of New Mexico Master of Water Resources Program. While teaching 15 years on its faculty, she served twice as its acting director. She was also associate director of the National Resources Centeter created by Utton as an education, research and public service arm of the “Natural Resources Journal.” Now retired, she lives in Corrales.
Interested attendees should RSVP to Laura Burns, program coordinator, at the Utton Center. Burns can be reached at (505) 277.3253 or email, burns@law,unm.edu.