Amid calls from community leaders, alumni, and students for the University of New Mexico (UNM) not to renew Law School Dean Camille Carey’s contract, faculty members and law school leaders have publicly expressed their support for her continued tenure.
Critics have raised concerns about a perceived decline in the enrollment of New Mexico residents and underrepresented groups at the law school. Jessica Martinez, an attorney with the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, highlighted that traditionally, about 12% of each class were nonresidents, whereas now, roughly one-third of the classes of 2026 and 2027 are nonresidents. This shift has reportedly led to a decrease in Hispano and Native American students. ([kunm.org](https://www.kunm.org/2026-06-22/coalition-asks-unm-to-not-renew-law-school-deans-contract?_amp=true&utm_source=openai))
In response, members of the 2025-26 UNM School of Law Admissions Committee released data indicating that New Mexico students still constitute 266 of the 296 enrolled students. They noted that the school admitted 125 of 214 New Mexico applicants for the 2025 entering class, a 58% acceptance rate, compared to 149 of 345 applicants in 2011, a 43% acceptance rate. The committee emphasized that the applicant pool reflects national trends in legal education and what they have studied as an “enrollment cliff.” ([kob.com](https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/unm-law-school-defends-admissions-responds-to-protests-over-dean/?utm_source=openai))
Faculty members have also addressed concerns regarding the admissions process. They stated that the school’s admissions policy has required holistic review since 2013 and was revised in 2024 to give preference to New Mexico residents and encourage geographic diversity within the state. ([kob.com](https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/unm-law-school-defends-admissions-responds-to-protests-over-dean/?utm_source=openai))
Dean Carey, who joined the UNM law faculty in 2009 and became dean in 2022, has a background in domestic violence law and clinical legal education. She began her teaching career at Yale Law School, where she established and taught in the Domestic Violence Clinic. ([lawschool.unm.edu](https://lawschool.unm.edu/faculty/carey/index.html?utm_source=openai))
The university has stated that it evaluates all academic leadership appointments and reappointments in accordance with the policies and procedures outlined in the faculty handbook. Decisions regarding those appointments are informed by multiple factors and are made after a comprehensive review; no single criterion or timeline determines the outcome. ([kunm.org](https://www.kunm.org/2026-06-22/coalition-asks-unm-to-not-renew-law-school-deans-contract?_amp=true&utm_source=openai))
As the university continues its review process, the law school community remains engaged in discussions about the institution’s direction and leadership.