Board of Directors
Institute Executive Director Manny Encinias Ph.D is congratulated by Board Chair Michael Knight. Photo: Lisa Kantor Photography

Our Board Members

Providing leadership for the Institute

David Abbey

Board Member

David Abbey, served as the director of the Legislative Finance Committee in from 1997 until he retired in 2023.

Mr. Abbey began his tenure with the committee after serving as th...

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Lutz Arnhold

Board Member

Lutz Arnhold is Managing Director at the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi. Lutz has been at the Inn for the past six years. In his 19 years with Rosewood Hotel Group, Lutz worked in hot...

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Christine Castro

Board Vice-Chair

Christine Castro has more than 20 years of experience leading communications and public relations functions for global brands in the entertainment, technology and biotech sectors. ...

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Ned Conwell

Board Member

Ned is the co-owner of Green Tractor Farm in La Cienega, along with his wife and family. He has farmed for over 23 years, previously owning or managing several different ...

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Nathanial Earls

Board Member

Nathaniel Earls was born and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He moved to Santa Fe to attend St. John's College, a rigorous liberal arts college “focused on the most important b...

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Micaela Fischer

Board Secretary

Micaela Fischer is the deputy director for program evaluation for the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee. She and her team of 13 evaluators work to provide policymakers and t...

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Robert W. Jones, JD

Board Chair

Robert W. Jones is a native of Texas, but has spent more and more time in Santa Fe over the last 10 years and now calls The Land of Enchantment home for a big portion of the year. ...

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Emily Leveille

Board Member

Emily Leveille is the Chief Investment Officer of New Mexico Climate Investment Center (NMCIC), New Mexico's only green bank, which invests in projects that accelerate a just trans...

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David Loeb

Board Treasurer

David Loeb founded Dirigo Consulting LLC in 2017 to advise hotel and real estate businesses on strategy and capital markets execution. Engagements have included assessing balance s...

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Asher Singer

Board Member

Asher Singer, a Santa Fe native, is the Founder and Managing Partner of Reyah Sunshine Farm in Chimayó, New Mexico. Since establishing the farm in 2018, he has led its mission to ...

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Tiana Suazo

Board Member

Tiana Suazo currently works at the Center of Southwest Culture as the CODECE Program Manager, where she supports Indigenous and Mexicano/Chicano farmers and ranchers through techni...

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Val Wilson

Board Member

Valene Wilson is a strategic leader, that brings extensive executive experience in nonprofit management, operations, and program development. As Executive Director of Animal Humane...

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