Keynote Speaker

Judge Shammara H. Henderson

Judge Shammara H. Henderson was appointed to the New Mexico Court of Appeals in February 2020 by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and won her election in November of 2020, becoming the first Black appellate judge and Black woman to hold statewide office in New Mexico. She recently won her retention election in 2024.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, she graduated from Valley High School. She received a bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C., where she received a full ride with the highly competitive Frederick Douglass Scholarship. She received her J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law where she received the W.E. Bondurant Scholarship and University of New Mexico Graduate Fellowship.

Judge Henderson began her legal career clerking for Justice Charles W. Daniels at the N.M. Supreme Court. She then joined the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Afterward, she became the Associate General Counsel for the Office of Governor. Later, she joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, where she successfully litigated criminal and civil cases and appealed criminal cases. Judge Henderson then co-founded her own law firm Henderson & Grohman, which later joined Freedman-Boyd, et al., where she represented clients in criminal, civil, and administrative matters in both state and federal courts at the trial and appellate level. Judge Henderson has also been an adjunct professor at UNM School of Law since 2019.

Judge Henderson is a past Board Member-At-Large, National Bar Association; past President, New Mexico Black Lawyers Association; past President, UNM School of Law Alumni Board; Member, UNM Alumni Board of Directors; Member, National Bar Association Judicial Council; Member, Albuquerque Chapter of the Links, Inc.; and a Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., Iota Xi Omega Chapter. She enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, working out, traveling, roller skating, hiking, dancing, reading, and community service.

Commencement Overview

This commemorated celebration is held once a year at the School of Law at the end of the Spring Semester. Although Juris Doctor and Master of Studies in Law Degrees are conferred three times per year, at the conclusion of the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters, graduating students of any semester are welcome to participate.

Graduates and their guests may also choose to attend the Main Campus Commencement Ceremony, which will take place at 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 16, 2025 in the University Arena (aka the Pit). Attendance at this ceremony is optional.

Regalia

Tams, gowns, and hoods, required dress at graduation, may be purchased through the UNM Bookstore. For more information, including cost, visit the UNM Bookstore webpage. The SBA has a limited number of tams and gowns available to loan. Information about the opportunity to borrow regalia will be provided to you by SBA officers.

Honor cords for magna cum laude, summa cum laude and cum laude are not worn at UNM School of Law because honors are based on all grades, including those for spring of the graduating year which do not become available until after graduation.

Photographs

A professional photographer will capture photos of the event. Family members are welcome to take photos but are asked to please refrain from blocking the view of audience members and professional photographers.

Commencement Exercises

Honors and Awards Ceremony

The Honors and Awards ceremony along with the SBA Woody Awards will take place on the North Lawn of the Law School on Friday, May 16, 2025. Awards presentations begin at 2:00pm. All students and faculty are permitted to attend in-person.

Graduation

Specific details of the processional will be emailed to expected graduates.

Upon arrival you will be given a name card with your full name printed on it. You will carry your hood and your name card with you in the processional. The processional of students is led by the SBA President followed by graduates. You may walk with and sit with whomever you choose.

Keep in mind the temperature tends to be a little warm by mid-May and you will be wearing black robes, we suggest you wear something fairly light underneath. Graduates are asked to be especially careful in selecting their shoes for the occasion because you will be walking across the grass area which may be soft and wet.

All graduates and faculty participating in the ceremony must wear regalia.

When it is time for the hooding to begin, the SBA President will take their position with the faculty hooders. As you move to the “stage” you will first hand your name card to the faculty member who is reading names. You will proceed to shake hands with the SBA President, then hand your hood to whichever faculty member is available. If you are not comfortable being hooded by a professor, place your hood over your head yourself. The final step is to stand with the Deans and have your photo taken before returning to your seat.

There will be staff directing the process and it is important to follow their direction to ensure that the ceremony moves smoothly and that photographers are able to capture each graduate as they are hooded and as they stand with the Deans.

Guests and Spectators

Graduates may invite as many guests as they wish and no tickets are required.