
2025 henrietta pettijohn honorees
Representative Pamelya Herndon, Henrietta Pettijohn Honoree
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Pamelya Herndon serves as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
for House District 28 in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights. She sits as Vice Chair of
the Health and Human Services Committee and as a member of the House
Appropriations Committee. Pamelya also serves as the President/CEO of the
KWH Law Center for Social Justice and Change, a nonprofit law center focused on
providing access to justice for low and medium-income individuals. Pamelya
previously served as a Senior Trial Attorney with the Department of Treasury,
Internal Revenue Service, as an Assistant Attorney General for New Mexico and as a
Deputy Cabinet Secretary under Governor Bill Richardson. In addition to graduating
from the Howard University School of Business, Pamelya is also a graduate of the
University of Texas School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in the states of
Colorado and New Mexico and before the United States Supreme Court. Pamelya is
also licensed as a Certified Public Accountant.
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Pamelya is a former W.K. Kellogg Fellow. She serves as a member of the Board of
Directors of U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union. She also serves as an elected member of
the Council of the Civil Rights and Social Justice Section of the American Bar
Association (ABA).
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Pamelya was awarded the Purple Ribbon Award in 2022 for her innovative work in
helping to provide financial resources for survivors of domestic violence. In 2023,
Pamelya received the Freshman Legislator of the Year Award from the UNM Alumni
Association. Pamelya has been recognized as the Public Lawyer of the Year by the
Public Law Section of the New Mexico State Bar, and as the Lawyer of the Year by the
Albuquerque Bar Association.
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Pamelya occasionally hosts community focused programs on KUNM Public Radio, an
NPR affiliate station in New Mexico.
PAIGE DIEM, Rising Star Award HONOREE

Paige Diem graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law and was admitted to the practice of law in New Mexico in 2020. Paige worked in personal injury, family law, and as in-house counsel before rediscovering her real passion in housing related property law. In 2023, Paige joined United South Broadway Corporation’s Fair Lending Center as a staff attorney and dedicated herself to defending against foreclosures for low income New Mexicans. As a student, Paige found her passion for housing issues while completing the Southwest Indian Law Clinic program working on projects related to the Westside Emergency Housing Center at UNM SOL. That experience opened her eyes to the complexities of homelessness and showed her an entire community passionate about finding solutions. Paige continues to proudly advocate for clients facing foreclosures all across New Mexico with United South Broadway Corporation.