Friends and colleagues of the late Professor Albert E. Utton gathered at the University of New Mexico's School of Law on September 19, 2024, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Utton Transboundary Resources Center. The event was attended by notable figures including Mary Utton, Professor Utton’s widow, and John Utton, his son who is a water law attorney based in Santa Fe. Former directors of the center, Marilyn O’Leary and Susan Kelly, were also present alongside Tanya Trujillo, Deputy State Engineer and Governor’s water policy adviser.

Professor Albert E. Utton was celebrated for his diplomatic skills and ability to foster strong relationships to address complex water issues both locally and internationally. He was recognized for his contributions to transnational resource collaboration through founding both the International Transboundary Resources Center and the Natural Resources Center at UNM. These initiatives were merged and renamed in honor of Professor Utton as the Utton Transboundary Resources Center by the UNM Board of Regents on August 10, 1999.

The center continues to uphold Professor Utton’s legacy by engaging in projects that advocate for equitable and sustainable management of transboundary resources.