Ingrid Hendrix, librarian at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center (HSLIC), has been named the first recipient of the Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Excellence Award by the UNM Health Sciences Center (HSC) Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
Hendrix was nominated by HSLIC’s executive director, Melissa Rethlefsen. The award committee cited Hendrix’s leadership and advocacy in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across UNM as key reasons for her selection.
Valerie Romero-Leggott, Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at UNM Health Sciences Center and namesake of the award, stated: “She embodies the very spirit of this recognition—creating spaces of belonging, championing accessibility, and leading with compassion… Ingrid’s example will inspire all of us to cultivate belonging and equity throughout the Health Sciences Center.”
Romero-Leggott also commented on Hendrix’s approach: “My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude knowing that Ingrid is the inaugural recipient of this award. Her leadership is grounded in authenticity, cultural humility, and grace.”
Hendrix serves as division head of Research, Education & Clinical Information Services at HSLIC. She represents HSLIC on the Health Sciences Center Inclusive Excellence Council and is involved in groups such as the Climate Assessment Action Group and Facilities Access Committee. These roles reflect her ongoing efforts to improve accessibility within HSC.
Her work has had a significant impact on disability advocacy through lectures, mentorship programs, and campus-wide initiatives aimed at helping health care professionals better understand patients with disabilities. Her commitment to inclusive design has contributed to more accessible learning environments throughout UNM Health Sciences.
Romero-Leggott emphasized: “It means so much to me personally that Ingrid is the first to receive an award that reflects our shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ingrid’s example will inspire all of us to cultivate belonging and equity throughout the Health Sciences Center.”
The Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Excellence Award recognizes individuals within UNM Health Sciences who have made notable contributions toward diversity and health equity. It honors Romero-Leggott’s 18 years of service dedicated to building a more inclusive healthcare workforce in New Mexico.
Mike Richards, executive vice president for UNM Health Sciences and CEO of UNM Health System said: "Our mission has to match the people we serve... A lot of what we now call pathway programs really started because she saw a gap and just went to work.” He added: “This award is a chance to recognize our whole HSC community. Diversity and inclusion show up here in everyday ways—how we listen to one another, how teams work together, how someone’s lived experience helps a conversation land differently. It’s part of why people choose to learn, teach, and care here."
Richards further highlighted Hendrix's influence: "Anyone who has watched Ingrid teach knows she notices the things the rest of us walk past. Her work around disability awareness has shaped how our students and residents think about care—not in the abstract but in the little moments that define someone’s experience; tone, language, eye level, how we move in a room--she’s been teaching this for years with a kind of steady clarity that sticks."
Nominations for this annual award were evaluated based on impact in areas such as innovation or sustainability.
Reflecting on her efforts teaching disability awareness at UNM HSC Newsroom coverage here, Hendrix said: “…Being able to interact with people with disabilities in a culturally competent way is important for people with disabilities to get optimal health care... So I’m trying whatever I can do to make that a better experience and make health care providers more attuned to the needs of people with disabilities.”
