Carol Lopez

Carol Robertson Lopez serves as Chair-Emeritus of Sister Cities International following a two-year term as Chair. This past summer, Sister Cities International (SCI) met in Santa Fe, and 150 people attended a reception at the New Mexico Governor’s Mansion. Prior to serving on the Board, Lopez was a State Coordinator/Representative for New Mexico and was also appointed to the SCI Honorary Board.

At the local level, she serves as the Chair of the Santa Fe Sister Cities Committee and the Bukhara/Santa Fe Sister Cities. She is a recent Past President of the International Women’s Forum-New Mexico. Lopez is the past President of the American Women for International Understanding (AWIU) and participated in an AWIU delegation to Ethiopia.

Lopez has been a member of the Board or Advisory Board of the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market since its creation.

Lopez served two terms on the Santa Fe City Council and six as Mayor Pro Tempore. In addition to Chairing Public Works, Finance, and Public Safety, a significant accomplishment was securing the funds for the building of the Southside Library. She served as State President of the New Mexico Municipal League and visited throughout New Mexico in her positions. She chaired the International Council for the National League of Cities.

Lopez served a long career in various administrative positions in state government, including the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the Office of the Attorney General in Santa Fe, the State Personnel Office, and the State Planning Division. She received the 2004 Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women. While engaged in these positions, she worked with the New Mexico State Legislature and continues to do so on behalf of the IFAA and Museum Hill Partnership.

Lopez is the Honorary Consul for Uzbekistan for her work with Bukhara and Santa Fe Sister Cities and the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market. She was recognized with the title “Honorary Citizen of Bukhara.” She cut the ribbon for the Silk and Spices Market and spoke at the International Conference on Tourism in Bukhara. She has also been appointed an Honorary Citizen of her Sister City in Korea, Icheon, which holds a major ceramic festival every year, to which artists from Santa Fe are invited and attend.

A highlight of her involvement with the World of Folk Art was the honor of chairing the Judges for the 2019 Kokand Festival, where she worked with Representatives of the World Craft Council. Lopez is a member of the World Craft Council and recently connected with many members at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market.