Barbara Richardson (née Flavin; born March 25, 1949) is the former First Lady of New Mexico and widow of Bill Richardson, the 9th United States Secretary of Energy.

Barbara Flavin was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, March 25, 1949, the daughter of Evelyn Mary (née Kaplan) and John Francis Flavin.

[1] She graduated magna cum laude from Wheaton College in 1971, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.

The coalition of doctors and state officials created a registry that medical providers can check and see which immunizations children need, as well as a color-coded schedule with baby pictures indicating the appropriate ages for vaccines to help parents track their children's care.

Also active in efforts to combat domestic violence, she helped to open a shelter for abused spouses in a corner of the state where such services had been nonexistent.