Originally published October 6, 2015
By Nadia M. Whitehead
UTEP News Service
University of Texas at El Paso President Diana Natalicio delivered her annual State of the University address on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015 as part of the annual Fall Convocation ceremony. The speech was a mix of reflection on Centennial year accomplishments and gratitude to community leaders who have helped the University become what it is today.
Among Convocation’s many highlights was a special recognition of two El Pasoans who have worked at the state level to enhance UTEP’s stature and capabilities: El Paso State Rep. Marisa Márquez and local businessman Harold Hahn.
Márquez played a pivotal role in this year’s unveiling of UTEP’s soon-to-be-established School of Pharmacy. As a member of the Texas Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, Márquez was able to speak up for the needs of UTEP and El Paso and spearhead the effort to secure $7 million in legislative funding to establish the new school.
“We’re extremely grateful to Rep. Márquez for her dedicated efforts on behalf of pharmacy education and improved health care in El Paso,” UTEP President Natalicio said. “On behalf of all the residents in this region who will be the direct beneficiaries of improved health care as a result of the increased availability of professional pharmacists, and on behalf of all the young people in this community who will be able to purse their dreams of becoming pharmacists, I thank you for your strong commitment and your success in securing state funding to establish a full doctoral pharmacy program at UTEP.”
The President also took the time to recognize Hahn, who is CEO of El Paso’s Rocky Mountain Mortgage. Hahn served as a member and chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) — the agency that decides whether Texas public universities can start new degree programs — from 2010 to 2014.
“El Paso has been very fortunate to have representation on the coordinating board,” President Natalicio said. “Harold Hahn, in appreciation for your extraordinarily generous dedication of time and energy to Texas higher education, and especially for your genuine interest and commitment to UTEP’s access and excellence mission and our potential to impact the future prosperity and quality of life of this region, I’m proud and pleased to present UTEP’s President’s Medal.”
President Natalicio ended Convocation with a look at how UTEP has grown in the last year, from constructing Centennial Plaza and the new Pick ‘n’ Shovel dining facility to research expenditures approaching $100 million annually and the up-and-coming Interdisciplinary Research Building.
“We’re a dramatically different university today than we were just a few years ago,” she said, recalling how UTEP once only offered a single doctoral degree; now it offers 20.
Maribel Villalva, director of the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, said she enjoyed listening to the President reflect on UTEP’s history.
“It was great hearing Dr. Natalicio’s recap of our historic Centennial Celebration year in 2014 — both the amazing events that happened all year, as well as the success of the Centennial capital campaign. It was truly a year to be proud of, and that was the feeling during the entire Convocation.”
President Natalicio acknowledged that the success of the Centennial year was all thanks to the University’s commitment to access and excellence and serving the needs of the surrounding region.
She said, “As we join together in planning UTEP’s second century of service to this region, let us never lose sight of who we are and who we serve.”
As the State of the University address came to a close, faculty and staff celebrated the University’s successes with mariachis trumpeting UTEP’s fight song and the placement of two time capsules in Centennial Plaza North.