By Lisa Y. Garibay
UTEP News Service
David Montoya is the first Hispanic inspector general of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He is also a very proud UTEP alumnus.
Montoya had been working – both a full-time job and at his studies – for six-and-a-half years before he earned his undergraduate degree in criminal justice in 1986. Almost 30 years later, he says that experience was one of the most valuable in his life.
He began his career at the Drug Enforcement Agency, but moved on to fighting white-collar crime at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Investigation for the Office of the Inspector General before President Barack Obama nominated him for his current position in July 2011.
During his campus visit on Feb. 19, Montoya advised students that white-collar crime was “the new wave” of criminal justice. He was impressed with how engaged the students were and how confidently they spoke with him and asked their questions.
“I’m not sure when I was their age I could have done the same thing,” he said.
Montoya’s UTEP itinerary was packed. On Tuesday evening, he joined previous College of Liberal Arts Gold Nugget Award recipients – including The Honorable Philip R. Martinez; Carl Green, J.D.; and Joe Gomez – for dinner with College of Liberal Arts Dean Patricia Witherspoon, Ph.D.
On Wednesday, he visited with President Diana Natalicio and received his Gold Nugget Award, met with several professors from the College of Liberal Arts, spoke to a criminal justice class, was taken on a campus tour, and had an intimate discussion with the Epsilon Epsilon chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society.
“I’m humbled by where I come from,” he said of both UTEP and the border region. “I always draw on how blessed I was to have this opportunity when others didn’t.” He recalls looking over the border into Mexico while walking back to his car after classes and feeling more determined to take advantage of what he was being offered. “I try not to be more than who I really am, and who I really am is the boy from El Paso.”
Montoya’s background also informs his decision making on a day-to-day basis at HUD. While he and his staff are charged with oversight of HUD policies, processes and funding, he also stresses to his office that there is a balance.
“There are differences between what Washington might see versus what a local community might see,” he said. “Being able to have that recognition that when we do oversight and we look at a particular matter that didn’t allow for the monies to be used appropriately to serve the underprivileged, that means something. That means families who needed the help didn’t get the help.”
Another key message Montoya hoped to convey to the UTEP students was the importance of strong communication skills.
“As an executive and somebody who hires staff, one thing that every educational institution needs to do is to ensure that our students are coming out with an ability to communicate, not only orally but in writing,” he said. “To write a report and have somebody understand what you do is more important than anything else.” Looking back, Montoya is very appreciative of the number of English courses UTEP required him to take, calling them “a big contributor to my success.”
He encouraged students to take opportunities and not be afraid to walk through doors that open to them, even if they don’t know how those steps may contribute to a career path.
“As long as you’re willing to do that, you’ll be surprised at what you’ll find on the other side,” Montoya said. “That’s how I came to my success – I was just willing to accept the responsibility. Make no mistake, it was at times scary and sometimes made me feel ‘I wonder if I’m going to crash or burn doing this,’ but for me it was a motivator to make me focus and get things done well.”
Liberal Arts Dean Patricia Witherspoon was thrilled to have Montoya on campus and interacting with the latest generation of Miners.
“Inspector General Montoya is an outstanding public servant and an excellent role model for our students,” she said. “His work ethic, commitment to excellence, and dedication to his important government position are great lessons to students and alums alike. He is indeed a Gold Nugget worthy of our respect and admiration.”
While Montoya doesn’t label himself a role model, he is well aware he is being closely watched as an example for generations who follow him, especially as just one of three Hispanic inspector generals in the United States. All of his life experience and professional accomplishments boil down to a very simple motto he shares with gusto: “Do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. If you follow that adage, you’re going to be fine no matter what you choose to do for a living.”