TIME magazine names UTEP President Diana Natalicio one of ‘100 Most Influential People’

UTEP President Diane Natalicio is one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world for 2016.

President Natalicio is being recognized in the TIME 100 “leaders” category. President Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande are among those who have been in the same category.

Natalicio has been UTEP’s leader since 1988. She is the longest-serving president at the U.S. public research university.

Natalicio returned to work earlier this month after suffering cardiac arrhythmia while she was walking to the Student Union in February.

“I am both humbled and deeply honored to have been named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world,” Natalicio said. “The work that I have done would not have been possible without the creativity and courage of UTEP faculty and staff, the high aspirations and hard work of our talented students and the support of our many alumni and friends, all of whom have enabled UTEP to successfully combine academic and research excellence with genuine access and equity.”

The magazine releases the list annually. This is the 13th year for the list, which recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.

The full list and related tributes will appear in the May 2 issue of TIME, available on newsstands Friday and now at time.com/time100.