Natalicio leads final commencement as UTEP president

UTEP president Dr. Diana Natalicio has now led her final graduation ceremony.

Natalicio is retiring after decades at the helm and received a warm goodbye from the class of 2019, her final set of students.

Dr. Natalicio said the commencement ceremony is about the graduates. She’s right, congratulations to you all. But every single one of those graduates cheered the beloved president on as she finished her final commencement ceremony.

With one final congratulations and deafening cheers Doctor Diana Natalicio delivered her last commencement ceremony after 31 years leading UTEP, the longest serving president.
She worked hard to bring education to all across class lines.

“When the first person in a family gets a degree then we know that younger brothers and sisters are gonna come along, and children and so on,” Natalicio said.

“I was born and raised here in Segundo Barrio and I’m just so thankful for her commitment,” said Brian Hernandez, a UTEP graduate.

“As an international student I think she was very close to hispanic students and i think she made opportunities for other students as well,” said Patricia Lozano, another graduate.

Natalicio has also worked to shift the reliance on metrics favoring affluent schools to measurements that highlight success with working class students. Her efforts bringing her national recognition.

“Other universities are now asking us to help them figure out how to do what we have done,” Natalicio said.

Beyond social mobility Natalizio also led UTEP’s growth in research and academics.
Back in 1998 the school only offered one doctoral program, now they have 24, with new graduates every year.
Retirement will bring its own set of challenges.

“Well I have to move. That’s the most trying of all the experiences that I’m sure I’m going to have because I’ve lived 30 years in the Hoover House,” she explained.

She’s then going to travel, visit Portugal, celebrate her birthday with a St. Louis baseball game, and enjoy managing her own schedule.
No matter where she is, Doctor Diana Natalicio’s work still be here, at the University of Texas At El Paso.

“That’s why public universities are here, to serve the public. And that’s what we’re doin’,” she said.

Doctor Natalicio, on behalf of all your students at UTEP thank you for your service.