82R12705 JNC-D
By: Marquez H.R. No. 908
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, President Diana Natalicio has demonstrated great
leadership and skill in furthering the mission of The University of
Texas at El Paso; and
WHEREAS, While Dr. Natalicio has been UTEP president,
enrollment has grown to more than 22,000 students and the annual
budget has increased from $65 million to $383 million; the school is
designated as a research and doctoral-intensive university and is
recognized nationally for its superior and extensive academic
programs, and externally funded research expenditures have grown
from $6 million to nearly $60 million per year; additionally, more
than $250 million in facilities expansion projects are underway to
accommodate the burgeoning science, engineering, and health
sciences departments; and
WHEREAS, Prior to her appointment as president in 1988, Dr.
Natalicio served as vice president for academic affairs, dean of
liberal arts, chair of the modern languages department, and
professor of linguistics at UTEP; she is a graduate of St. Louis
University and The University of Texas at Austin, where she earned
her master's degree in Portuguese and her doctorate in linguistics;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Natalicio is highly respected in her profession;
a member of the board of trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation, she
also serves on the board of directors of Trinity Industries, the
American Council on Education, and the National Action Council for
Minorities in Engineering; she has further shared her time with the
board of governors of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation for Science, the
NASA Advisory Council, and the boards of the Sandia Corporation and
Internet2; moreover, she was appointed to the Advisory Commission
on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans by President
George H. W. Bush and to the National Science Board by President
Bill Clinton, serving three terms as vice chair; and
WHEREAS, Through the years, Dr. Natalicio has earned a number
of honors for her efforts, including the Harold W. McGraw, Jr.,
Prize in Education, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from The
University of Texas at Austin, and induction into the Texas Women's
Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Diana Natalicio's vision and expertise have
contributed immeasurably to the stature of UTEP, and the school's
students and faculty are indeed fortunate to continue to benefit
from her guidance and dedication; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Dr. Diana Natalicio for her service as
president of The University of Texas at El Paso and extend to her
sincere best wishes for continued success with her important work;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Natalicio as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.