ELPCC : Visionary Trailblazer For Education, Dr. Diana Natalicio

El Paso TX

25 September, 2021

10:33 AM

Description

Press release from the El Paso Community College: September 25, 2021 EPCC is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Diana Natalicio, who served as UTEP President for 31 years and who was also a long-time friend and steadfast partner of EPCC. She was a fierce proponent of advocating for access and excellence in higher education which benefitted all students in our region. "Dr. Natalicio was a true visionary and trailblazer for El Paso and we were fortunate to have her leadership. The EPCC Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students mourn the tremendous loss of a higher education icon," Dr. William Serrata EPCC President said. During her tenure at UTEP, Dr. Natalico fostered countless collaborations with business, education and community partners. EPCC is proud to have been one of those partners. Her passion and drive to improve education was steadfast and because of her vision, she changed the trajectory of education in our region. Dr. Natalicio was key to establishing the strong alliance between EPCC and UTEP that still exists today. This partnership remains a well-known and nationally recognized model of excellence between a two-year and four-year institution. One of the ways she built this partnership as well as transformed education in our community was through the El Paso Collaborative of Academic Excellence (EPCAE)—an initiative she launched and chaired for more than 25 years. Started in 1992, this effort focused on increasing academic achievement and preparing local students for college. With her leadership, the Collaborative took on the ambitious task of reaching out to EPCC, all the independent school districts along with other partners. This was an unprecedented, but successful effort that had powerful outcomes. The performance of K-12 students improved, more students went to college and the achievement gap of minority students was narrowed. This effort continues today and just one example of many joint EPCC-UTEP initiatives. Throughout her career, Dr. Natalicio promoted collaboration and communication that supported efforts to create a college-going culture and increase regional educational attainment. There are countless examples of the rich relationship and friendship between EPCC and UTEP that she cultivated. She was a role model for all students, including those at EPCC, where she served as a commencement speaker multiple times and regularly contributed generously to the endowed scholarship established in her name at the Foundation for EPCC. We are fortunate to have benefitted from her leadership, unwavering commitment to improving our region and vision which instilled a new pride in our community and excellence in higher education. This press release was produced by the El Paso Community College. The views expressed here are the author's own.