TITLE: Honoring Dr. Diana Natalicio for her service as president of The University of Texas at El Paso.

SUMMARY: Honoring Dr. Diana Natalicio for her service as president of The University of Texas at El Paso.

FULL TEXT:
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 under way 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. Marquez Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 908 was adopted by the House on April 7, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House