[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E404-E405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING DANIEL H. LOPEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 
to congratulate the President of New Mexico Institute of Mining and 
Technology (NM Tech), Dr. Daniel ``Dan'' H. Lopez, on his retirement 
after serving as President for the past 23 years. Dan is a leader in 
education and a dedicated public servant, whose contributions to our 
state will last generations.
  Throughout his career, Dan made serving our state his priority. 
Before entering academia, Dan had a long and distinguished career in 
public policy. He served as the Secretary of Employment and Security 
from January 1983 to August 1984 where he worked diligently to reduce 
unemployment in our state. Next, Dan served as the Secretary of the 
Department of Finance and Administration until December 1986, where he 
oversaw all the cabinet agency budgets. From January 1987 through March 
1993, he served as the Chief of Staff of the New Mexico State Senate 
Finance Committee.
  In July 1993, Dan became the 16th President of the New Mexico 
Institute of Mining and Technology where he has served ever since. As 
President of a world class institution, he is responsible for 
overseeing roughly 2,000 students, more than 100 tenured faculty as 
well as 1,000 employees, and a yearly budget of approximately $170 
million. Dan has worn this responsibility well and has served as 
President longer than any other President in NM Tech's history.
  During his tenure, NM Tech's federal funding for research programs 
has grown from $20 million to over $123 million. Additionally, Dan 
secured $200 million for construction projects including the Altamirano 
Apartments and the Joseph A. Fidel Student Center, which will serve 
students for generations to come. Dan has also worked hard to recruit 
minority and female students to NM Tech. Before he became President, 
the school was only 10 percent Hispanic. Today, the Hispanic population 
has risen to 26 percent. Furthermore, over the past 20 years, NM Tech 
has witnessed a 33 percent increase in its female student population.
  We need more leaders like Dan at our universities and colleges to 
educate and empower future leaders. John Steinbeck once said, ``I have 
come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there 
are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be 
the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and 
spirit.'' Without a doubt, Dan is such a teacher.
  On June 30, 2016, Dan will retire after 23 years at the helm of NM 
Tech. Mr. Speaker, I wish Dan all the best in retirement and know that 
he will stay busy working hard to help others as he always has. Dan's 
dedication to his community and insistence on providing the best 
possible educational experience for his students is a manifestation of 
his outstanding character and desire to serve others. His 
accomplishments have touched thousands and will be felt for generations 
to come. Congratulations Dan.

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