[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 171 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO LIFE OF DR. DIANA NATALICIO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Escobar) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ESCOBAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life 
of Dr. Diana Natalicio, who will be remembered as an icon of higher 
education and a trailblazer in El Paso.
  Dr. Natalicio served for 31 years as the president of the University 
of Texas at El Paso, my alma mater, UTEP, between 1988 and 2019. As the 
longest sitting president at UTEP, her imprint on the institution will 
be everlasting.
  She devoted her life's work to making UTEP accessible and elevating 
it to a top-tier institution. As a first-generation college student 
herself, she knew the importance of working for an equitable college 
experience for first-generation and low-income college students and 
access to higher education for all. In 2019, 51 percent of UTEP's 
graduates were first generation.
  Dr. Natalicio taught us that no matter where you come from, everyone 
deserves a good education. She also understood the struggles that El 
Pasoans face and worked on finding solutions to those barriers. I am 
deeply grateful for Dr. Diana Natalicio's service to our community and 
the vision she created for UTEP students.

  Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring Dr. Diana Natalicio's 
life and contributions to El Paso.
  May her legacy continue to inspire us all.

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