2023 Gold Nugget Awards Recipients
For over 30 years, The University of Texas at El Paso has recognized exceptional graduates from each of its colleges and schools who have excelled in their professions, give back to their communities and alma mater, and serve as an inspiration for future generations of Miners. The 2023 recipients span a wide variety of career fields and have each set the gold standard of success and excellence.
Alfredo H. Arellano
College of Nursing
BSN, 1986; MSN, 1990
Alfredo H. Arellano is a community mental health advocate who has made significant contributions to improving mental health services in the El Paso Region. Mr. Arellano is a psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist in private practice, treating adults, military personnel and dependents, veterans and the elderly with the most up-to-date treatments in psychiatry. Arellano has served as a clinical instructor and mentor for undergraduate UTEP students and is currently a preceptor for graduate students. He is also a longtime supporter of UTEP Athletics and a UTEP football and basketball season ticket-holder.
Jon Dorenbos
College of Liberal Arts
Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2009
Jon Dorenbos is a former NFL long snapper who played for the Buffalo Bills, the Tennessee Titans and the Philadelphia Eagles. He is now a professional magician and motivational speaker who has appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and “Ellen.” His book “Life is Magic” is being developed into a feature film. In 2022, Dorenbos was the keynote speaker at Orange Fever Fiesta, UTEP Athletics’ annual fundraising event.
Martha Rubi Gasca
College of Health Sciences
B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science, 2011
When COVID-19 threatened El Pasoans’ health, Martha Rubi Gasca and the lab team at the El Paso Department of Public Health rose to the occasion. Gasca is a medical laboratory scientist who specializes in biological and chemical threats. During the pandemic, she led the charge in setting up COVID testing and was instrumental in designating UTEP as a testing site. She also helped develop COVID-19 safety measures that were sent to hospitals both locally and beyond El Paso County as guidelines for implementation at their facilities.
J. Carlos Hernández, Ed.D.
College of Education
BBA in Accounting, 1988; M.Ed. in Education Administration, 2005; Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration, 2009
Through a career in higher education spanning over 30 years, Jose Carlos Hernandez, Ed.D., has shaped financial and operational policies at several universities, including UTEP, the University of North Texas (UNT), UNT Dallas and Sam Houston State. His depth of knowledge and willingness to mentor earned him leadership positions in organizations such as the Texas Association of State Senior College and University Business Officers. In his current role as president of Sul Ross State University, he works to advance the university’s goal of providing an accessible and life-changing education.
Leila Melendez
Woody L. Hunt College of Business
MBA, 2008
Leila Melendez’ career has been about serving the people of El Paso and the surrounding region. As CEO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex, she drives the organization’s mission of developing the borderland economy by connecting employers with skilled employees. She has maintained close ties with UTEP and applies her talent to help students in the Woody L. Hunt College of Business. She was a key driver and designer of a mentorship program that paired alumni and local business leaders with undergraduate and MBA students. She currently serves as a board member for the Executive Forum and the El Paso Fireman and Policeman’s Pension Fund.
Rudy Piña
College of Science
B.S. in Biological Sciences-Microbiology, 1978
Rudy Piña is the president of Dynatec Scientific Labs, a Latino-owned medical device testing lab. Piña established the Rudy Piña Endowed Fund for Microbiology at UTEP and has been an advisory board member for the UTEP College of Science. He has worked with the Food and Drug Administration, the Texas Department of Health and other entities to ensure high safety standards for medical devices and hospital settings.
Irazema S. Rojas
College of Engineering
B.S. in Civil Engineering, 1995, M.S. in Civil Engineering, 2010
Irazema S. Rojas is the Chief Technical Officer for Water, Wastewater and Reclaimed Water at El Paso Water. In the position, she oversees a $500 million budget and six departments that ensure the safe and reliable delivery of clean water and advance critical infrastructure projects throughout the El Paso region. She has more than 25 years of experience in water management and has also worked on important infrastructure priorities that address environmental stewardship, community growth and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure. Solis Rojas frequently recruits students from UTEP to participate in internships and apply for jobs with El Paso Water. She has worked tirelessly to advance inclusion in the workplace and retain talented engineers.
Armando Castorena
College of Business Administration
BBA Human Resource Management 1988; MBA, 1990
Armando Castorena is vice president for human resources transformation and chief diversity officer for Lockheed Martin Corp. His efforts in human resources have made Lockheed Martin one of the top U.S. places to work, and have played a role in the distribution of almost $20 million for team education and STEM career readiness. He also mentors Miners through a collaboration between Lockheed Martin and UTEP.
Lisa Saenz
College of Business Administration
BBA, Accounting and Computer Information Systems, 1997
Lisa Saenz is executive vice president – chief financial officer and chief operating officer at WestStar Bank. She is a certified public accountant who serves on a number of University, local and state boards. Saenz is a role model for female executives in banking and finance. Despite her many responsibilities, she makes time to mentor UTEP students..
Col. Porfirio Montes, Ret.
College of Education
B.S. Education, 1972
Retired Col. Porfirio Montes served four years with the Navy to include time in Vietnam before he enrolled at UTEP, where he excelled as a student government leader. The Top 10 Senior taught migrant children in South Texas before continuing his own education. He earned a master’s degree in social science in 1974 and returned to UTEP in 1978 as an associate professor of military science for four years. He said UTEP prepared him for a successful 44 years in the military and federal service.
Richard Salcido
College of Education
B.S. Counseling 1979; M.Ed. Counseling 1986
Richard Salcido is an El Paso luminary in the realm of mental health. For more than four decades, he has provided mental health services in the region, including the last 25 years as executive director for Family Services of El Paso. In that time, he has trained scores of counselors, including UTEP interns, who have gone on to significantly impact the mental well-being of the area’s residents.
Maria Galaviz
College of Engineering
B.S. Industrial Engineering, 2002
Maria Galaviz made an immediate impression at Sandia National Laboratories in northern New Mexico. Consequently, the prestigious lab selected the UTEP alum to attend Cornell University for graduate school to hone her leadership skills. Today, she is the senior manager for product delivery in the lab’s Value Stream Group. Her influence has spurred a relationship between Sandia and UTEP that has opened career pathways for Miner graduates.
Loretta Dillon, DPT
College of Health Sciences
B.S. Biology, 1982; M.S. Kinesiology, 1994
After her time as a UTEP student, Loretta Dillon, DPT, left El Paso to pursue a degree in physical therapy. She quickly returned to work at The Hospitals of Providence. Soon, she was a part-time instructor at El Paso Community College. In 1993, she began a lengthy career at UTEP, where she has continually worked to increase clinical site affiliations and teach the next generation of local practitioners. Dillon was a driving force in the establishment of UTEP’s physical therapy program, including its doctoral degree.
Judge Patricia A. Macías, Ret.
College of Liberal Arts
B.A. Psychology and English, 1973
Retired Judge Patricia A. Macías is an eighth-generation El Pasoan and first-generation college graduate. She credits UTEP’s psychology courses and their lessons on human behavior with molding her career on the bench. Macías served as a district judge in El Paso for 12 years. But she has also helped her community as a college counselor, attorney, jurist and philanthropy managing director. In 2008, she was the first Hispanic woman to be elected president of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
Robert Moore
College of Liberal Arts
B.A. Political Science, 1998
Robert Moore has spent most of his 36-year journalism career on the border. He recently founded El Paso Matters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news site that focuses on the Paso del Norte region. His writings about the border have been featured by the Washington Post, ProPublica, NPR, the Guardian and Texas Monthly. He regularly speaks to classes in the colleges of Liberal Arts, Education and Business Administration.
Jennifer Richer, Ph.D.
College of Science
B.S. Biology, 1986; M.S. Biology, 1988
Jennifer Richer, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. In her 36-year academic career, she has developed into an international leader in the study of women’s cancers. Beyond her research, she has mentored numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and younger faculty. Richer continues to serve UTEP and contribute to its considerable successes, namely as an active member of the College of Science Advisory Board.
Omobola Oyeleye, Ed.D.
College of Nursing
MSN Nursing System Management, 2011
Omobola Oyeleye, Ed.D., is an assistant professor in the undergraduate department at the Cizik School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Oyeleye holds a law degree and an education doctorate. She often combines nursing and law in her classes, her presentations throughout the world, and in her publications. Her professional career includes K-12 education (where she earned Teacher of the Year awards), mediation, disability rights law and medical surgical nursing.
Dwayne M. Aboud, M.D.
College of Science
B.A. Biological Sciences, 1970
Dwayne M. Aboud, M.D., enjoyed a 40-year career as a private practice internal medicine physician and has served as medical director of Elara Caring Hospice in El Paso since 2006.
Aboud has given back to the El Paso community through service on boards including the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and El Paso Diabetes Association. He also has served as team physician and clinic coordinator for UTEP Athletics since 1988. Aboud founded the El Paso Border Youth Athletic Association in 1999 and was inducted into the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.
“To be honest, I was ill-prepared for college,” Aboud said. “UTEP was very challenging on several levels but mostly in academics. UTEP was there for me and taught me how to study and most of all perseverance. I graduated at the top of my medical school class, advanced clinical year and residency. I owe all of this to The University of Texas at El Paso.”
Gloria Greve Perry-George
College of Education
B.S. Elementary Education, 1966
(Posthumous)
After 21 years as an educator and mentor with the El Paso Independent School District, Gloria Greve Perry-George became executive director of the Mary L. Peyton Foundation, a nonprofit that offered financial assistance to those in need to include students who wanted to attend UTEP. She stayed involved with her alma mater through continuing education courses and attendance at athletic events.
Her community service through the years included work with PTAs, Girl Scouts and various philanthropic groups. She traveled the world and, always the educator, she would visit schools to learn about their curriculum and teaching methods.
Perry-George projected a positive light in her later years despite several bouts with cancer, which eventually claimed her life in 2019.
“Without this formative education through UTEP, Gloria may not have succeeded as well as she did in her career,” said Gayle Hunt, her twin sister.
Harry (Hap) Lamberth
College of Engineering
B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1962
After graduating from Texas Western College, now UTEP, with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1962, Harry (Hap) Lamberth worked on missile flight instrumentation modernization at WSMR (White Sands Missile Range) & AFETR (Air Force Eastern Test Range) before starting an electronic equipment manufacturing company focused on mobile telephony in El Paso.
In 1978, Harry moved to California, where he worked on military communications and electrical power conversion systems for Hughes Aircraft and L3 Power Systems. He later established his own consulting firm, HRL Company.
He has held leadership roles in several technical professional organizations and continues to serve on the UTEP College of Engineering Advisory Board.
Victor L. Medina
College of Health Sciences
M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling, 2014
A roadside bomb explosion in Iraq in 2009 left Victor L. Medina with a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. Despite his injuries, the Army sergeant first class proceeded to graduate with a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling from UTEP in 2014 with a 4.0 GPA.
During his recovery, Medina shared his story on tbiwarrior.com to help other soldiers and their families. The website has since evolved into the TBI Warrior Foundation, which Medina established in 2018 with the mission to improve the quality of life of veterans, civilians and children living with brain injuries and their caregivers.
Medina credits UTEP with helping him thrive as a veteran with combat wounds. He and his wife, Roxana Delgado, Ph.D., a UTEP alumna, have become advocates for TBI awareness, working to improve care and services for brain-injured service members and civilians.
“UTEP’s Master of Rehabilitation Counseling program equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to continue to provide meaningful service to the community of people with disabilities,” said Medina, who has testified in front of the U.S. Senate Veterans Affair Committee. “My experience at UTEP broadened my vision and was very instrumental in my personal redefinition of success.”
Marcela Navarrete
College of Business Administration
BBA Accounting, 1989
In 1993, Marcela Navarrete joined El Paso Water as an accountant. Throughout her 20-plus-year career with the utility, she steadily climbed the ranks and eventually became the first woman to serve as chief financial officer. Today, Navarrete is vice president of strategic, financial and management services.
Navarrete has volunteered on many community and professional boards. In 2016, El Paso Inc. named her a Woman of Impact. Additionally, Navarrete has served with various associations including the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, Government Finance Officers Association and American Water Works Association.
“The accounting degree that I received at UTEP really did launch my career,” Navarrete said. “It gave me the foundation to be a good accountant, which led to higher and higher positions in management. Had it not been for that foundation, I would not have the career that I have had. The courses were rigorous and demanding, which I truly believe prepared me for the demands that I face at work every day.”
Carlos Spector
College of Liberal Arts
B.A. Criminal Justice, 1978
M.A. Sociology, 1981
Carlos Spector enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after high school and served most of his time in Germany. After an honorable discharge, the El Paso native spent one year in an Israeli kibbutz (commune) and returned home to enroll at UTEP, where he honed his analytical skills that led to his decision to pursue a law degree.
Throughout the years, he has participated with several civil and immigration rights groups such as LULAC and the Texas Latino-Jewish Alliance and co-founded Mexicanos En Exilio. His work has been honored by many human rights organizations and featured in two award-winning Mexican documentaries as well as in Mexican and Canadian doctoral dissertations.
To give back, Spector, has taught a Mexican political asylum course as a guest lecturer with UTEP’s Center for Inter-American and Border Studies program, which he said has confirmed his commitment to the University and the border.
“I’ve loved UTEP for as long as I can remember,” Spector said. “I took great pride in the school because of the ’66 championship basketball team and because it’s my father’s alma mater. I knew that is where I would pursue my education.”
Allie Trimble-Lozano School of Nursing
BSN, 2002
Allie Trimble-Lozano
School of Nursing
BSN, 2002
Allie Trimble-Lozano serves as regional chief executive officer of The Hospitals of Providence microhospitals with Emerus Holdings Inc. She has successfully led the development and operation of three neighborhood hospitals in Horizon City and in Northeast and far East El Paso, and eight health care facilities in San Antonio.
Since 2002, Trimble-Lozano, an El Paso native, has worked her way up from critical care nurse to one of the most successful health care administrators in the Paso del Norte region.
Among her notable accomplishments, Trimble-Lozano successfully established 12 urgent care centers from El Paso to the Interstate 35 corridor from San Antonio and Austin.
“I have been blessed with the opportunity to build an incredibly strong, talented and cohesive team of caregivers, subject matter experts, and leaders for what I have coined the ‘San Paso Region,’” said Trimble-Lozano, who holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. “Together we have been honored to bring health care to areas that were previously incredibly underserved within the El Paso community as well as the San Antonio community.”
Salvador Balcorta / College of Health Sciences / Bachelor of Social Work, 1980
Salvador Balcorta has served as the CEO of Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe since 1992. Balcorta transformed the neighborhood health center in South El Paso into a nationally recognized network of nonprofit community health clinics, health and human service programs, and a dual-language charter school.
His many accolades include Mexico's prestigious Ohtli Award and the National Association of Social Workers' Lifetime Achievement Award. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services appointed him to the National Advisory Committee on Minority Health.
"UTEP taught me the value of hands-on knowledge," Balcorta said. "Your life and field experience is something that is just as valuable, if not more so, than book knowledge."
Paul Dipp / College of Business Administration / BBA Management, 1977
El Paso native, Paul Dipp, president of Economy Wholesale Grocers, credited UTEP's supportive and engaged faculty with his success. He has shown his gratitude through his involvement in the UTEP Centennial Committee, COBA's Business Advisory Council and as a lifetime member of UTEP's Alumni Association.
Dipp juggled academics with his responsibilities with two family-owned businesses. The double major - real estate and marketing - said he applied what he learned in class to his jobs in commercial real estate and as a wholesale grocer.
"I have the opportunity to represent all the COBA graduates, and I'm profoundly grateful and humbled to represent UTEP," Dipp said.
Carolyn Moody Drake / School of Nursing / BSN, 1975
For decades, Carolyn Moody Drake has served her community as an RN, then as a volunteer.
Among a wide range of community service, Moody Drake has focused much of her energy on the PARTNERS organization, which supports The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Cizik School of Nursing by raising funds for nursing scholarships and faculty research grants. She was the chair of PARTNERS in 2012-13 and continues to be involved as a lifetime member.
A popular presenter on health care topics, Moody Drake ebulliently shares her knowledge and passion about nursing with others. She also drives, cooks and opens her home for those in need - most recently in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey flooding in 2017 in southeast Texas.
A lifetime member of the UTEP Alumni Association, Moody Drake said, "UTEP taught me to value a high-quality education in a multicultural environment, and it solidified an ideology based on caring and kindness."
Edward Drusina / College of Engineering / B.S. Civil Engineering, 1974
Edward Drusina is highly respected for his accomplishments in engineering and water supply management. The former commissioner of the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission led the development of critical international water management agreements between the U.S. and Mexico from San Diego, California, to Brownsville, Texas. These agreements continue to help border agriculture, industry and municipalities to have access to clean water.
Recently, Drusina retired from federal service. He stays engaged in his profession as a UTEP adviser, Texas A&M Research Center adviser, and part-time senior project engineer for Weston Solutions, an environmental and infrastructure support services company.
“UTEP gave me the education I needed to have a highly successful career in the public and private sectors,” Drusina said. “I’m thankful to represent an institution that contributes so much to our community.”
D. Frank Hsu, Ph.D. / College of Science / M.S. Mathematics, 1975
D. Frank Hsu, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized pioneer and leader of data science research and education.
Hsu is the Clavius Distinguished Professor of Science, a professor of computer and information science, and the director of the Fordham Laboratory of Informatics and Data Mining at Fordham University in New York. In that role, he has helped develop solutions to real-world problems by harnessing the power of data science, machine learning, cognitive computing, informatics and model fusion.
Throughout his career, Hsu has authored or edited 40 books and published more than 200 technical papers. He received a Distinguished Teaching Award from Fordham in 2001 and an IBM Faculty Award in 2012, among other honors. He holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan.
"My experience at UTEP has impacted my life and career tremendously," Hsu said. "I am proud and passionate about being a Miner and look forward to sharing my experiences and expertise with students and alumni of UTEP."
Maggie Morales-Moody / College of Education / B.S. Elementary Education, 1986 / M.Ed. Educational Administration, 1994 / College of Liberal Arts / B.A. French, 1985
As an elementary-level educator, counselor and administrator for 28 years, Maggie Morales-Moody earned recognition at the campus and state levels for her efforts to serve underrepresented students with unconditional dedication. She may now be retired, but her devotion has not wavered.
In 2015, Morales-Moody, with the assistance of family, friends and donors, opened GiGi's Playhouse El Paso, the state's first achievement center for people with Down syndrome and their families. The playhouse is part of a national network that offers free educational, therapeutic, career and social programs. She thanked all who helped her succeed, to include her UTEP faculty members.
"They took personal interest in each one of their students and encouraged us to look at each child as an individual, full of promise and hope," Morales-Moody said.
Claudio Ordaz / College of Liberal Arts / B.M. Music Performance, 2001
A love of music lured Claudio Ordaz to The University of Texas at El Paso in the late 1990s, and that passion eventually led him to Eastern Europe.
The native of Chihuahua City, Mexico, picked UTEP to study violin from legendary Abraham Chavez, a longtime music professor.
The first-generation college student earned his master's and Ph.D. degrees in orchestral conducting in 2008 and 2015, respectively, from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Estonia. In 2013, he founded the Savonlinna Camerata Orchestra in Finland. He serves as the group's artistic director and conductor. He was the first Mexican to start and conduct a European orchestra.
He lives in Finland and is a professor of music at the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences.
"My time at UTEP was one of the most extraordinary and inspiring of my life," he said.
Lisa Lavigne Saucedo / College of Business Administration / MBA, 2015
Lisa Lavigne Saucedo is the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc., or CASA, an agency that provides advocacy for abused and neglected children in the family court system.
Saucedo pursued UTEP's Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree to enhance her leadership skills and build on the business acumen required to run a nonprofit. She already had years of managerial experience before she transitioned to executive director.
The New England native said the University's decision to select her as a Gold Nugget surprised and humbled her. She said her time at UTEP bolstered her leadership skills alongside a diverse cohort.
"Pursuing this degree really instills confidence and brings out your best attributes," Saucedo said. "It teaches you to think differently about everything, and that the work that we do, from a multimillion-dollar company to a local nonprofit, can make a difference in the world."
Patricia "Patty" Tiscareño / College of Liberal Arts / B.A. English Literature, 2004
Patricia "Patty" Tiscareño, executive director of the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation, said a liberal arts degree often comes in handy. The El Paso native said her duties demand the ability to communicate with board members one minute and patients from all demographics the next. She could follow those conversations with an analysis of her $13 million budget and a creative summit to discuss a future fundraiser or program development.
Others have recognized her abilities and sought her presence on numerous health, academic and community boards. Tiscareño has earned various awards through the years to include the 2016 Woman of Impact Award and her induction in 2018 into the El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame. She stays involved with UTEP socially and professionally.
"My interactions with UTEP always positively impact my life," Tiscareño said.
Dorothy Truax / College of Liberal Arts / B.A. Sociology, 1973
As a social worker for more than 30 years, Dorothy Truax has helped people of all ages and backgrounds to improve their lives.
Truax has served as director of social services at the Opportunity Center for the Homeless since 2014, and as director of the Reynolds Home, a shelter for women and children, since 2006. She received a bachelor's degree in sociology from UTEP in 1973 and a master's degree in social work from New Mexico State University 31 years later. She has mentored nearly 30 UTEP undergraduate and graduate social work students through the years.
"In social work there is always something new, a new challenge every day," Truax said. "So as long as you enjoy what you do, it is not a job. It's something you love."
The University will officially recognize these Gold Nuggets during UTEP's 2019 Homecoming events Sept. 29 - Oct. 5.
Sam Armijo, Ph.D.
College of Engineering
B.S. Metallurgical/Materials Engineering, 1959
Sam Armijo, Ph.D., is currently president of JSA Associates Inc., a nuclear systems and engineering consulting firm advising the Electric Power Research Institute and the Exelon Corporation. He is also chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company’s International Experts Group, which provides technical advice on the decommissioning of the Fukushima nuclear site.
Orlando Bejarano
College of Health Sciences
B.S. Occupational Therapy, 1998
Orlando Bejarano is the owner of Focus Therapy in the greater Houston area. His company employs about 40 therapists across physical therapy, speech language pathology and occupational therapy and provides services more than 600 times a week to a mostly geriatric population.
Peter Chan
College of Engineering
B.S. Civil Engineering, 1989 / M.S. Civil Engineering, 1990
Peter Chan is the founder of Professional Concepts, a multi-faceted real estate company. In addition to his professional activities, Chan has served as a mentor in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Arizona, and as a volunteer for St. Vincent de Paul and Boy Scouts of America. He is currently serving on the Development Board of UTEP’s Asset Management and Development arm.
Annie L. Garcia
School of Nursing
MSN Nursing Systems Management, 2013
A year after completing her graduate degree in 2013, Annie Garcia was hired as the chief nursing officer at Methodist Texsan Hospital in San Antonio, where she was instrumental in the hospital’s efforts to improve nursing engagement, patient experience and quality outcomes. In 2017, she was named chief nursing officer at Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso.
Ruth Ellen Jacobson
College of Education
B.S. Elementary Education, 1970
Ruth Ellen Jacobson is the executive director of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra. She has developed youth-focused educational initiatives such as “Tocando,” an after-school program that supports children experiencing challenging social and economic conditions.
Christina I. Paz, DNP
School of Nursing
DNP, 2013
Christina Ilene Paz, DNP, is the chief operating officer at Centro San Vicente Family Health Center in El Paso. As a member of the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, she has met with members of Congress to advocate on behalf of community health centers and the vulnerable populations they serve.
Felipa Solis
College of Liberal Arts
B.A. English Literature, 1983
Felipa Solis has enjoyed a successful career as a journalist, public relations specialist and community advocate. She currently serves as executive director of El Paso Pro-Musica. Among her numerous honors are the LULAC Humanitarian of the Year Award, the YWCA Reach Award and the Ruben Salazar Journalism Award.
Brig. Gen. Michael Talley
College of Liberal Arts
B.A. History, 1991
Brig. Gen. Michael Talley is a Minnesota native who said his decision to leave active duty to pursue a bachelor’s degree at The University of Texas at El Paso put him on a path to become a brigadier general and command surgeon with the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He is the chief medical adviser to more than 800,000 soldiers and civilians.
Joe D. Wardy
College of Business Administration
BBA Finance, 1976
After graduating from UTEP, Joe D. Wardy had a 25-year career in transportation and logistics before he entered politics in 2003. He has held leadership roles with several companies and served as mayor of the City of El Paso from 2003-05. During his tenure as mayor, Wardy oversaw El Paso’s move to a city manager form of government and passage of a $110 million bond issue.
Richard Westbrook, M.D.
College of Science
B.S. Biological Sciences, 1970
Richard Westbrook, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon at Orthopaedic Surgeons Associates in El Paso. He received his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and completed his residencies in orthopedic surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle and at Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Spokane, Washington. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Manuel F. Aguilera
B.S. Civil Engineering, 1964
College of Engineering
Manuel F. Aguilera’s successful nearly four-decade career with the Texas Department of Transportation included helping develop and design many of the traffic signals and standards that are in use across El Paso and are now standards in Texas. Aguilera also helped design El Paso’s “Spaghetti Bowl” interchange at I-10 and U.S. 54, the Patriot Freeway and the new Tornillo Exchange, which now carries his name, Aguilera International Highway.
Russell Broaddus, M.D., Ph.D.
B.S. Microbiology, 1987
College of Science
Russell Broaddus, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of pathology at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. His research is focused on the molecular pathogenesis of endometrial cancer, the most common gynecological cancer in women. His work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and his research findings have been incorporated into clinical patient care. He is a two-time recipient of the prestigious John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher Award from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Estela Casas
B.A. Communication Studies, 2005
College of Liberal Arts
Estela Casas has been one of El Paso’s finest broadcast journalists for more than 30 years. She has been a news anchor at KVIA-TV since 1993. Casas has interviewed President Barack Obama at the White House, covered two Papal visits to Mexico, and has been a strong advocate for women’s and children’s health issues. She was inducted into the El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame in 2011.
Denise Castillo-Rhodes
BBA Accounting, 1982
College of Business Administration
Denise Castillo-Rhodes is executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Houston-based Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world. She is responsible for finance, billing, accounting, collections, procurement and tax compliance.
Erik Cazares
B.S. Nursing, 2000
School of Nursing
Erik Cazares is the chief nursing officer at The Hospitals of Providence Sierra Campus in El Paso. He mentors young hospital leaders and nurses. He is recognized as someone who is articulate, inspirational and a role model. He is a national voice for his profession in nursing organizations.
Photo courtesy El Paso Times
James Ricardo "Jim" Forbes
B.S. Secondary Education, 1979
College of Education
James Ricardo "Jim" Forbes is one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Texas. In February 2017, Forbes, the head basketball coach at Andress High School, won his 600th game in his 33-year career. A former Olympian, Forbes served as a UTEP assistant coach from 1981-84. He was inducted into the UTEP Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
Miguel A. Gamiño, Jr.
BBA Accounting and Computer Information Systems, 1999
College of Business Administration
Miguel A. Gamiño, Jr. is chief technology officer for the City of New York. Among his duties are to develop a Smart City strategy that will ensure coordination, collaboration and innovation across one of the world’s largest cities. He has also worked as the chief information officer for the city of San Francisco, California, and founded El Paso technology companies Varay Systems LLC and Sonisa LLC.
Sylvia Hopp
B.S. Elementary Education, 1975; M.Ed. Educational Administration, 1982
College of Education
As the superintendent of the San Elizario Independent School District for five years, Sylvia Hopp was responsible for the education of 3,900 students in one of the poorest districts in Texas. In 2015, Hopp was recognized with the Region 19 Superintendent of the Year award and was one of five finalists for Texas Superintendent of the Year. After 42 years in education and administration, Hopp will retire in June 2017.
Sandra G. Terrazas
M.S. Kinesiology, 2005
College of Health Sciences
Sandra G. Terrazas is the founder and owner of Spectrum Therapy Consultants in El Paso. She manages her business’s four locations, mentors interns and interacts with patients. She also is an adjunct physical therapy professor at UTEP, El Paso Community College and Western Technical College.
2016
Armando Aguirre, '85, '89, '04Mary E. Bell, '83
Brian Cloteaux, '93, '97
Barbara Divis, '87
Karen Lyon, '78
Freda Mowad, '95
Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni, '75
2015
Sandra E. Braham, ’02, ’05Melissa A. Carrillo, ’89, ’99
James B. Cearley III, ’78
Irene Chavez, ’79
Hilda C. Galvan, ’85
Jean Foret Giddens, ’86
Sue Glover Mottinger, ’65
Sylvia Martinez, ’80
Lester L. Parker, ’67, ’77
Juan Rivera, ’75
2014
UTEP's 100th Anniversary: All Past Gold Nugget Alumni Honored2013
Yolanda Berumen-Deines, ’72Laura Bosworth Bucher, ’88
Helen M. Castillo, ’74
E. Antonio Chiocca, ’82
Ramon Dominguez, ’71, ’74
Charles R. Garcia, ’71, ’80
Stan Harmon, ’93
Tony Harper, ’68
Renard U. Johnson, ’95
John G. Lapham, ’74
David H. Lindau, ’61
Ray Malooly, ’59
David A. Montoya, ’86
Susana Navarro,’68
Irene Rico, ’84
Joe R. Saucedo, ’66
Mary Carmen Saucedo, ’65, ’68, ’70
Ray Tullius, ’89
2012
Alfonso Batres, Ph.D. '75Robert J. Cintron '96
Lillian W. Crouch '72
Brent Capps D.P.T. '95
Edward Escudero '92
Thanh "Tommy" Hodinh '76
Keelung Hong Ph.D. '70
Katherine Long '88
Enrique Mata '97
Jesus "Antonio" Rico '80
2011
Juan Ayala, '79Rosaura Corral-Perez, '83
Jim Hunt, '72
Colleen Jernigan, '99
Patricia Kricos, '70
Linda Lawson, '87
Mike Martinez, '11
Carmen Rodriguez, ' 72, '75
Ray Sanchez, '93
Robert Santoscoy, M.D., '82
Diane Troyer, '78
Isabel Vasquez, '82
2010
Ms. Yvonne M. Acosta, B.S.N.,’83; M.S.N.,’88Ms. Gloria E. Bombach, B.S.N., ‘77
Mr. Jose F. Cardenas, B.S.C.E., ‘74
Mr. Tomas Cardenas, Jr., B.S.C.E., ‘71
Mrs. Susan R. Crews, B.S.E.D.,’68; M.E.D., ‘72
Dr. Matthew A. Diethelm, B.S., ‘63
Dr. Robert W. Gilmer, B.A., ‘68
Dr. Juan M. Herrera, B.S.M.E.,’69; B.S.M.E.T.,’70; M.S.M.E., ‘70
Mrs. Virginia L. Martinez, B.S.W., ‘89
Dr. Laurance N. Nickey, B.S., ‘51
Ms. Beverly L. Penn, B.F.A., ‘82
Mr. David M. Rapisand, B.B.A., ‘76
Mrs. Bertha F. Toscano, B.A., ‘33
Ms. Mary Lou Valdez, B.S., ‘86
2009
COL (Ret) Barbara J. Bruno, B.S.N., ‘74Mrs. Sandra H. Clubb, B.B.A.,‘87; M.E.D., ‘89
Mr. Alfredo Corchado Jimenez, B.A., ‘87
Dr. Pauline A. Dow, B.A., HISTORY, ‘84; M.A.,‘87; M.E.D., ‘89, E.D.D., ‘08
Dr. James W. Handschy, B.S.,‘83; M.S., ‘86
Mrs. Cindy A. Stout, M.S.N., ‘94
Mr. Francisco S. Uranga, B.B.A., ‘86
Mr. Oscar E. Venegas, B.S.C.E., ‘73
Mrs. Paulette Wingo, B.I.S.,‘92; M.E.D., ‘96
Mr. Larry R. Wollschlager, B.S.,‘71; M.S., ‘75
2008
Mrs. Sandra E. Arias, R.N., B.S.N., ‘81Mrs. Marilyn Cromeans, B.A., ‘58
Mrs. Louann H. Feuille, B.S.N., ‘74
Dr. Hector L. Franco, B.S., ‘71
Dr. Cornelia M. Gorman, B.S., ‘74
Dr. Eileen G. Gorman, B.S., ‘73
His Excellency Harsha E. Joesoef The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, B.S.C.E.,’80; M.S.C.E., ‘82
Mrs. Betty L. MacGuire, B.B.A., ‘48
Mr. Kenneth T. Murphy, B.B.A., ‘60
The Honorable John W. Rolph, B.A., ‘78
Dr. BeEtta L. Stoney, B.S.,’85; M.E.D., ‘87
Dr. Juan E. Vargas Ortega, B.S.E.E., ‘73
2007
Ms. Maria E. Alvarez, B.B.A., ‘86Mr. Eric J.C. Chan, B.B.A., ‘78
Mr. Henry A. de La Garza, APR, B.A., ‘71
Mrs. Randy W. de La Garza, B.A., ‘69
Mrs. Patricia A. Duran, B.S.N., ’79; M.S.N., ‘97
Mr. Richard O. Martinez, Sr., B.S.M.E., ‘79
Mr. Clem Mejia, Jr., B.S.E.D.,’73; M.E.D., ‘76
Mrs. Pamela M. Perez, B.A., ’84; M.S., ‘85
Ms. Corine Prieto, B.S., ‘68
2006
Mr. Gary L. Crowell, B.A.,’69; M.E.D., ‘72Mr. Richard Fleager, CPA, B.B.A., ’72; M.B.A., ‘76
Mr. Joe Gomez, B.A., ‘70
Mrs. Cecilia M. Miles Mulvihill, B.S.E.D., ‘69
Mr. Richard W. Myers, B.B.A., ‘67
Mr. Henry K. Ng, B.S.C.E.,’77; M.S.C.E., ‘81
Dr. Klaus C. Wiemer, B.S., ‘63
2005
Mrs. Nancy L. Bombach, B.S.E.D., ‘90Dr. Arturo Bravo, B.S., ‘79
Mrs. Irma M. Estrada, B.S.N.,’89; M.S.N., ‘98
Mrs. Nancy C. Hamilton, B.A.,’49; M.A., ‘54
Mr. Charles F. Hart, Jr., B.A.,’66; M.E.D., ‘68
Mr. Paul H. Johnson, B.A., ‘80
Mr. R. Noel Longuemare, Jr., B.S.E.E., ‘52
Mr. D. Edward Martin, B.B.A., ‘68
Mr. R. Paul Yetter, B.A., ‘80
2004
Mr. Michael A. Brochu, B.B.A., ‘74Mr. Pete T. Duarte, M.A., ‘93
Dr. Blanca E. Enriquez, B.S.E.D.,’75; M.E.D., ‘85
Mr. Gary R. Hedrick, B.B.A., ’77; M.B.A., ‘82
Mr. Mike A. Loya, B.S.M.E., ‘77
Dr. Don Maynard, B.A., ‘58
Dr. Stephen J. Reynolds, B.S., ‘74
2003
Ms. Diane N. De Hoyos, M.S., ‘94Ms. Sally A. Hurt-Steffen, B.S.N.,’90; M.S.N., ‘94
Mr. John T. Kelley III, B.S.E.D., ‘63
Mr. John F. Rechy, B.A., ‘52
Dr. Edward J. Sommer, Jr., B.S., ‘65
Mr. Danny L. Vickers, B.B.A.,’77; M.S., ‘92
2002
Mr. Michael D. Lyman, B.S.N., ‘78Mr. Robert A. Malone, B.S.M.E.T.E., ‘74
Dr. Martha Medrano, B.S., ‘77
Dr. J. James Rohack, B.S., ‘76
Mr. Robert V. Wingo, B.B.A., ‘73
Dr. Charles G. Zartman, Jr., M.E.D., ‘78
2001
Mr. Henry M. Cohen, B.A., ‘78Mrs. Martha D. DeGroat, B.B.A., ‘78
Dr. Alfred J. Griffin, Jr., B.S.M.E.T., ‘84
Dr. Joyce L. Harris, B.A., ’73; M.A., ‘74
Mr. Juan Roberto Job, B.A.,’73; M.E.D., ‘78
Mr. Ralph Ponce de Leon, B.A., ‘60
2000
Mr. Victor Arias, Jr., B.B.A., ‘78*Mrs. Constance Hulbert*, B.A.,’45; M.A., ‘49
Mrs. Harriet B. May, B.S., ‘71
Dr. Steffen E. Palko, B.S.E.E., ‘71
Mr. Eduardo J. Ramirez, B.S., ‘86
Dr. Teresa W. Steele, M.S.N., ‘84
Mrs. Janice W. Windle, B.A., ‘79
1999
Mr. Charles T. Brown, B.A., ‘59Mr. Enrique Gomez, B.S.,’76; M.S., ‘78
Mr. Carl H. Green, B.A., ‘73
Dr. John M. Lantz, M.S.N., ‘81
Dr. J.A. Tony Marquez, B.S.M.E.T., ’67; PH.D., ‘99
Mr. Ignacio Urrabazo, Jr., B.B.A., ‘70
1998
Mr. Robert Amezcua, B.S.E.E., ‘73*Mr. Leo G. Cancellare*, B.S.E.D., ‘80
Dr. Lola B. Dawkins, B.B.A., ‘54
Mrs. Triana Olivas, B.A., ‘67
Mr. Hugh L. Prestwood, Jr., B.A., ‘65
Mr. Gerald J. Rubin, B.S., ‘65
1997
LCDR Mauricio Aparicio III, B.S.N., ‘82*Dr. Martha E. Bernal*, B.A., ‘52
Mrs. Dolores C. De Avila, B.S.E.D., ‘69
Dr. Edward Egbert*, B.A., ‘47
Mr. Robert Navarro, B.S.C.E., ‘62
Mr. Robert E. Skov, M.S., ‘92
1996
Dr. Elaine M. Barron, B.S.N.,’78; M.S.N., ‘80Dr. Leo E. Chavez, B.A., ‘69
Mrs. Rosa E. Guerrero, B.A.,’57; M.E.D., ‘77
Mrs. Dorothy W. Hunt, B.A., ‘41
*Mr. Jack L. Hunt*, B.B.A., ‘42
Dr. George L. McLendon, B.S., ‘72
*Mr. Humberto F. Sambrano*, B.S.C.E., ‘58
1995
Dr. John D. Boice, Jr., B.S., ‘67Mr. William L. Kiely, B.S.M.E., ‘64
Mrs. Martha L. Morales, M.S.N., ‘90
The Honorable Philip R. Martinez, B.A., ‘79
Mr. Miguel I. Tinajero, Sr., B.A.,’69; M.E.D., ‘74
Mr. Aaron Wechter, B.B.A., ‘49
1994
Mr. Henry Baray, B.A., ‘73Mrs. Deborah L. Card, B.A.,’79; M.S., ‘86
The Honorable Carlos Villa, B.B.A., ‘67
Dr. Catalina E. Garcia, B.S., ‘61
1993
Mr. George L. Bailey, Jr., B.S.M.E.T., ‘69*Mr. Abraham Chavez, Jr., B.M., ‘59
Mrs. A. Wynnell Dryden, B.B.A., ‘52
*Ing. Arturo M. Morales Dominguez, B.S.M.I., ‘39
*Mr. Reese M. Rowling, B.S., ‘51
Ms. Mary E. Taylor, B.S.N., ’84; M.S.N., ‘87
1992
Mrs. Rosa E. Lujan, B.S.E.D., ’72; M.E.D., ‘771991
Dr. Rita F. Blesius, M.S.N., ‘81Dr. Don P. Schulte, B.S.E.D., ’77; M.E.D., ’80; E.D.D., ‘00
Mr. Robert N. Specht, B.S., ‘59
Mr. Ignacio R. Troncoso, B.S.E.E., ’69; M.S.E.E., ‘72
Mr. Antonio Woo, B.S.E.E., ’68; M.S.E.E., ’72
1990
Dr. Howard L. McCord, B.A., ‘57Mr. Robert Ortega, Jr., B.S.C.E.,’70; M.S.C.E., ‘80
1989
Dr. Elva Duran, B.S.E.D.,’69; M.E.D., ‘721988
*Mr. James J. Kaster, Jr., B.B.A., ‘57Dr. Joyce K. Hallmark, B.A., ‘70
1987
Mrs. Cecilia DuSange, M.S.N., ‘861986
Mr. C. Allen Born, B.S., ‘58Dr. E. Margarita Calderon, B.A.,’66; M.A., ‘72
Mr. Manuel Chavez, P.E., B.S.M.E.,’66; M.S.M.E., ‘69
Mr. J. Stephen DeGroat, B.B.A.,’72; M.B.A., ‘75
Dr. Richard B. Gomez, B.S.,’63; M.S., ‘65
Mr. Andy Perez, B.S.E.E., ‘67
Mrs. Carolyn H. Simmons, B.S.N., ’81; M.S.N., ‘85
*Mr. Richard C. White
1985
Mrs. Evelyn D. Bell, B.A., Mathematics, ’51; M.E.D., Education, ‘65*Mr. William P. Nash, B.S., ‘58
Mr. Mark C. Terrell, B.B.A.,’67
1984
Mr. Dan R. Frantzen, B.S.M.I., ‘55Mrs. Marian E. Given, M.E.D., ‘74
Mr. Robert C. Heasley, B.A., ‘53
Mr. William F. Quinn, B.S.C.E., ‘54
Dr. Estelle H. Rosenblum, M.S.N., ‘81
Dr. W. Turrentine Jackson, B.A., ‘35
* = deceased
