UTEP Diana Natalicio Institute Hosts Day of Events Honoring Namesake
Institute unveils new space, celebrates Natalicio’s legacy of Hispanic student success
EL PASO, Texas (Jan. 22, 2026) – Today, the Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success at The University of Texas at El Paso is hosting the Diana Natalicio Impact and Legacy Celebration, a full day of events honoring Natalicio’s enduring impact on UTEP, the El Paso community and higher education at large.
“Dr. Natalicio had a lifelong commitment to UTEP and to the success of our students,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “Because of her vision and the generosity she and her brother Bill Siedhoff showed, UTEP will continue expanding opportunity for the students who need it most.”
Today’s events include an open house showcasing the newly renovated space of UTEP’s Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success. Located on the 9th floor of the Education Building, the institute welcomed the campus and community to explore its new home and learn more about the institute’s work.
“The Institute was established to advance research, practical application, community building, and systems transformation that make higher education more student-centered,” said the institute’s Executive Director Anne-Marie Núñez, Ph.D.
The institute is supported in large part by a $12.7 million estate gift from Natalicio. Founded in 2021 with a $1 million gift from The University of Texas System Board of Regents, the Diana Natalicio Institute conducts research and advances strategies that support excellence at broad-access institutions like UTEP that serve large numbers of low-income, first-generation and Hispanic students.
“The enormous gift from my sister comes as no surprise to me, as success for all students was Diana's passion and driving force in her life's work, providing her tremendous success and resulting in UTEP being recognized nationally for both the excellence and breadth of its academic and research programs,” said Bill Siedhoff, the brother of Natalicio. “She cherished her friendships and interaction with UTEP students, staff, alumni and the extremely friendly people of El Paso who I believe loved her as she loved them. I know she did this out of her desire to see UTEP continue to grow and flourish, affording more students the opportunity to secure an education and subsequent future success.”
Thursday’s events also will feature a panel discussion and culminate with the inaugural Shiloff Family Lecture, an endowed lecture series designed to advance conversations around opportunity, student success and institutional transformation.
The lecture will feature renowned higher education leader Freeman Hrabowski, Ph.D., whose transformational 30-year presidency at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County paralleled Natalicio’s own long tenure and commitment to expanding educational opportunity. His insights will underscore the national significance of inclusive excellence and institutional transformation – principles central to Natalicio’s legacy. A longtime friend and fellow honoree of several national recognitions in the advancement of higher education, Hrabowski will underscore the shared commitment to access, excellence and transformative leadership that defined both of their presidencies.
Diana Natalicio served as president of UTEP for 31 years before her retirement in 2019 and was instrumental in the University’s ascent to Carnegie R1 research status. She was a steadfast advocate for students and was dedicated to ensuring UTEP’s growing enrollment reflected the demographics of the surrounding Paso del Norte region.
When Natalicio retired, her tenure was the sixth-longest of any public doctoral/research university president in history. The UT System Board of Regents appointed Natalicio as President Emerita of UTEP upon her retirement in 2019. The Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success was established to further her vision on a national scale and demonstrate how access and excellence can coexist in postsecondary education.
Last Updated on January 22, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published January 22, 2026
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
