Fueling Research Diversity: A Peek Inside UTEP's Doctoral Pipeline

Last Updated on September 09, 2019 at 12:00 AM

Originally published September 09, 2019

By Victor H. Arreola

UTEP Communications

Nina Marie Beltran made several key discoveries while working in a UTEP research laboratory. Chief among them was an epiphany — a desire to pursue a doctoral degree after completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Such a feat would bolster evidence of The University of Texas at El Paso’s distinction as a top producer of future doctoral degree recipients. It would also contribute to sorely needed national academic diversity in science and engineering education described by a pair of pioneers who promote continual expansion of minority participation in academia and industry.

According to research conducted by Freeman A. Hrabowski III, Ph.D., president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and Peter H. Henderson, Ph.D., senior adviser to the UMBC president, UTEP is the top institution in the continental United States for producing Hispanic bachelor’s graduates who continue on to earn doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.