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UTEP Names Andrea Cortinas as Vice President and Chief of Staff

Last Updated on June 18, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Originally published June 18, 2020

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

The University of Texas at El Paso announced today that El Paso native Andrea Cortinas will be promoted to the position of Vice President and Chief of Staff effective July 1, 2020. She will succeed Richard Adauto, who is retiring after 32 years of service to the University.

The University of Texas at El Paso announced today that El Paso native Andrea Cortinas will be promoted to the position of Vice President and Chief of Staff effective July 1, 2020. She will succeed Richard Adauto, who is retiring after 32 years of service to the University.
The University of Texas at El Paso announced today that El Paso native Andrea Cortinas will be promoted to the position of Vice President and Chief of Staff effective July 1, 2020. She will succeed Richard Adauto, who is retiring after 32 years of service to the University.

Cortinas has served as Chief Legal Officer at UTEP since 2016. 

“Andrea is a trusted advisor and thoughtful leader on campus,” said Heather Wilson, President of UTEP. “She cares passionately about our mission and will serve the University well.”

Before joining UTEP, Cortinas was an attorney in private practice in El Paso with expertise in employment law, civil litigation, education law, and advising executives on complex legal issues.  She previously served as General Counsel at a regional company, where she also oversaw Risk Management, Human Resources, and Benefits. 

Cortinas earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from The University of Texas at El Paso in 2002. A first-generation college graduate, Cortinas participated in UTEP’s Law School Preparation Institute and, upon graduation, earned a full scholarship to The University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

Active in the community, Cortinas is an associate member of the George McAlmon American Inn of Court and has served on the board of Junior Achievement, the El Paso Women’s Bar Association, and the El Paso Young Lawyers Association.

Cortinas is married and has three children.