Tejano Tribune Staff Report
A new dean has joined the EPCC Instructional Leadership Team with assignment at the Mission del Paso campus. According to a Tuesday morning email from Steve Smith, VP of Instruction & Workforce Education, Jose Pacheco Lucero, Ph.D., has taken on the role this week as Dean of the Art, Math and Science Division after what Smith’s email called a “competitive process.”
The original announcement of Pacheco’s appointment as MdP dean was included in December Instagram posts that also made notice of Pacheco being named Full-time Faculty Achievement Award winner for 2023-24.
According to this morning’s email, Pacheco holds degrees from UTEP and has been with EPCC since2009, serving most recently as a biology professor at the Northwest Campus.
Pacheco graduated from UTEP with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2001 and earned his Ph.D. in Biology Sciences-Pathobiology in May 2007, according to Smith’s email.
“Dr. Pacheco brings a wealth of experience to the new academic dean role,” Smith’s email states. “He started his EPCC career teaching at the MDP Campus as an adjunct instructor. As he continued to grow within the institution, he participated (and led) multiple college, division and discipline committees. Most recently, he served as NW Campus Biology Coordinator, Science Cluster Coordinator, Tejano Empowerment Network Coordinator, NW Campus ECHS/P-TECH Liaison, and as a Tenure Committee Member. Dr. Pacheco has also been heavily involved in leading multiple grants focused on increasing EPCC student success,” the email added.
In 2018, Pacheco was named a National Role Model by Minority Access, Inc., an organization hosting the Role Models Project that brings attention to minorities excelling in STEM-related fields. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Pacheco served as NWC Acting Dean in 2023. During this time, according to Smith’s email, he was responsible for overseeing the Dean’s Office and campus disciplines. including working with EPCC Dual Credit, P-TECH and ECHS partners. According to the email, Pacheco’s work as acting dean “ensured compliance and continued student support and services.”
Smith’s email added that Pacheco “makes time to volunteer his time to the El Paso community by serving on the ESC Region 19 Advisory Committee where he helps guide and mentors future EPCC students.”
Smith’s email concludes, “Over his tenure and years of service, I can say that Dr. Pacheco shares EPCC’s commitments to higher education, access for all, and is a passionate advocate for our students’ success,” adding a welcome and best wishes for the start of the Spring 2025 semester.
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