Andrea Cortinas serves as UTEP’s Vice President and Chief of Staff. Cortinas is an El Paso native. She comes from a family of immigrants and is the first in her family to graduate from college. Cortinas earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from UTEP and participated in UTEP’s Law School Preparation Institute. Cortinas attended The University of California, Berkeley School of Law where she obtained a Juris Doctor degree. Upon graduation from law school, she returned home to the El Paso region to give back to the community she loves.
Before joining UTEP, Cortinas was an attorney and shareholder in private practice in El Paso. Her practice focused primarily on 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 first joined UTEP in 2016 as Chief Legal Officer. She was thrilled to return to the University she credits with changing not only her life, but also the trajectory of her family. In July 2020, Cortinas was promoted to Vice President and Chief of Staff. During the pandemic, she led multiple key initiatives. She plays a critical role in the University’s mission of access, excellence, and impact, and is a trusted senior leader who also oversees critical areas including: compliance, legal, audit, the police department, planning, governmental relations, international relations, and university relations & events.
Andrea is married and has three children and two dogs. She is active in the community and is a member of the Governing Board for the Hospitals of Providence Memorial and Sierra Campus and an associate member of the George McAlmon American Inn of Court. She has also served on multiple boards including the board of Junior Achievement, the El Paso Women’s Bar Association, and the El Paso Young Lawyers
Association.