The El Paso Commission for Women inducted Manuela Gomez, Ph.D., and Adeeba A Raheem, Ph.D., into the El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame.  

Sponsored by the El Paso Commission for Women, the El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame honors and recognizes the accomplishments of El Paso women serving the community.  

With over 19 years of teaching experience in institutions of higher education on the U.S -Mexico border of El Paso, Gomez’s areas of specialization are: philosophical pedagogy, ethics, feminism, visual literacy, and Latin American philosophy. She received her Ph.D., in teaching, learning and culture from UTEP in 2023 and holds the 2022 Piper Professor for the State of Texas from the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. 

“It feels like a dream, in a way,” Gomez said. “Something I would’ve never imagined. It seems like a nice recognition by the women in my community. So, I feel grateful and inspired to continue the work that I’m doing. I feel motivated to see that it’s been a history of 31 years that they’ve been recognizing women. So, I carry that responsibility now to keep doing that work. I feel very honored.” 

Gomez hopes that this induction and award would give her students a unique perspective on giving back to the El Paso and UTEP community.  

“I have a lot of students that tend to say, ‘I can’t wait to leave El Paso,’ I want to make something of myself’ or ‘I want to change the world’ This shows that we can change the world starting from our community, with our hometown,” Gomez said.  

She says she thinks UTEP is producing good students and good educators to remain in this community.  

Associate Professor Raheem joined the department of civil engineering in 2014. She received her Ph.D., in construction management from the University of Florida (UF). She holds multiple master’s degrees in building construction, environmental and civil engineering from UF. She also has many awards and honors, including a UTEP Academy of Distinguished Teachers’ Outstanding Teaching Award in 2022.  

“Being inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame is not just a personal honor; it’s a testament to the strength and resilience of the entire UTEP community. It echoes a broader acknowledgment of the invaluable contributions made by women, not only within the confines of our institution but also on a broader societal scale,” Raheem said.   

She says this prestigious accolade also serves as a testament to UTEP’s unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive working environment where individuals from all backgrounds are valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.  

Raheem has a message for any student working towards any goal.  

“To all students, especially women of color, I want to say this: You are capable, you are worthy, and you belong. Your journey may be filled with obstacles, but each challenge you overcome only makes you stronger,” Raheem said. “Never doubt the power of your voice and your perspective. Seek out mentors who can guide you, and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.” 

Esteban Corona is a staff reporter and can be reached at [email protected].