Feb. 6, 2014
EL PASO, Texas - UTEP Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and External Operations Chris Park announced on Thursday the promotions of Bryan Gates and Genevieve Gomez. Gates will serve as Director of Development, while Gomez has been elevated to Assistant Director of Development. Current Assistant Director of Development Omar Cruz will assume new fundraising roles in the transition.
"First, I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to promote Genevieve into an Assistant Director position. She has done an outstanding job for this department and will thrive in her new role," Park said. "Moving Bryan Gates to a Director position is a perfect transition for him as he is ready to take the lead on many of our fundraising initiatives within the department. The new structure will also allow for Omar Cruz to grow as a front line fundraiser in the El Paso community for UTEP Athletics."
Gates will oversee fundraising initiatives from the Miner Athletic Club to special projects as well as being a gift officer for Athletics. Gomez will assume all development operations and direct all fundraising special events.
Gates arrived to UTEP's Athletic Development Office in Nov. 2012. Gates broke into athletics at Texas State as a Development Assistant (2009-2011) while in graduate school. The Houston native helped make an impact with the Bobcat Club, assisting with the volunteer fund drive, helped develop the Young Alumni Program while overseeing all Bobcat Club special events.
After completing his graduate studies at Texas State, Gates continued his career at Eastern Illinois as Assistant Director of Development (2011-12). He oversaw day-to-day operations of the Panther Club, including marketing, hospitality, member benefits and gift solicitation.
A native of the Sun City, Gomez received a degree in Criminal Justice in Dec. 2013 from UTEP after starting as a student assistant in Aug. 2007. Gomez then moved into her more recent position as external operations administrator where she managed budgets and purchasing in all external areas, in addition to acting as special events coordinator for the development office.
A UTEP graduate, Cruz earned a degree in Organizational and Corporate Communications in May 2012. The El Paso native made his way into athletics in 2007 as a marketing and promotions intern before moving to the development side in 2009. Cruz most recently assisted with donor relations and special events, while also leading benefit fulfillment and the gift-in-kind program.
