Former Miner cross country and track & field standout Lilliana Valdespino returned to her alma mater as a graduate assistant for the strategic communications office in September 2021. She was promoted to Assistant Director of Strategic Communications in June 2023. She serves as the communications contact for volleyball (indoor and beach), softball and rifle.
During her tenure at UTEP, Valdespino has supported four NCAA postseason team appearances, including volleyball’s NCAA Tournament appearances in 2024 and 2025 and rifle’s individual NCAA Championship appearances in 2025 and 2026. She has also hosted and coordinated three postseason championship events on campus, including the 2021 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), 2023 NIVC and the 2024 Conference USA Volleyball Championship.
In 2024, Valdespino was selected as an NCAA Inclusion Grant recipient, becoming one of six communications professionals nationally chosen to attend the College Sports Communicators Convention through the NCAA Office of Inclusion, Leadership Development, Media Coordination & Statistics and CSC staff.
Previously, Valdespino worked as a media relations assistant with the Sun Bowl Association from 2019-21. She supervised interns, coordinated the publication of the Sun Bowl media guide, weekly football updates, social media accounts and more. She has remained involved with event operations and currently serves as the official scorer for the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl game (2021-present).
Outside of UTEP, Valdespino has served as an off-ice official for the El Paso Rhinos’ NAHL and NA3HL teams since 2024 and assists with the El Paso Chihuahuas as a Field Timing Coordinator beginning in 2025.
The El Paso HS product ran both cross country and track & field for the Orange and Blue from 2014-18. She earned the Thomas Howard Athletic and Academic Achievement Walk-On Award in 2016.
Valdespino graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences with a concentration in Statistical Analysis and Data Reconfiguration in Electrical Engineering from UTEP in 2019 and earned a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies with a focus on Community Engagement from UTEP in 2023.
