UTPA president undergoes major heart surgery

EDINBURG — Blandina “Bambi” Cardenas, the president of University of Texas-Pan American, successfully underwent major heart surgery Tuesday, according to university officials.

UTPA Provost Paul Sale was tapped to assume Cardenas’ duties as the university’s chief operating officer during Cardenas’ recovery, which could last through the end of the month.

“I think we’ll miss her passion and her smile while she’s recuperating, but we’ll be able to execute the university’s mission without interruption,” Sale said.

UTPA officials would not release details about where Cardenas’ surgery was performed or the extent of her condition but said she is comfortably recovering with family.

Since Cardenas’ recovery is expected to last several weeks, she is not slated to participate in the university’s annual Hispanic, Engineering, Science and Technology Conference, which is scheduled for the week of Sept. 24.

Sale said he and other administrators would fill Cardenas’ place during the conference.

The UTPA campus first learned of Cardenas’ surgery in an official e-mail sent out Tuesday.

The e-mail said Cardenas prefers that well-wishers not send her flowers and instead show their support by donating to the university’s Valley Heroes Scholarship Fund.

Cardenas has served as UTPA president since 2004, when she became the first woman to lead the campus.

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Jared Taylor covers Edinburg, the Delta region and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.