In Memory of Frances Montaño

Tuesday
Frances María Montaño smiling on an indoor football field at the University of Arizona, with players practicing in the background. She is wearing a red UA lanyard and a name badge from the College of Education.

The University of Arizona College of Education mourns the loss of our beloved colleague and friend, Frances Montaño, who passed away on Friday, May 2.

Frances served the university community with dedication, compassion, and excellence. She was an award-winning academic advisor in the College of Education for six and a half years, following a year and a half as an Enrollment Counselor with Arizona Online. Her passion for supporting students, her generous spirit, and her joyful presence left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of working with her.

Frances was widely known for her warmth, her sense of humor, and the genuine care she extended to students, colleagues, and friends. Her radiant smile could light up any room, and her contributions to the advising team and to the college community will not be forgotten.

“The passing of a cherished colleague, Frances Montaño, has a profound impact on our college, especially among those staff, students, and faculty who worked closely with her and considered her a dear friend, mentor, and co-worker. I want to acknowledge how committed she was to her work here in the College of Education and how much we appreciated her valuable contributions to our outstanding advising team and workplace climate. Our hearts are with Frances' family and friends and by so many whose lives she touched beyond measure. This is an incredible loss, and there is no doubt whatsoever that such an extraordinary person will be extraordinarily missed.”
— Dr. Regina Deil-Amen, Interim Dean

Our thoughts are with Frances’s family, friends, and loved ones during this time of deep loss. We know many in our community are grieving. We encourage faculty, staff, and students in need of support to access services through Life & Work Connections and/or CAPS. 

Honoring Frances

To celebrate Frances’s life and legacy, we invite members of our community to contribute to a Google Slides tribute, which is being shared with her family.

Please note:

  • Students are also contributing to the tribute and have not yet been informed of her passing.
  • The original intent of the slides was to share messages of encouragement with Frances during her final days. Sadly, she did not have the opportunity to see them.
  • Messages in Spanish are welcome and appreciated.

The College of Education will share information about memorial services and other opportunities to honor Frances as it becomes available.