Luther Marcena’s life journey is rooted in education, global experience, and a deep commitment to service. Born in Peru to a United Nations official and a nurse, he was raised in Rennes, France, where French became his first language. By age 14, he had also mastered Spanish, and today he is fluent in English, French, and Spanish—with a solid reading and listening grasp of Italian, reflecting his Italian, Basque, and Native heritage. Due to his father's position with the United Nations, Luther's family moved across the world frequently, this gave him a comprehensive understanding and a profound respect for different cultures and nationalities.

Luther moved to El Paso in 1975 to attend UTEP, initially as a pre-med student. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Biology, his career took a turn that would define the rest of his life: he discovered a passion for computers. A serendipitous meeting with one of the original ATARI engineers sparked a lifelong dedication to technology. Luther went on to launch one of the earliest computer stores in El Paso, eventually expanding into business computing and systems development.

Although he pursued medical school and trained in neurosurgery, Luther ultimately returned to his true calling—technology and education. He became a lead executive at a major computer retailer and then joined El Paso Community College (EPCC) as a professor. There, he also earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science and quickly became known as a forward-thinking instructor who helped EPCC meet SACS accreditation requirements and launched the Advanced Technology Center Network Academy. His leadership extended to major public initiatives, including training over 3,000 City of El Paso employees in emerging IT systems and email technologies.

Luther’s work at EPCC spanned instruction and executive-level management, building bridges between education, innovation, and workforce development. After EPCC, he joined Western New Mexico University, later founding a training center that provided customized IT training for U.S. Army Sergeant Major candidates.

He continued to serve the community through his work at BCMHC, a county project funded by a multimillion-dollar SAMHSA grant. There, he managed operations, training, and technical development, presenting nationally at universities and earning multiple honors from the U.S. Congress, the Texas Senate, and the City of El Paso. After this chapter, he completed an MBA with a specialization in IT Management, further strengthening his leadership in both the technical and business arenas.

Now serving as Chief Technology Officer for Southwest Surety Bonds, Luther leads the development of custom networking solutions to enhance operational efficiency. Though he is gradually stepping back from full-time work, he remains deeply engaged in public life and education.

Luther’s wife of 48 years is a registered nurse, and together they raised two daughters—one with a BBA in Marketing, and the other with a BS and MS in Physics. His son in law is a BS in Electrical Engineering and a MBA in Engineering Management. His father held a BS in Agricultural Engineering and a Ph.D. in Economics, his mother was a nurse. His sister is a BS, MS, and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. 

In the Marcena family, education is not just a value—it’s a tradition.

As a lifelong educator, innovator, and servant leader, Luther continues to be driven by one goal: building a better future through education, opportunity, and action. Now, he’s ready to give back to the community that helped shape his journey by serving on the EPCC Board of Trustees—bringing decades of experience, vision, and a deep commitment to student success and institutional excellence.