CEP Mildred E. García Award for Exemplary Scholarship

The Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship will recognize seminal, exemplary scholarship that focuses on research and issues specifically related to underrepresented populations of color. 

The García Award will be presented to one junior, nontenured scholar-practitioner (e.g., visiting assistant professor, clinical assistant professor, or tenure-track faculty) and one senior practitioner-scholar (i.e., tenured associate or full professor, senior/executive administrator).

About Dr. García

The CEP Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship is so named in honor of Dr. Mildred García, an exemplary scholar whose contributions as a leader and trailblazer in the field of higher education research continue to raise the bar for academicians and administrators, alike. Dr. García’s academic research has concentrated on equity in higher education and its impact on policy and practice.

In 2008, Dr. García was appointed president of California State University, Dominguez Hills. She previously served as president of Berkeley College, New York and New Jersey, where she oversaw six campuses that offer two- and four-year degree programs to almost 6,000 students. She also held several positions at Arizona State University, including vice provost for academic personnel, associate vice provost for academic affairs, faculty liaison for the campus Hispanic Research Center, and professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

On May 2, 2008, California State University, Dominguez Hills held an Inauguration Ceremony for its seventh president, Dr. Mildred García. The inaugural theme "Transforming Lives: Our Heritage, Our Future" was selected to highlight the remarkable history and promising future of the university.

On July 5, 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Mildred García to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. García was one of 19 individuals from the education, business, nonprofit, philanthropic and high-tech sectors nationwide appointed to the commission, which will advise the president and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on issues related to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for Hispanics.

Nomination Evaluation Criteria

When reviewing nominations, the awards committee will make decisions based on the following preferred and demonstrated attributes:

• Rigorous research activity that advances equity and social justice in higher education

• Commitment to mentorship through collaboration with students on research

• Evidence of cultivating emerging scholars, practitioners, and/or administrators

• Service to CEP and/or ASHE organization (i.e. leadership positions, committees, proposal reviewers, etc.)

The García Award will be presented to one junior, nontenured scholar-practitioner (e.g., visiting assistant professor, clinical assistant professor, or tenure-track faculty) and one senior practitioner-scholar (i.e., tenured associate or full professor, senior/executive administrator).

Awards Timeline

• Early May: Awards Nominations Open

• June 30, 2025, 12:00pm Mountain/Denver Time: Awards Nominations close. 

• Due to the number of submissions and the review process, no late submissions will be accepted; as such, nominators are encouraged to submit their nominations well in advance of this deadline. 

• July-September: Committee review of nominations

• Late September: Notification to nominators of committee decisions

• Mid-October: Association-wide announcement of recipients

• November: Awards Ceremony during ASHE 2025 Annual Conference

Nomination Requirements

• To submit a nomination you will need:

• Name, Title, Position, Institution and/or organization(s), Email, and Phone Number of Nominator

• Name, Title, Position, Institution and/or organization(s), Email, and Phone Number of Nominee

• A nomination statement (no more than 500 words). Nomination statements and letters of recommendation should speak to the nominee’s service to CEP and/or ASHE, commitment to mentorship of students and emerging professionals, and rigorous research activity that advances equity and social justice in higher education.

• A relevant example of scholarly work and mentorship.

• 2-3 letters of support (with at least one letter of recommendation from an ASHE member). Nomination statements and letters of recommendation should speak to the nominee’s service to CEP and/or ASHE, commitment to mentorship of students and emerging professionals, and rigorous research activity that advances equity and social justice in higher education

Due to the increased number of nominations received in recent years, each nominee will be limited to one nomination. In the event multiple nominations are submitted, the committee chair will notify the coordinating nominators requesting they consolidate their nominations.

The coordinating nominator, as well as the award nominee(s) (and subsequently recipient(s)), must be current members of ASHE.

Questions about the award process can be sent to awards@ashe.ws.

Past Recipients

2024:  Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Stephanie Aguilar-Smith

2024: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award -Sydney Freeman, Jr.

2023: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Kaleb Briscoe 

2023: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Stephanie Waterman, Onondaga, Turtle Clan

2021: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Antonio Duran

2020: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Heather J. Shotton

2020: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Chayla Haynes Davison

2019: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - D-L Stewart

2019: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Anthony Jack

2018: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Jerlando F L Jackson

2018: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Gina A. Garcia

2017: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Samuel D. Museus

2017: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Susana M. Muñoz

2016: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Lori Patton Davis

2016: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - OiYan Poon

2015: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Christine A. Stanley

2015: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Michelle M. Espino

2014: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Frank Tuitt 

2014: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Judy Marquez Kiyama

2013: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Daniel Solórzano 

2013: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Julie J. Park 

2012: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Marybeth Gasman 

2012: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Robert T. Palmer

2011: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Mary Howard-Hamilton 

2011: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Anne-Marie Nunez

2010: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Laura Rendon and Dr. M. Christopher Brown II

2010: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - J. Luke Wood

2009: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher

2009: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - William Perez

2008: Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Caroline Turner

2008: Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award Lori Patton

2007: Sylvia Hurtado and Joy Ann Williamson