CEP Mildred E. García Award for Exemplary Scholarship

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

• 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.)

2024 Awards Timeline

Nominations for 2024 are now closed. 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. Nominators and nominees will be informed of decisions in mid-September. An announcement of recipients will be sent to the ASHE membership in late September. The recipient(s) will be recognized during the ASHE Awards Ceremony during the Annual Conference.

Nomination Requirements

• 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).

• A relevant example of scholarly work and mentorship.

• 2-3 letters of support (with at least one letter of recommendation from an ASHE member).

Awards Committee

Each year, the Council Chair appoints an awards committee, in close consultation with the Executive Committee, to solicit and accept nominations. ASHE awards committee members are not eligible to be nominated during the year in which they serve on the committee.

2024 CEP Awards Committee: Natasha Croom (Chair), Clemson University; Leslie Ekpe, Texas A&M University-Commerce; Brittany Smotherson, University of Missouri.

Past Recipients

• 2023: Kaleb Briscoe (Junior Scholar) & Stephanie Waterman, Onondaga, Turtle Clan (Senior Scholar)
• 2021: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Antonio Duran
• 2020: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Heather J. Shotton
• 2020: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Chayla Haynes Davison
• 2019: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - D-L Stewart
• 2019: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Anthony Jack
• 2018: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Jerlando F L Jackson
• 2018: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Gina A. Garcia
• 2017: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Samuel D. Museus
• 2017: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Susana M. Muñoz
• 2016: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Lori Patton Davis
• 2016: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - OiYan Poon
• 2015: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Christine A. Stanley
• 2015: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Michelle M. Espino
• 014: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Frank Tuitt 
• 2014: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Judy Marquez Kiyama
• 2013: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Daniel Solórzano 
• 2013: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Julie J. Park 
• 2012: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Marybeth Gasman 
• 2012: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Robert T. Palmer
• 2011: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Mary Howard-Hamilton 
• 2011: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Anne-Marie Nunez
• 2010: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Laura Rendon and Dr. M. Christopher Brown II
• 2010: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - J. Luke Wood
• 2009: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher
• 2009: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - William Perez
• 2008: Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Caroline Turner
• 2008: Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award Lori Patton
• 2007: CEP Mildred Garcia Award for Exemplary Scholarship - Sylvia Hurtado and Joy Ann Williamson