SAC Professor Receives National Latinx Educator Award
March 27, 2019
Liz Ann Baez Aguilar, professor of English at San Antonio College, has received the Community College Award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE). Aguilar is the first person to receive this honor from AAHHE.
The association collaborates with all sectors of education, business, industry, as well as community and professional organizations to enhance the educational opportunities and needs of the fast-growing Hispanic population.
According to Loui Olivas, president of AAHHE, the Community College Award was created because the majority of Latinx students begin their career in higher education at a community college. The honor “recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence in advocacy, teaching or leadership, and has provided significant contributions to the community college enterprise.”
Olivas added that Aguilar fits the criteria “right on the button.”
The award was presented during an awards breakfast at the association’s annual national conference held this March in Costa Mesa, Calif. In recognition of her honor, AAHHE presented Aguilar with a painting titled “The Harvesters,” by noted New Mexican artist Edward Gonzalez.
Aguilar said she was humbled to receive the award. “AAHHE has worked very hard to unite Latino scholars and researchers across the nation to empower the future generations of Latino educators and researchers by preparing graduate students for opportunities to engage in areas of study that includes leadership, student success, and writing for publication,” she said.
“It is truly a blessing and honor to have received this recognition by such an esteemed and invaluable organization that not only represents the Latino voice in academia but also encourages young Latinos to pursue higher education and achievements.”
In addition to receiving the AAHHE honor, Aguilar was also the recipient of the 2016 William H. Meardy Faculty Member Award from the Association of Community College Trustees. She was also president of the Texas Community College Teachers Association in 2017-18.
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