The AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education congratulates American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) President Dr. Mildred García for being honored with a namesake award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE), an organization where she also served as a founding board member. Dr. García has been a presenter for the AGB Institute on several occasions – most recently, Dr. García shared her expertise on a panel discussion titled “Reflection on the Data: Challenges that Lie Ahead in Higher Education.”

The inaugural Mildred García Founders’ Award is presented to “individuals whose career, scholarship, leadership, and advocacy have advanced Latinx/Hispanic representation and success in the academy, community, and policy at the local and national levels.” The award will be presented at next year’s AAHHE conference to Adela de la Torre, president of San Diego State University and the first Latina to serve in the role.

Dr. García has been a pioneer in Latinx representation in higher education, noted as the first Latina to achieve a presidency within the California State University system by serving in the role at both the Fullerton and Dominguez Hills campuses. The award was named in recognition of her “long-standing commitment to advancing access and success of the Latinx population in higher education.”

Read more about the Mildred García Founders’ award and its first recipient.