Francisco Rios
Francisco Rios, a University of Wyoming educational studies professor, received a Scholars of Color Distinguished Scholar Award at a recent national conference.
Rios was recognized twice during the American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference in New York City. AERA is the premier national educational research association.
The award recognizes mid-career scholars who have made "significant contributions to the understanding of issues which disproportionately affect minority populations. It also honors minority scholars who "have made a significant contribution to educational research and development."
"I am proud and honored by this award," Rios says. "To be honored by one's peers, especially by those whose own work I admire, is even more humbling.
"We never enter this profession for any accolades that might be received. Rather, we often do so because we want to have a positive impact on the lives of others," he adds.
"As an educational researcher, I take this as one such recognition of the impact of my work, but to be honored by scholars of color, those who share a common commitment and passion, is all the more satisfying."
Patricia McClurg, UW College of Education dean, says Rios deserves the award.
"His scholarship significantly influences the national/international community examining and advancing the knowledge base in multicultural education, bilingual education and second language learning," she says.
Rios' work has been published and presented in prestigious journals and forums, including Review of Educational Research and Teacher Education Quarterly.
"Dr. Rios' work informs educators' understanding of learning and teaching," McClurg adds. "His studies investigating recruitment and retention of ethnic minority teachers address a nationally identified crisis."
Rios also is the first director of UW's Social Justice Research Center. Before coming to UW eight years ago, Rios taught for 11 years at California State University, San Marcos.
