In honor of Dr. Miguel Alvarez's dedication to the research and education of culturally and linguistically diverse students, the TexLER Committee is proud to be offering the 7th Dr. Miguel Alvarez Research Award to one graduate student whose TexLER presentation topic embodies Miguel's innovation and drive to progress and equity for all students.

Who can apply?

• Educators who have accomplished outstanding goals with marginalized students. 
• Emerging scholars that come from marginalized backgrounds and have accomplished outstanding goals in their careers.
• All presenters and attendees to TexLER 2021 are invited to apply.

Deadline to apply: September 22, 2021 at 11:59 pm CST
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The Award ($200) will be presented at the Closing Ceremony on Saturday, October 2, 2021. The recipient must be in attendance in order to receive the award.

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Dr. Miguel Álvarez, a doctoral graduate from the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at UTSA, dedicated his life to educational equity. His dissertation, entitled “The Role of Language in Students’ Reading Trajectory: Exploring a Summer Reading Enrichment Program,” is an example of action research designed to improve the quality of education for language minority students, especially in the area of literacy. Alvarez was hooded at a special ceremony in September 2015. Sadly, he passed away on November 25, 2015. He was buried with full military honors. A personal essay of his was published posthumously and can be read here:  http://amaejournal.utsa.edu/index.php/amae/article/view/287/223
Pictured above are Miguel with his wife, Aracely, and two sons, Miguel Alejandro and Andre. Photo courtesy by the Alvarez family.
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Congratulations to last year's Dr. Miguel Alvarez Research Award recipient!

Dr. Janeth Martinez-Cortes received her Ph.D. in Culture, Literacy, and Language from the University of Texas at San Antonio in May 2020. In her dissertation titled “Second-Generation Immigrant Latinx/a/os and their First-Generation College Experience: Counterstories of Success and Belonging” she examined the educational experiences of Latinx/a/o students navigating higher education. Her research interests focus on issues related to Latinx/a/o first-generation college students, higher education, and second-generation immigrant education. She has worked with refugee students in the non-profit sector. She is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Texas at San Antonio, working on the project titled, “Transforming STEM Undergraduate Education through Academic Literacy, Mentoring and Professional Development”. 

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