The Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award recognizes a distinguished record of research (even years) or service (odd years) to the field related to learning and teaching in educational leadership and administration. The 2025 award will recognize a faculty member with a distinguished record of excellence in service related to teaching and learning in the field of educational leadership and administration. 

The LTEL SIG is pleased to announce Dr.  Mariela A. Rodríguez is the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award. 

Mariela A. Rodríguez, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio. She is currently a Leadership Fellow for Student Success in the College of Education and Human Development and is the Graduate Advisor of Record (program coordinator) for the M.Ed. in K-12 Educational Leadership program. Dr. Rodríguez’s research focuses on leadership practices that support equitable learning environments for culturally and linguistically diverse students. At the national level, Dr. Rodríguez served as the Vice President of Division A: Administration, Organization, and Leadership within the American Educational Research Association (AERA) from 2021-2024. She was also President of the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) from 2017-2018. In 2021, Dr. Rodríguez received the Jay D. Scribner Mentoring Award through UCEA in recognition of her dedication to mentoring graduate students and emerging scholars. She was appointed as a Co-Editor of the American Educational Research Journal (AERJ) in 2024.