In memory of the AERA Multicultural/Multiethnic Education Special Interest Group (SIG) founder, Dr. Carlos J. Vallejo, each year the MC/ME SIG honors individuals who exemplify the scholar-practitioner focus of the SIG through their contributions to the field of multicultural and multiethnic education. Special emphasis is placed on those nominations of scholar-practitioners who - over the trajectory of their career - demonstrate a steadfast commitment to scholarshp, service and/or practice that advances urgent issues in multicultural/multiethnic education, including but not limited to efforts to improve research, teaching, and/or policy in the field.

Dr. Carlos J. Vallejo was a professor of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at Arizona State University. Dr. Vallejo's 2nd beloved family were the people at Arizona State University where he worked for 30 years.

Dr. Vallejo was a community leader with a passion for teaching and social justice. His scholarship was community-driven and focused on the development and diversification of the teacher pipeline. He inspired his students to empower and uplift their communities. In line with his commitment to praxis, he was actively engaged in community efforts in Phoenix and secured grants to diversify the teaching force in this region.

As such, our three awards recognize scholars that embody Dr. Vallejo’s legacy of cultivating change through scholarship and practice.  The SIG recognizes that contributions in these areas can be distinct along different career milestones and has, accordingly, identified an Early, Mid, and Lifetime Achievement award as described below. 

Carlos J. Vallejo Memorial Award for Emerging Scholarship 

The purpose of this award is to recognize an advanced doctoral student, faculty member, or professional whose scholarly contributions are poised to contribute to scholarship in the field of multicultural/multiethnic education. Nominee must be within one to ten years of experience in the field. 

Carlos J. Vallejo Memorial Award for Exemplary Scholarship 

The purpose of this award is to recognize a mid-career scholar, faculty member, or professional with more than nine but less than twenty years of experience in the field whose scholarly contributions to multicultural/multiethnic education have been vital to research, theory, and/or practice in this field.

Carlos J. Vallejo Memorial Award for Lifetime Scholarship 

The purpose of this award is to recognize a senior-level scholar, faculty member, or professional whose scholarly career contributions span more than twenty years of experience in the field. For this award, nominee contributions to multicultural/multiethnic education have and continue to play a significant role in shaping the field and have been vital to research, theory, and or practice in this field.