CEP Awards

Unless otherwise noted, all nominations must be received on or before the deadline specified by the ASHE-CEP committee. Specific nominating criteria are detailed in the following descriptions.

The ASHE-CEP Awards will be conferred at the ASHE-CEP Awards Presentation Ceremony, held during the ASHE Annual CEP Meetings. All conference participants are invited to attend the awards presentation and reception held in honor of the inaugural CEP Founders’ Service Award and the CEP Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship.

CEP Founders’ Service Award 

The purpose of the service award is to recognize two members of the ASHE community who have served CEP in various capacities over the years. Service is defined as activity which supports CEP and/or fosters inclusiveness in the ASHE organization. Examples of service include holding an office in CEP for several years, writing reports for CEP, organizing CEP events, serving on ASHE committees, or facilitating inclusiveness. Letters of nomination will be accepted for consideration. A letter of nomination should speak to the nominee’s service to CEP and highlight the nominee’s dedication and commitment, fostering of inclusiveness, length of involvement, type of activities, commitment, and/or making CEP a viable ASHE council.

To submit a nomination you will need:
Nominations for the 2021 award will open in May 2021.

  • Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominator

  • Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominee

  • A letter of nomination (no more than 500 words) which speaks to the nominee’s service to CEP and highlight the nominee’s dedication and commitment, fostering of inclusiveness, length of involvement, type of activities, commitment, and/or making CEP a viable ASHE council.​

CEP Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship

The purpose of the García Award for Exemplary Scholarship is to recognize one junior, nontenured scholar-practitioner (e.g., visiting assistant professor, clinical assistant professor, or tenure-track faculty) and one senior practitioner-scholar (i.e., tenured associate or full professor, senior/executive administrator) for seminal, exemplary scholarship that focuses on research and issues specifically related to underrepresented populations of color. The awards committee will accept letters of nomination for consideration. Relevant examples of scholarly work should also be provided with the letter. Acceptable scholarship is restricted to one journal article or one book published either the year of, or year prior, to the nomination year. For example, in the award year of 2018, 2018 and 2017 publications may be considered for the award. Letters should speak to the contribution made by the nominee’s work and how it furthers inclusiveness, and how it promotes a greater understanding of underrepresented populations of color.


The CEP Mildred García Award for Exemplary Scholarship is so named in honor of Dr. Mildred García, an exemplary scholar whose contributions as a leader and trailblazer in the field of higher education research continue to raise the bar for academicians and administrators, alike. Dr. García’s academic research has concentrated on equity in higher education and its impact on policy and practice. In 2008. Dr. García was recently appointed president of California State University, Dominguez Hills. She previously served as president of Berkeley College, New York and New Jersey, where she oversaw six campuses that offer two- and four-year degree programs to almost 6,000 students. She also held several positions at Arizona State University, including vice provost for academic personnel, associate vice provost for academic affairs, faculty liaison for the campus Hispanic Research Center, and professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

On May 2, 2008, California State University, Dominguez Hills held an Inauguration Ceremony for its seventh president, Dr. Mildred García. The inaugural theme "Transforming Lives: Our Heritage, Our Future" was selected to highlight the remarkable history and promising future of the university.

On July 5, 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Mildred García to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. García was one of 19 individuals from the education, business, nonprofit, philanthropic and high-tech sectors nationwide appointed to the commission, which will advise the president and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on issues related to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for Hispanics. More information is available online.

To submit a nomination you will need:​
Nominations for the 2021 award will open in May 2021.

  • Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominator

  • Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominee

  • A letter of nomination (no more than 500 words). Relevant examples of scholarly work should also be provided with the letter. Acceptable scholarship is restricted to one journal article or one book published either the year of, or year prior, to the nomination year. For example, in the award year of 2019, 2019 and 2018 publications may be considered for the award. Letters should speak to the contribution made by the nominee’s work and how it furthers inclusiveness, and how it promotes a greater understanding of underrepresented populations of color.

2020 CEP Mildred García Awards for Exemplary Scholarship

Senior Scholar: Heather J. Shotton, University of Oklahoma
Heather Shotton embodies the spirit and gifts of cultivating with love exemplary scholarship that unearths, unhinges, and uplifts those in which academy refers to “underrepresented” populations. Through her scholarship including serving as co-editor of Reclaiming Indigenous Research in Higher Education (2018) and Beyond Access: Indigenizing Programs for Native American Student Success (2018), her service including past president for the National Indian Education Association (the largest and oldest national organization for Native education in the U.S.), and her mentorship including moving with an intensely loving vision and depth of compassionate concern by asking: who is next?  She is well aware of the urgency to increase justice and equity in university settings which means increasing Native perspectives in the fabric of our scholarship and field. She has been a voice of reason in bringing these issues to light to organizations like NASPA, ASHE, ACPA, and elsewhere. 

Junior Scholar: Chayla Haynes Davison, Texas A&M University
Chayla Haynes Davison has made significant contributions to the study of Black women in higher education,  college pedagogy, and strategies to improve how faculty members incorporate diversity and equity in their classrooms. She has created a research agenda that is shifting how faculty, particularly white faculty think about their behavior in the classroom. Dr. Haynes accomplishments and contributions demonstrate the spirit of Dr. García’s legacy and her strong vision and passion for equity. Her scholarship has had far-reaching impact in higher education with two edited books, nine book chapters, three refereed journal special issues, twelve refereed journal articles, and five manuscripts under review. She has presented a remarkable 53 research conference presentations and delivered close to two dozen invited keynotes and presentations. 

Recipients

2020 CEP Award Recipients
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award -  Heather J. Shotton
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award -  Chayla Haynes Davison

2019 CEP Award Recipients
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award -  D-L Stewart
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award -  Anthony Jack

2018 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founders Service Award - Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award -  Jerlando F L Jackson
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award -  Gina A. Garcia

2017 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founders Service Award - Denise O'Neil Green
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Samuel D. Museus
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Susana M. Munoz

2016 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founders Service Award - Dafina-Lazarus Stewart
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Lori Patton Davis
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - OiYan Poon

2015 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founders Service Award - Frankie Santos Laanan 
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Christine A. Stanley 
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Michelle M. Espino

2014 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founders Service Award - Mitchell J. Chang 
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Frank Tuitt 
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Judy Marquez Kiyama

2013 CEP Award Recipients 
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Daniel Solórzano 
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Julie J. Park 

2012 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founders Service Award - Terrell L. Strayhorn & Mildred Garcia 
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Marybeth Gasman 
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Robert T. Palmer

2011 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founders Service Award - Estela Bensimon 
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Mary Howard-Hamilton 
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Anne-Marie Nunez

2010 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founders Service Award - Kim Nehls 
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Laura Rendon and Dr. M. Christopher Brown II 
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - J. Luke Wood

2009 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founders Service Award - Leonar "Len" Foster (posthumously) 
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher 
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award - William Perez

2008 CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founder’s Service Award - Kassie Freeman 
Garcia Senior Exemplary Scholarship Award - Caroline Turner 
Garcia Junior Exemplary Scholarship Award Lori Patton

2007 Inaugural CEP Award Recipients 
CEP Founder’s Service Award - Berta Vigil Laden (posthumously) and Bonita Butner 
CEP Mildred Garcia Award for Exemplary Scholarship - Sylvia Hurtado and Joy Ann Williamson


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