Education prof receives UHCL Hayes Diversity Award

June 7, 2016 | Jean Rudnicki

University of Houston-Clear Lake Professor of Bilingual and Multicultural Education Judith Márquez was named recipient of the prestigious Hayes Diversity Award for her exceptional leadership and commitment towards promoting diversity and inclusion at the university. The award was established by the Office of Intercultural Student Services three years ago to recognize and honor its first recipient, former university Senior Vice President and Provost and Professor of Counseling Edward J. Hayes, for his efforts in bringing cultural diversity to the UH-Clear Lake.

“The university is fortunate to have Dr. Márquez, not only in the classroom but in the many leadership roles she has taken on,” says UHCL Assistant Dean for Student Diversity Linda Bullock. “She is a true champion of diversity and inclusion, and represents everything this award stands for.”

Márquez is the chair of the School of Education’s Counseling, Special Education and Diversity Department. She also teaches in the bilingual education, English as a second language and multicultural studies programs. She has co-authored several federal grants totaling nearly $7 million to provide graduate and undergraduate scholarships for students to become bilingual or ESL teachers, bilingual administrators, bilingual counselors and librarians. The grant funding has also provided support for teachers and college professors to become stronger teachers and advocates for students who are English learners.

During her 26 years at UHCL, Márquez has served in multiple capacities to help promote diversity at the university. She co-chaired the Minority Mentoring Association and was a member of the UHCL Hispanic Recruitment Task Force. She has worked with a team whose mission is to develop strategies for the recruitment and retention of more women and minority faculty. In addition, Márquez served with a multi-school collaborative team called “Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline.” She has also helped to organize several UHCL conferences focused on supporting and empowering disenfranchised children.

Her support and encouragement of the Bilingual Education Student Organization has assisted many bilingual students entering the teaching profession.

Outside the university, Márquez has served as president, vice president, conference chair, and scholarship committee chair of the Texas Association for Bilingual Education. Her work with the Texas Education Agency and the Texas State Board for Educator Certification in the development of language proficiency assessment instruments and standards has assured that the educators in Texas are held accountable to high standards so as to effectively teach and support English learners. She has also given countless workshops and presentations at local, state, national, and international conferences on strategies and methods to support English learners, in addition, she has published on this topic in various professional journals.

For more information about the UHCL Hayes Diversity Award, visit http://www.uhcl.edu/iiss.