AAHHE Mildred García Founders' Award

The AAHHE Mildred García Founders’ Award is given in the spirit of the extraordinary leadership, stewardship, and courage evidenced by the founding members of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education. This award honors an individual or organization demonstrating an exemplary commitment to advancing access and success of the Latinx population in higher education; evidencing a pioneering spirit in forging transformational avenues and inclusionary opportunities that support and promote Latinx issues; and achieving outstanding accomplishments aligned with AAHHE’s mission. The AAHHE Founders' Award is now named after Dr. Mildred García. You may see Dr. García's biography and photo here.

Founding Members (January 2003) include:

William Aguilar, California State University, San Bernardino; Norma V. Cantú, School of Law, University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Jaime Chahin, Texas State University; Dr. Mildred García, American Association of State Colleges & Universities; Mr. Dave Gonzales, State Farm Insurance Companies, Western Zone; Dr. Juan C. Gonzales, College of Education, University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Virginia Gonzalez, North Hampton Community College; Dr. Alfredo de los Santos Jr., Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University; Dr. Estela López, Connecticut State University System; Dr. Loui Olivas, Professor Emeritus, WP Carey School of Business, Arizona State University; Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President, Retired, Miami Dade Community College; Mr. Jesus Rangel, Anheuser-Busch Company; Dr. Ricardo Romo, President, Retired, The University of Texas – San Antonio. 

2026 AAHHE Mildred Garcia Founders' Award Recipient

JoAnn Canales, PhD
Former Dean of the Graduate School
Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

JoAnn Canales had a long and varied career at all levels of education spanning more than 45 years always with a focus on advancing equity and access in higher education and championing a culture of scholarly excellence, especially in her role as the Founding Dean of the College of Graduate Studies at TAMUCC where she reshaped the graduate education infrastructure and as Senior Dean in Residence at the Council of Graduate Studies in Washington, D.C. that resulted in the development of a tool designed to increase the pipeline of Latinx doctoral students. 

Dr. Canales’s involvement with AAHHE began as a presenter in its early years and then as a board member, and secretary. In 2018 she was elected to serve as the inaugural and first female Chair of the newly reconstituted Board helping to navigate AAHHE through some complex organizational transitions resulting in a revitalization of the organization’s mission and operations leading to a more inclusive and diverse membership.

As a retiree in the UNESCO community of San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato Mexico, she is currently utilizing her collective professional and organizational expertise and experience as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the iconic La Biblioteca Publica de San Miguel de Allende, A.C., a cultural and educational center serving the diverse population of San Miguel and surrounding communities.

List of past recipients of the previously known Founder's Award:

  • 2025 Ana Mari Cauce, PhD
  • 2024 David Fuentes, PhD
  • 2023 Michele Siqueiros
  • 2022 Adela de la Torre, PhD
  • 2021 Joe I. Castro
  • 2020 Monica C. Lozano
  • 2019 Mari-Luci Jaramillo
  • 2018 Gary Francisco Keller