UTRGV’s Zayas celebrated with Texas Association of Bilingual Education award

By Victoria Brito Morales

Dr. Luis H. Zayas, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, recently earned the 2024 Texas Association of Bilingual Education (TABE) “Dr.  José A. Ruiz-Escalante” Higher Education Award.

Zayas, who serves as the university’s chief academic officer and oversees the UTRGV Division of Academic Affairs, was presented with the honor at the TABE Conference in Round Rock this October. The annual award, named for UTRGV professor emeritus Ruiz-Escalante, recognizes individuals for their leadership and contributions to advancing bilingual education in higher education.

Zayas earned the award for his longtime support and involvement with TABE. He mentioned this honor is not just a personal achievement for him but reflects the collective effort of everyone at UTRGV.

“Together, we share a vision of living up to our university’s promise of becoming the premiere bilingual, bicultural and biliterate institution in the country,” he said. “I am grateful to be part of such a dedicated community, and this honor truly belongs to all of us who strive to make a difference every day. I thank my colleagues for being an inspiring part of this journey and I am grateful to TABE for this recognition.”

With nearly 3,000 members, TABE pursues the implementation of educational policies and effective bilingual-bicultural programs that promote equal educational opportunity and academic excellence for Bilingual/ESL students.

“This recognition fills me with a profound sense of privilege, honor and humility,” Zayas said. “As we go about our work, driven by our mission at UTRGV, our focus has always been about serving our faculty, students staff and the vibrant Rio Grande Valley community.”

Originally from Coamo, Puerto Rico, Zayas joined UTRGV in June 2023. Zayas has spent more than 40 years working as a clinical social worker and developmental psychologist. In February 2024, he earned a 2024 Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Book Award for his award-winning book, Through Iceboxes and Kennels: How Immigration Detention Harms Children and Families (2023).

For more information on the Texas Association of Bilingual Education, visit www.tabe.org.