Originally published May 8, 2016
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) presented UTEP’s David DeMatthews, Ph.D., assistant professor of educational leadership and foundations, with its Social Justice Teaching Award in Educational Administration during the annual AERA conference in Washington, D.C. in April 2016.
AERA is the nation’s premier organization in educational research, and the award promotes outstanding social justice teaching by a professor or instructor in the field of educational leadership.
He was referred to as humble, intelligent and knowledgeable in the nomination materials provided by his students and peers. One former student praised DeMatthews’ efforts to enhance the education of children in Juárez, Mexico, and recognized the multi-faceted techniques he used to drive home the points of his lectures that included such topics as segregation and special education. A colleague mentioned DeMatthews’ commitment to equity, inclusion, and his continual promotion of social justice leadership in education through his scholarship, teaching and service.