My heartfelt thanks to the Texas Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (TADOHE) for this incredibly generous and moving recognition during Hispanic Heritage Month. I am deeply honored and genuinely touched by your beautiful words. This brings tears to my eyes.
To be recognized by colleagues whose own work is so deeply rooted in educational equity, social justice, and the dignity of all students makes this acknowledgment especially meaningful.
As I reflect on the journey that has brought me here, I am reminded that whatever I may have accomplished has never been mine alone. It belongs equally to the students, colleagues, families, community advocates, and organizations with whom I have had the privilege of learning, struggling, and building over the years. Our work has always been collective, grounded in the conviction that education should affirm rather than diminish who we are, where we come from, and what we bring to the world.
I am especially grateful for TADOHE's leadership and for the courageous work you continue to do during these challenging times for higher education. Your commitment to keeping equity, inclusion, academic freedom, and educational opportunity at the forefront matters now more than ever. I have treasured our collaborations and look forward to continuing this important work together.
And how meaningful to receive this recognition during Hispanic Heritage Month, when we honor not only the contributions of our communities but also the generations of sacrifice, resilience, love, and struggle that have made our own journeys possible.
Thank you, TADOHE, for this beautiful tribute, for your friendship and partnership, and for reminding us of what is possible when we stand together in service of our students and communities. I receive this honor with deep humility, gratitude, and renewed commitment to the work that remains before us.
Con todo mi corazón, ¡gracias mil! ❤️
—Angela Valenzuela
TADOHE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH SPOTLIGHT 
Honoring Dr. Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D.Scholar. Author. Educator. Advocate. A Champion for Educational Equity.
Some educators change lives inside the classroom. Others change the very conversation about what education should be. Dr. Angela Valenzuela has devoted her career to doing both.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the Texas Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (TADOHE) proudly recognizes one of Texas's most influential voices in educational research, policy, and advocacy: Dr. Angela Valenzuela of @The University of Texas at Austin.
A professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy and Director of the Texas Center for Education Policy, Dr. Valenzuela has spent decades challenging educational inequities and advocating for students whose voices and experiences have too often been overlooked.
Her scholarship changed the conversation.Her groundbreaking book, Subtractive Schooling: U.S.-Mexican Youth and the Politics of Caring (1999), examined how educational institutions can undermine students' cultural identities, languages, and sense of belonging.
Drawing upon research conducted in Houston, Texas, her work challenged educators to rethink not only how they teach, but how they value the young people entrusted to their care.
The book received the American Educational Research Association's Outstanding Book Award in 2000 and remains an influential contribution to educational scholarship.
A LEGACY OF NATIONAL RECOGNITIONIn 2026, Dr. Valenzuela received the prestigious Social Justice in Education Award from the @American Educational Research Association, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to educational research, equity, and social justice.
Her accomplishments extend well beyond academic publications. From her leadership with Academia Cuauhtli to her involvement in Black Brown Dialogues on Policy, Dr. Valenzuela has demonstrated that meaningful progress comes when research, community engagement, and collective action work together.
A VALUED PARTNER IN TADOHE'S MISSIONTADOHE has been honored to collaborate with Dr. Valenzuela and her colleagues through initiatives including our 2026 Summer Summit, From Mandates to Movements: Reclaiming Equity and Freedom in Higher Education.
Her dedication to building meaningful partnerships reflects a principle central to our mission: lasting educational progress requires collaboration, courageous leadership, and a commitment to creating opportunities for all.
MORE THAN A SCHOLAR. A LEGACY OF IMPACT.The true measure of an educator's influence cannot be found in a résumé, a title, or even an award.
It lives in the students who discover their potential.
It lives in the educators who reconsider their approaches.
It lives in communities empowered to advocate for their children.
And it lives in the doors opened for generations still to come.
Dr. Angela Valenzuela reminds us that educational excellence and respect for cultural identity should never be competing ideals. They belong together.
On behalf of TADOHE, we celebrate her scholarship, leadership, and remarkable commitment to strengthening education in Texas and beyond.
Please join us in congratulating and celebrating Dr. Angela Valenzuela! LIKE to celebrate her contributions to education.
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FOLLOW @TADOHE as we continue honoring extraordinary educators, scholars, and leaders transforming higher education!Elevating Voices. Advancing Equity. Strengthening Higher Education in Texas.
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