Mariela Rodriguez

Mariela A. Rodríguez, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where she also serves as a Leadership Fellow for Student Success in the College of Education and Human Development. Her work emphasizes leadership practices that foster equitable learning environments for culturally and linguistically diverse students, with a focus on social justice and mentorship frameworks.

Dr. Rodríguez has held prominent roles in national educational organizations, including Vice President of Division A at the American Educational Research Association (2021–2024) and President of the University Council for Educational Administration (2017–2018). She was appointed Co-Editor of the American Educational Research Journal in 2024 and received the Jay D. Scribner Mentoring Award (2021) for her work with graduate students and emerging scholars.

Her research explores the intersection of social justice, guerrilla pedagogy, and leadership development, particularly for Latinas and immigrant faculty in academia. Recent publications (2024) include studies on horizontal mentoring and decolonial approaches to transforming schools through guerrilla pedagogy. Earlier work (2019–2017) addresses dual language immersion, English learner support, and organizational renewal in educational institutions.

• Awards:
  • Jay D. Scribner Mentoring Award (2021)
• Leadership Roles:
  • Co-Editor, American Educational Research Journal (2024–present)
  • Vice President, AERA Division A (2021–2024)
  • President, UCEA (2017–2018)
• Key Research Themes:
  • Equity-Oriented Leadership
  • Culturally Responsive Practices
  • Mentorship for Underrepresented Groups
  • Decolonial Educational Reform