Crystal Garcia, associate professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Educational Administration, has been selected to receive the 2025 Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Leadership Award.
The Leadership Award is given to an ASHE member in recognition of bringing visibility and support to the field of higher education, demonstrating the contributions of the study of higher education to policy formation, and/or in gaining substantial resources for research and training in higher education.
“I feel incredibly honored to be chosen as the ASHE Leadership Award recipient,” Garcia said. “So much of the work I do and that I see my colleagues do is grounded in love and care for our communities. I wish more people could understand that we ae stronger as a collective when we create conditions in which every person can thrive – that is the work I feel called to push for and I’m grateful for all the people around me who inspire me to keep working toward that purpose.”
Garcia advances equity and inclusion in higher education through research, advocacy, and leadership. She serves as the co-lead of AFIRE and founded the Higher Education Advocacy Collective to help scholars translate DEI research into policy and practice, and has testified at state and institutional levels, contributed to media, and influenced legislation.
Garcia has written more than 50 journal articles and book chapters, secured grant funding totaling more than $600,000, delivered numerous invited talks, and led initiatives supporting inclusive scholarship. She was named among the 40 Leading Women in Higher Education by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education in 2024 and was awarded the 2023 UNL College of Education and Human Sciences Early Career Award, the 2022 NASPA Faculty Council Early Career Award, the 2021 ACPA-College Student Educators International Emerging Scholars Award, and the 2020 NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community Outstanding Faculty Award.
Her work connects research, mentorship, and advocacy, modeling how higher education scholars can actively shape policy, practice, and professional communities. Garcia’s sustained contributions demonstrate a deep commitment to advancing equity and supporting both scholars and students across the field.
Garcia and the other 2025 ASHE Award recipients will be recognized during a ceremony on Friday, Nov. 14, at the 50th Annual ASHE Conference in Denver. Learn more about ASHE at ashe.ws.
College of Education and Human Sciences
Educational Administration
