Azara Santiago-Rivera, PhD, NCC, was awarded a Presidential Citation for being a passionate and accomplished educator, scholar and social justice leader.
Santiago-Rivera has to her credit being the founding editor of the Journal of Latina/o Psychology; past-president of the National Latina/o Psychological Association and the Counselors for Social Justice; and a continuous contributor, servant leader and advocate for inclusion within the American Psychological Association through Council of National Psychology Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests. Santiago-Rivera's scholarship has always addressed the overlooked issues and communities. She has advanced our knowledge of the benefits of bilingual counseling; the effects of environmental contaminants on the health of Mohawk American Indians; counseling interventions that enhance the well-being for Latina/o seniors with the Alzheimer's condition; and the need for Latino-centered cultural competencies in education, research and practice. As dean of academic affairs for The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago and Washington, D.C., campuses and professor, Santiago-Rivera is an exemplar, highly regarded for her academic leadership and mentorship of faculty, staff and students.