Dr. Douglas Fisher, professor and chair of San Diego State University’s Department of Educational Leadership, has been honored by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) for his commitment to serving Latinx youth. Fisher will receive the Latino Student Impact Award at the organization’s annual gala on Oct. 9 in Washington, D.C.
“It's humbling,” Fisher said. “This culminates a whole bunch of work that's important to me — finding ways to ensure we're impacting learners and accelerating their achievement. This is quite an honor that my fellow leaders would think of me for this award.”
A nationwide organization with more than 8,000 members across 18 state affiliates, ALAS aims to provide leadership to ensure U.S. schools meet the needs of all students with an emphasis on Latinx youth.
Fisher and his colleagues have conducted numerous studies, authored books and led professional development on how school administrators can support teachers and improve learning experiences for marginalized students, such as English learners and children growing up in poverty. He is also a co-founder — along with SDSU professors Dr. Nancy Frey and Dr. Ian Pumpian — of Health Sciences High and Middle College, an award-winning open-enrollment public school in San Diego’s City Heights community.
“I think as an HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution), this is the work that we ought to be doing at SDSU and in the College of Education,” Fisher said. “And to be a tiny part of this in the educational leadership world is a great honor. We want to have an impact and we want our work to actually translate into things that can actually improve lives.”