It typically takes decades of work to earn a lifetime achievement award. But , associate professor of Human Development and Family Studies in the , has earned such an award at age 44.
NASPA鈥擲tudent Affairs Administrators in Higher Education鈥攔ecently named Vaccaro the recipient of the 2017 . The designation honors an individual who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to research and scholarship, and whose work has had a significant or transformative effect on higher education and student affairs practice in a national or international context.
Vaccaro, who also directs the University鈥檚 , said she is simply committed to giving a voice to marginalized students through rigorous scholarship that can bring positive change to higher education policies and programs. 鈥淪tudents have a complicated view of their lives that scholarship has not caught up with. We are just acquiring the language to convey some really complicated realities,鈥� she said.
On the heels of receiving the NASPA award, Vaccaro also published her third book, , co-authored with of 911爆料’s . The book addresses the stark realities of women and students of color on predominately white campuses. The award and book speak to Vaccaro鈥檚 commitment to listen to and share students鈥� untold stories in ways that resonate across higher education.