Alicia Rueda-Acedo earns Piper Professor Award
The University of Texas at Arlington’s Alicia Rueda-Acedo has received the Piper Professor Award recognizing outstanding college professors across Texas.
Established in 1958 by the San Antonio–based Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, the award honors 10 professors per academic year for their dedication to the teaching profession and for their outstanding academic, scientific and scholarly achievement.
Each Piper Professor receives a certificate of merit, a gold pin and a $5,000 honorarium.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the Piper Professor Award,” Dr. Rueda-Acedo said. “Teaching has always been at the heart of my work, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside my students while supporting their academic and professional growth. This recognition is especially meaningful because it honors not only excellence in teaching, but also scholarship and service to the off-campus community."
Rueda-Acedo, a professor of Spanish translation and interpreting, is the 13th recipient from UTA to win the Piper award since 1959 and the sixth since 2000.
She directs UTA’s B.A. in Spanish translation and interpreting, one of the few programs of its kind in the nation. Her work connects classroom learning with real-world service, giving students professional experience while helping underserved communities overcome language barriers.
“These experiences reflect the values that first drew me to education—empathy, communication and the belief that knowledge should be accessible to all—and continue to shape my commitment to inspiring students to learn, grow and contribute meaningfully to their communities,” she said.
The program is especially meaningful to Rueda-Acedo because 72% of its students are the first in their families to attend college, as she was herself.
"As a first-generation college student, education has always held profound meaning in my life” Rueda-Acedo said. “I am deeply grateful for the sacrifices my parents made and for the mentors who guided me."
Rueda-Acedo is a leading scholar in literary journalism and community translation, with an extensive record of peer-reviewed publications, including six books and more than 25 articles in leading journals. Her work in pedagogy, service learning and program development has helped advance teaching practices in higher education.
The Piper Professor award recognizes the full combination of teaching, scholarship and community service.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 300,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.