08/13/2021 09:58:06 PMAs a student, Ruth María López noticed the disparity among schools. While her own suffered from crowded classrooms and outdated facilities, others appeared flush with resources and funds. 
The proud daughter of immigrants and a first-generation college student, López committed herself to promoting equity in education.
“I would hope my work wouldn’t be relevant in the future because we have more equity in schools, but right now, I still see an important role for myself in the classroom,” said López, an assistant professor of school leadership at the University of Houston College of Education.
López’s focus on equity and her encouragement of her students earned her a UH Teaching Excellence Award for 2020-21.